Below 50% humidity, corks shrink and oxygen seeps in. Above 70%, labels mold and case glue gives out. The sweet spot is 55 to 65%.
Reds want 60-65°F at the table. Whites want 45-50°F. Both store at 55°F long-term. Single-zone holds one set point, dual-zone holds two.
Both ship authorized. Both hold ±1°F. Both carry five-year compressor coverage. The decision comes down to install flexibility, sound floor, and capacity ceiling.
Three install patterns, three price tiers, three sound profiles. The right choice depends on where the compressor lives and how much hidden infrastructure your build can handle.
Get the BTU rating wrong and the unit either burns out at year three, or short-cycles and lets humidity swing past the cork. Four numbers decide the right size.
