Customer Reviews

Braun Series 7- 790cc Pulsonic Shaver

5 star:		(672)
4 star:		(178)
3 star:		(75)
2 star:		(67)
1 star:		(92)

 

 

I was skeptical reading all the promotional material for this new shaver. I'm 54 years old and have been using a razor all my life. About a year ago, the razor started irritating my skin so I was forced to begin using a Norelco rotary electric shaver that I kept under the counter. The results were far from satisfactory but at least it didn't cause a rash on my face. I figured that was just the nature of electric shavers and was convinced that I would be living with a scratchy, stubbly beard the rest of my life. Then I read a review on this new Pulsonic shaver in the August 2007 issue of Popular Mechanics magazine. It sparked my interest so I researched it more on the internet. I finally decided to take a chance and purchase the highly acclaimed but expensive shaver.

I've been using it now for one month and am convinced that it is not possible for an electric shaver to work better than this one. I't leaves the Norelco rotary in the dust. I would say it shaves about 97% as close as a regular lather & razor shave. It does not leave stubbles and it isn't necessary to shave more than once a day. Yes, it takes a small investment to purchase this shaver but it is a quality item that you can live with for life.

The self-cleaning charger/holder requires replacement cleaning fluid cartriges periodically. The information I read says that a cartrige is good for about a month. However, the razor head can also be cleaned by rinsing it under hot water...which is what I do for two days and then run it through the complete cleaning cycle every third day. After a month doing this the original cartrige still says "FULL". I have purchased three more cartriges for $16. I think those will last me for a very long time.

I have nothing bad to say about this shaver after having recovered from the shock of the initial purchase price. You get what you pay for and you will certainly pay for this one. I don't regret spending the money for this shaver at all.

so i bought one of these from amazon, very early adopter.
it is very similar in general to earlier clean and charge foil shavers from braun,
of which my last one was unceramoniously dumped in the garbage after a year for a rotary
from phillips, which was used for about another year and then dumped for the 4-blade gillette razor.
but now i'm back to trying electric for no particular reason other than it is tiresome buying
razor blade that have been specially engineered to need replacing after a week of use.
plus, while no matter what the manufacturers will tell you, there is no electric razor that
shaves as close as a blade, though sometimes the blade shaves a little too close...causing cuts, razor burn,
ingrown hairs, etc. it's enough to make a guy want to grow a beard.

enter the braun pulsonic. this is basically a very well-made, high end "activator" or "complete 360"
with the added feature that it vibrates. i suppose this is the same technology in the gillette "power" series
and other regular razors that use a AAA battery to vibrate as they shave...it does result in a ever-so-slightly
better shave. so this foil, which uses the nice almost-random pattern of differently-sized holes for diffent hairs (which was avail. only in germany for a long time, for some reason, then appeared in the u.s. with the braun 360) has a nice pivoting head, standard little pop-out trimmer, and vibrates like a sonicare toothbrush while you shave. the vibration is not really noticable over the regular noise and vibration present in a regular electric razor, but the results seem to speak for themselves. it seems to be a much gentler, more effective electric razor than i have used in a long time. the only thing is, it isn't a blade. after spending several passes with it over my cheek, for example, i can still run my hand against the growth and feel a little stubble there, which is never the case with the razor blade. on the other hand, i expect that over time there will be less shaving irritation, so it's not a bad trade off. the thing to note is that it's really made to be used with the little "charge and clean" cartridges, which according to braun last for 30 shaves, so each one lasts a month.
at $4 per cartridge, it's not too great an expense. word of warning though: if you take the razor out of the charger before it's finished the cleaning cycle (easy to do since much of it is silent, if you don't wait for the 'clean' light to come on) and sometimes even if you wait for it to be clean, and just start shaving, you may experience the unique and painful feeling of shaving with a small amount of rubbing alcohol on the razor foil.
i recommend making sure it's quite dry before use, shake it a little or blow on th foil or something.
the clean and charge flud is a lemon-scented alcohol and lubricant solution that you don't want touching newly-shaven skin.


overall, it seems to be a good investment. the razor is well-made for sure, very solid, with a rubber grip handle on the back that is pretty comfortable to hold. it moves very easily over the face, even with 3-day stubble, and is noticably more comfortable than other electrics i've used. i think it will take about 2 weeks for the skin/hair to get used to it again, but...good-bye razor blades! hello pulsonic!

Ok here we go for my first and probably only review on Amazon. I am 50 years old and have tried pretty much every electric shaver known to mankind. Each time giving up due to the pinching,non close shave and pain in the butt cleaning. In the end, I was going back to razor blades and the frequent cuts. I went to Braun's website and read about this shaver and came to Amazon to see the reviews here. I decided after reading the reviews to splurge on another electric shaver.
What a find! This in my humble opinion is the greatest invention EVER! It's the first electric razor I've used which doesn't get hot after a couple minutes of use.Hot razor means sweaty face which trips up razor and adds to pinching. Braun recommends you shave before you shower or wash your face, while you still have a little protective barrier of oil on your skin. A big no-no with regular shaving, this worked well with the Pulsonic. They also recommend you shave against the grain. Again, not recommended for regular shaving. For electric shaving, works great.

I must say I Absolutely LOVE shaving now.(I would let my beard grow for days because I HATED shaving with razors and cutting myself). The Pulsonic is the closest shave ever by an electric razor(IMHO shaves as close as a razor once you master it) and more importantly it does not pinch or burn at all. Even better is the self cleaning which make life easier.
My wife laughs every morning as she now sees me shaving daily with this god send! if you are reading bad reviews on this product it must be I just don't get it.
Bottom line: BUY THIS NOW! I just ordered another one for my son!
I am telling all who read this if you hate shaving GET THIS PRODUCT you will love it.

In the case of this shaver, the hype really does match reality. The shaver is by far the best electric I've ever used, and it's very nicely engineered--from the ergonomics of the shaving unit to the self-cleaning/lubricating mechanism that comes with the shaver. It's a bit pricey, but you get your money's worth out of this one.
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After nearly two years of using this shaver I can update my original review (above) as follow:

(1) Have replaced the head once, which is right on schedule
(2) I stil love the shaves I get from this shaver.
(3) The trimmer works, but will no longer stay closed (cheap mechanism here).
(4) I'm surprised by the number of people who try to save cleaning fluid by only cleaning the head once in a while. The fact is that you can get as many cleanings as you want until evaporation requires a new cartridge. By not cleaning, you're not saving anything.

Still give it 5-stars.

I read lots of great reviews for this razor and ordered it with high expectations. I've been using it for about three weeks now and I have to say that I'm not nearly as impressed as everyone else seems to be. Maybe I got a bad unit or something. It feels nice in the hand and it seems quite powerful and the pop-up trimmer works great. But I'm just not getting a very close shave at all with it. I have to go over all parts of my face and neck two or three times, stretching the skin in every way possible, and even then I still find areas that could have been closer.
I really wanted to like this razor, especially because it's so expensive. I've had great Braun razors before, but this isn't one of them. I'm sorry that I can't agree with everyone else on this one.
BTW, I'm sure that part of the reason this razor is so expensive is because Braun really overdid the packaging. You'd think the packaging was for some precious family heirloom or valuable jewels, not an electric razor.

Although a bit steep in price, it performs as advertised. I have owned a 7000 series Braun and was getting fed up with the amount of times it took going over my chin, neck and area below the ear on the jawbone. This razor did an excellent job in a minimal amount of time with a close shave I haven't experienced in years. I highly recommend this shaver if you can handle the price.

I bought the new Philips Norelco 1050cc Arcitec Shaving System, returned it for a refund after 30 days, and then purchased a the new Braun Pulsonic 9595 Shaving System. Since I've had experience with both now, I thought my experience might be of value to others. I've had 3 Norelco shavers over the past 20 years. The 9595 is my first Braun shaver.

Shaving Closeness - The Braun definitely gives a closer shave and in less time, although the Norelco is acceptable. One reviewer commented about getting nicks from the Braun but I have not had that problem at all, even around the chin.

Comfort - The Braun feels heavier (I didn't actually weigh them) but I found the Braun more comfortable to hold.

Noise - The Braun is noisier, especially during the cleaning cycle.

Status Indicators on the Shaver - The indicators are better on the Braun; however, I've since learned that's mostly because I had the 1050 model. I now see that the 1060 or the 1090 models would have been better and probably would equal the Braun.

Charging/Cleaning Stand - The Braun is more convenient to replace the cleaning fluid but about the same cost (about $1.00 per week). Both seem to clean equally well. The charge and cleaning status lights on the Braun are easier to see and give better status information. But the big difference here is the way the charging system works. With the Braun, you simply place your used razor in the stand, push a button, and the cleaning & charging are taken care of. However, with the Norelco, there are a number of warnings in the book to unplug the unit after it completes its cycle. This is a major inconvenience if you have to hang around and remember to unplug the unit. Also, the lack of an on/off switch seems a poor and cheap design.

Trimmer - To even off my sideburns, I found the Norelco somewhat difficult to use because the trimmer did not stick out far enough beyond the shaving head. This was not a problem with the Braun.

Cost - The Braun cost about $20 more.

Return Policy - 60 day money back with Norelco; only 30 days with Braun.

Bottom-Line - I started with a bias toward the Norelco because of my past experiences but in my opinion, this new Braun definitely surpasses the Norelco in terms of shaving closeness and convenience. Braun is clearly worth the extra $20, although the Norelco is a decent product.

I have had every major brand of electric shaver and this one is the best.

First Panasonic. Had to think about the position of shaver all the time and not good if you missed a day (Ouch!)

Next Norelco Coolskin. Way better, Could shave in shower, didn't have to think about position of shaver. Drawbacks didn't cut the fine hairs on side of face and neck and never had a solid smooth shave.

Next Norelco Arcitec. Twice the money and new technology is worse than old technology. tons of razor burn and missed spots. Sent back to Norelco for money back.

I then stumbled on the Braun Pulsonic. I looked at the reviews of the older Braun's and they were great so I gave in and I am very impressed by it. Right out of the box the 9595 gave me the best shave I have ever had from an electric. The fine hairs are no longer a problem, It is the most powerful shaver I've had, no razor burn at all, it doesn't bog down even on a two day growth and I don't have to keep going over the same spot more than twice. It's pivoting head conforms to every curve with no effort and I like the weight of this shaver it doesn't feel light and cheap like my Norelco. I wish they would make a wet dry shaver but I can live without that for a great shave.
I found my ultimate shaver now after a year of searching. I should of looked at ALL of the electric shavers no matter if they were waterproof or not. because I wouldn't have to waste so much time.

Here is a breakdown of my evaluation of the Braun Pulsonic System 9595CC with LCD Screen:

** Pros **

>> Construction
The constuction of this shaver is superb. The body of the shaver is made from plastic but it has a very refined metallic look. The LCD screen seems to be made of glass and looks to be fairly scratch resistant. The shaver itself is made in Germany and has the look and feel of quality construction. The shaver is fairly weighty (but not too heavy) which adds to the overall impression of a solid build.

>> Function/Performance
The shave is just about as close as that from a shaving blade. Maybe there is something to this "Pulsonic" technology after all (10,000 Micro-Vibrations per minute) which is supposed to help lift hair to provide a closer cut. I was unable to see or feel any stuble after a shave. The shaved area actually feels silky smooth! Thanks to the new and improved screen foil and cutterblock for the Pulsonic 9595CC.

The Pulsonic has a flexing/pivoting head to help the shaver conform to the contour of your face. I personally don't really care very much for it as I'm accustomed to flexing my wrist to angle the shaver to my face. The pivoting head can also be locked in place to tackle the hard to reach area under the nose.

The pop-up trimmer is very functional and does as good a job as a dedicated trimmer.

>> Features
Cleaning Convenience: The Clean & Renew system automatically cleans, lubricates, and dries the saver at the touch of a button. It also has a 25-second quick cleaning cycle for when you have to use your shaver in a hurry (This feature is only available on the Braun Pulsonic System 9595CC with LCD Screen, not on the lesser equipped Braun Pulsonic System 9585CC with LED Lights). After each cleaning, the shaver smells clean and lemony.

The shaver can be washed under tap water but with this method of cleaning, the manual states that the shaver head needs to be lubed with a few drops of lubricant every week or so.

The shaver sports an LCD screen which has a "hygiene" and a "battery" indicator each of which has six graduations/levels arranged in a semi-circular fashion and occupies half of the screen. The hygiene indicator shows when the shaver needs to be cleaned. The battery indicator, of course, indicates how much power is left.

No time to wait around for the shaver to recharge? No problem. The power cord can be hooked up directly to the shaver.

>> Warranty
The shaver has a 2-year warranty (excludes the Cutter and Foil part - you're advised to replace this every 18 months).

>> Ergonomics
The back and sides of the shaver are rubberized to help you to maintain a firm and comfortable grip while shaving.

>> Aesthetics
The Braun Pulsonic System 9595CC exudes elegance, class and sophistication with its sleek lines and its beautifully crafted elements that convey a work of intricate and robust engineering.

** Cons **
I have only one. Here it is for completeness sake:


>> Price
The real gripe I have about this shaver is not so much its price because it's a one-time expense but the price of the Clean & Renew cartridges. Talk about "giving away razors to sell razor blades" except in this case the razor is, patently, not free. Braun advises that the cartridge be replaced after 30 cleaning cycles or 6-8 weeks WCF.

** Additional Points **

>> Economic Considerations
Some economically-conscious people have suggested using isopropyl alcohol mixed with a lubricant to refill the cartridge. The factory cleaning fluid actually contains a highly volatile alcohol and a lubricant component, which is apparent after each cleaning because the residual lubricant can be felt if you run your finger through the sides of the shaver head. They further suggest removing the cartridge and capping it after each cleaning to prevent the loss of the highly volatile fluid. That's too much of a hassle and I don't see it as a necessity because once the cartridge is in place, the openings of the cartridge form a watertight seal with the cleaning component and the loss of the solution through evaporation is very minimal. At least one individual suggested changing the cartridge every 6-months.


** Conclusion **

The Braun Pulsonic System 9595CC with LCD is pricey but it is worth every penny. Don't let the price of the Clean & Renew cartridges deter you from getting this little gem because you can always forego the automated cleaning option and simply use running tap water. I personally have no regrets about getting this shaver and I highly recommend it. Go on, get it and see for yourself how the Braun Pulsonic System 9595CC with LCD lives up to its hype.

I have had this shaver for about 2 weeks. I previously used the Braun 8995 and used Brauns for many years previous to that. This is the best one yet. It provides as close to a real blade shave as you can get. It's appearance could hardly be improved upon. The trimmer is different than previous models in that it pops out at a 90 degree angle to the razor. It takes a while to get used to that but it will seem natural after a while. The head when pulled off looks complex compared to previous models and I guess that is because it cuts in two directions. I have no idea what a replacement will cost but I assume from looking at it that it want be cheap. The head/cutter assembly according to the manual should last 18 months. One thing missing from this shaver is a plastic head cover which I would like to have. I could not find it as an accessory and I do not know why they no longer provide one. On this shaver you press a button to turn on and off which has a continuous blue light. When not in use you can store it in the charger/cleaner which is an off white color and provides you with a lot of information. The shaver has an LCD that provides you with how much charge is left and how dirty your shaving head is so you know when to clean it. I do not clean mine every day but do blow it out with the head off. I usually clean it at least once a week. They have changed the formula for the cleaning fluid but your old container of cleaning fluid still fits the new cleaner. The shaver head is washable. You will also receive a small container of oil for the head if you ever feel the desire to oil it. The shaver can be run with the cord only. You can also do a "quick" clean on your cleaner/charger. This razor feels comfortable in your hand and the head follows the contours of you neck and face very nicely. You can lock the head in one position but I never have found the need. It is not cheap. I found no discounts on this shaver. I like it!