Customer Reviews

Braun 7680 Syncro Pro Solo Shaver Refurbished

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

This is the first electric shaver I have ever bought. I have been shaving with traditional blades for many years with a combination of a Norelco beard & mustache trimmer. I have now owned this shaver for a little over a month and I am ready to make my review. Nearly all of the claims Braun makes about this product are true:

PROS:
1. It holds a charge for a long time, they say 50 minutes, I haven't tried to run the battery out yet, but I tried going a week without charging it and it ran fine.
2. It is self cleaning (although you do incur the cost of purchasing the cleaning solution packets), but you don't have to brush the hairs out, and an additional bonus is that shaved hairs seem to go INTO the foil, not fall away from it, which means your bathroom counter doesn't turn into a small haired carpet.
3. All three of the modes this shaver functions in, work as designed. The pivot mode provides good flexible motion, the locked mode provides good control, and the extended long-hair trimmer mode performs as expected.
4. Cool design (love the blue light), great feel, not too heavy, not too light, solidly built (dropped it once, no apparent harm done).
5. Comes with a "smart-chip" that learns how you shave, and will start customizing your shaver to behave how you behave (keeping it fully charged, cleaning cycles, etc.)

However, there are some downsides to this shaver (which is why I rated it 4 instead of 5 stars).

CONS:
1. I don't know if it is just me, but this shaver does *not* work well if you allow your beard to grow for more than 48-72 hours. Once the hairs get past a certain length, the shaver proves very ineffective.
2. This shaver does *not* work well on damp skin, whether that dampness is from natural sweat, or from moisture in the air from a recent shower, it causes the shave you get to be rather uneven at best.
3. The shaver does *not* work well with the way my neck hairs grow. My neck hairs grow in a type of a swirling pattern. So in order to get a decent shave I end up having to feel for each grain and try to arc the shave out from the epicenter in a sort-of counter swirl.
4. The shaver foils get rather warm if you use the shaver for over about 1.5 minutes. Not warm enough to cause burning or even discomfort, but still rather warm.
5. The automatic cleaning mode does *not* clean the long-hair portion of the shaver, which is slightly higher than the foils when it is in the cleaner-case. To clean the long-hair blades you need to bust out the cleaning brush.

Overall this is a superior shaver for the money Braun wants for it. While it is true I listed a few negatives about it, I am rather certain it is just me, and that cannot be helped. Under optimal shaving conditions this shaver provides a quick, clean, and smooth shave, exactly what it is supposed to do.

I used to use a Norelco during my college days and did so up until my mid 20's when I started sporting a mustache. The tri-head Norelco just couldn't 'touch up' near the 'stache, so instead of spending time using BOTH the Norelco and a blade, I just went back to blades. That was until I recently had a friend marvel at how great the Braun 7680 was; I listened mostly out of amazement, because he sports a mustache too. It sounded literally 'too-good-to-be-true', but enticed me enough to buy one. I can genuinely tell you, he wasn't kidding.

The Braun 7680 is a very 'Teutonic' looking piece of equipment; very high tech, but classy, if that makes sense. Fit and finish of everything is of the highest caliber. It comes with: the razor itself, a very nice leather carrying case, a cleaning brush, the instructions, a hard clear plastic foil protector,a charging/cleaning stand and a bottle of the cleaning solution.

At first, you plug the power cord into the razor and start a 4 hour charging procedure; Braun cautions you to NOT start using the cleaning stand for the initial charge (stating that the 'Smart Logic' built into the razor needs this first, necessary charge in such a manner). I did so, at $170 who needs to second-guess the manufacturer?

It charged in almost four hours to the minute; the timer is unbelievable in this thing. What it states on the LCD can be taken with authority from my impressions. But enough tech; how does it shave? Unbelievable comes to mind, initially. VERY, VERY easy on your skin. My beard is not heavy, but it is coarse. The Braun just glides over your facial contours with the lightest touch. I experience no burning, nor irritation at all. As past reviewers correctly state, you do have to somewhat stretch your neck skin to get the absolute best shave.

The joy of this shaver comes from NOT having three heads setup in a triangle, which really kills close touch ups. Being straight, you can get comfortably close to mustaches, goatees, etc. The trimmer is more aggresive than the trimmer on a Norelco, but ALL trimmers on shavers to me are a convenience item, at best. They cut great; but they're always mounted in a position that I assume makes the best use of the shaver's powertrain, and, realistically, you just have to contort a lot to get them into position. A simple trimmer, such as Norelco's superb little mustache/beard trimmer, just make life so much easier.

If you're new to an electric, I simply cannot emphasize how important it is to TAKE TIME and let your beard/skin get accustomed to using the electric. Norelco used to include a little pamphlet in with their shavers (years ago!) that actually put some thought into scientifically explaining it; I had the good fortune to have a college room mate that paid his dues with a Norelco and he coached me well in this. Whatever the scientific reason, I can tell you, it takes about a month for everything to start working together. I can't put it any simpler than that. Don't EVER judge ANY electric by the first two weeks; and DON'T get tempted to use a razor to touch up; you're simply delaying the process.

One final note, that may interest some readers: You're going to have a high tech 'rocket launcher' (I don't take credit for this; another reviewer CORRECTLY termed it thusly) on your bathroom counter. This may/may not matter to you, but make no mistake, you WILL notice it; it's about 3 times bigger than the shaver (and gleaming, high tech BLACK) and unless you have a power socket UNDER your bathroom cabinet, it's gotta go somewhere! My wife adds this little bit of trivia to the review, as she HATES the recharging stand, forcing me to use the downstairs bathroom for storage, as she has a 'theme' to our master bedroom. Go figure! Oh yes, one last thing that's important: the cleaning solution tanks. Once the cap is off of them, they CAN leak; i.e. once you install them, place the recharging stand where you won't move it; if you tilt the stand, they DO leak!

So, as a summary: Great shave, even better if you're used to electrics. Great quality, very nicely made piece of equipment. Huge, very noticeable recharging stand. Five stars, for sure!

The batteries in my Norelco (model 5885XL) gave out after about four years of usage. Having been a Norelco user ever since I started shaving well over thirty years ago, I was a little wary of buying anything else. I was going to buy another Norelco until this Braun caught my attention as its self-cleaning ability was attractive; I found the cleaning of the Norelco messy. Changing over has been a positive experience. The Braun 7680 is pricey but after about a month of usage I have found that the price is worth it for several reasons:

1. It provides a closer shave than the Norelco. I thought the Norelco did okay but perhaps because the foil head of the Braun is thinner, it can provide an even closer cut.
2. When the shaver cuts any hair there is a distinct buzz to the sound. I now know if I have shaved the area clean from that sound. This is especially helpful in the morning when I have just gotten up and not fully awake when shaving.
3. The trimmer works much better than any of the Norelcos I have ever had. I dont know why none of the Norelco trimmer function ever worked well but the Braun trims it cleanly. The Norelcos did such a weak job that I always had to use a separate blade razor to trim sideburns when I used them. Here also because the Braun is a straight edge with its foil system, its easier to cut in the sideburns area versus the rotary, which if one is not careful could leave a circular cut on the sides.
4. The cleaning system actually works. No mess and easy to set up. The stand for the cleaning system takes up a bit of space though and looks like a rocket launcher but it achieved my desire of not having to clean out all that hair mess every week or so from the shaver.

The LCD screen is functional but I especially like the feature about how long the last shave was, it is reassuring to see when the amount of time I used to shave was not too long. The blue light indicator for charging or cleaning is aesthetically pleasing.

The only drawback so far is the position of the power button on the shaver. The shaver has three settings, one for fixed head, one for swivel head and the third to activate the trimmer. The button is loose enough and located in such a position that it is a little too easy to change inadvertently the settings from 1 to 2. It doesnt detract from the shaving process but is just a slight bit annoying. The setting for the trimmer is far enough on the setting that an accidental activation of the trimmer is not likely though.

Now, I will just have to see how long the battery lasts on this. I dont see why the makers dont have a replaceable batter for these units.

I have had many electric shavers in imy life. Recently I've been using the Mach3 line of blades. I had to switch to an electric because I have sensetive skin and the blade was irritiating my skin too much.
I think Braun makes the best shavers in the world. The Norelco's are as effective as manually pulling each hair out! The Panasonic line shaves close but they tend to irritate more than even the blades which defeats the whole purpose.
This shaver in particualr is absolutely amazing. The shave is very close (I would say 98% as close as a Mach 3 blade shave) with minimal irritation and razor burn.
I have found the using a preshave such as "Williams Lectric" pre shave helps minimize any irritation and gives an even better shave.
The cleaning feature is brilliant. You just shave and put the shaver in the stand and all maintenence (cleaning/lubrication and charging) is taken care of. Also if you have sensitive skin, the shaver will be sanitized to reduce irritation next time you use it.
Some have complained about the cost of the cleaning cartridges. I think you will find the cost a fraction of using high end blades and shaving foams/gels. It's a minor point and in my opinion the benefits far outweight the minimal cost...
Overall, I highly recommend this shaver to anyone that is tired of shaving with a blade.

I love the way this shaver shaves. The shaver itself is an extremely well built-product that has lasted almost 4 years. Other reviews do a great job describing how well it shaves, so I won't repeat them.

There are two caveats I need to point out:

1) The cleaning system also works great but is pricey (about $60/year for the cleaning cartridges), so it's much more over time than the cost of the shaver.

2) The cleaning base has a neck that presses down on the shaver to start the cleaning process that is prone to breaking. It lasted about 2 years, and then refused to stay down. Fortunately, Braun's repair facility in San Francisco replaced it. Then a year later, it broke again. I called Braun, they asked for the serial number to determine whether it was still in warranty, then authorized a repair. The SF repair facility this time insisted on repairing it rather than replacing it. It's now a year later, and it's broken again. I'm going to place another call to Braun, and hopefully they'll say that I'm still under warranty. Make sure you're close to a Braun authorized repair facility, since shipping it back is a hassle.

Because of the problems with the cleaning base, and because Braun has now come out with the new, similarly priced Activator line (that still has a cleaning base but doesn't have the arm that breaks), THERE IS NO REASON TO BUY THIS SYNCRO SHAVER ANYMORE. BUY THE ACTIVATOR LINE!

If Braun refuses to fix the base under warranty this time, I will definitely not pay to get it fixed (since it'll break in a year anyway) and will buy the new Activator, even though I hate to reward Braun for selling me a defective product. I may look into getting a Panasonic shaver, but since I'm otherwise so happy with the Braun, I'll probably just stay with Braun.

I have shaved with a blade for many years and about four years ago it began to really irritate my skin. Bought a Remington and was not really happy with it, but it was acceptable. When that razor crashed and burned, big time, I got smart and researched electric razors eventually settling on the Braun 7680.

For me the shave is great. While I do seem to make more passes over my face than with the Remington, the shave is closer. A blade will give a closer shave, but I am extremely happy with this system. The shaves are close and last longer than with the blade, the battery lasts significantly longer than did the Remington's, and the foils last longer than the Remington's and are less expensive. Of course the cleaning cartridge is an additional cost, but I am certainly happy with its results. It is like getting a new shaver with each use.

I don't get "excited" about such mundane items, but for me, this is one good shaver.

After using this shaver on a daily basis since January 2003 I thought I would finally write a review. The shaver itself is very good. I would have to say the shave is about the same as the 5 year old 5000 series "syncro" Braun it replaced, which is very good. The display shows the battery life and you can push the button to show the last shave time as well as the cutter block number. I'm a gadget person and like the feature but if you are looking to save a few bucks the lower priced units without the LCD would probably be a good choice.

The self cleaning part: I was skeptical when I first bought it but this sucker really works. It cleans better - way better, than I can clean it by hand and it is sanitary. I got about 5-6 weeks out of a cleaning cartridge. (...) It makes about the same noise as the razor running on and off during a 15 minute cleaning cycle.

NOW THE CATCH. If you read other reviews you will read about the problems with the cleaning unit. What happens is the arm on the clean and charge unit stops locking on to the razor. Mine worked great for 18 months until this issue surfaced. The good thing is that the razor has a 2 year warranty. I called the toll free service number and found a service place in my area. The people in the store were very helpful and very familiar with this issue. They fixed it while I waited at no charge! So all was well, until it broke again a couple of days ago, 2 months after the original repair. I brought it in again and they are going to fix it for no charge but didnt have the part, so I have to wait and am temporarily without the cleaning unit (It can be charged without it or run off the cord) I really miss it! I cant confim this but the person in the shop said they are Braun is working on a fix for the problem. Hopefully it will done before my warranty runs out. I would give this 4 1/2 stars if it wasnt for the difficulties with the cleaning unit

Wow, I gotta say this is the coolest shaver, AND you get the best & most comfortable shave from this thing.

I had a Braun 5310 for about 4 years. I changed the foil a few times. Better than a rotary shaver, but I always wondered if there was a better shaver out there... maybe Braun was not that good after all... it was irritating my neck, was a rough shave & wans not comfortable, the battery lasted 5 min at best.

Finally, it was time for a new foil - or - a new razer. I read lots of reviews - thanks to all who posted them, they were very helpfull - and decided on the Braun 7680... yes, another Braun. $200 for a razor seemed crazy, $158 at Amazon still seemed high, but, when I got the thing, it felt like QUALITY. The cleaning base is exceptionally cool, the LCD display is fun to look at & informative as well.... from the mouth of a gadget guy, its just cool!

Now, for the BEST part... THE SHAVE. I actually look forward to shaving!! Unbelievable. It is so smooth and cuts so well, you hardly know its a razer... it feels more like rubbing a glass all over your face. It cuts fully smooth in 2 strokes.... and (yes, I timed it) is faster... A typical shave with the Old Braun 5310 too 4:20 - 5:30, and my neck was irritatede& I had to really work some spots. The NEW 7680 finished in 2:15 (and I was being slow about it), no iritation, almost felt like I hadent shaved - except the days growth is gone!. Very smooth. And , if you take a tad bit longer & really go for the super smmmooooth shave, it takes about 3:00, or, if your in a rush, yuo can grab a good shave in less than 1 min, even with two days growth.

It cuts supper close, super smooth and COMFORTABLE!!!

The charging in the base is great, and, you get a pouch that holds the shaver & the power cord (that is also used for the chargibg base). So, when you leave town for a week, you just put the shaver & the cord in the pouch, toss it in the Ditty Bag, & your good to go. Actually, you can shave for well over a week on one charge. My 5130 would die in the middle of the second shave... if it lasted that long.

Im not one for highly consumable items (like the Cleaning cartridge in this thing), but man, it really is so nice to have a clean, fresh shaver EVERY time you shave... specialy when all you do is put it in the base - no more opening it, cleaning itr, etc... its really a "Shave & Go" system that self cleans... it really does make a difference. Most likely I will find a way to "re-fill" the cartridge to extend its life, but even at $4.50 a month for replacements (Super Wallmart - $8.49 for a box with 2) ist worth it!

As far as negative comments - I guess the cartriges for the charger could be cheaper... but thats not a big problem.. As far as performance... this thing is TOP NOTCH!

Overall, a fabulous shaver WELL worth the Money.

First, there are already a few very good positive reviews that I agree with. I will add that my previous braun lasted over 6 years and finally failed to hold a charge. Hopefully the self charging system will work and is not just a marketing gimmick. I figure the worst that can happen is it's merely a gimmick and I'll get another 6 years out of the replacement shaver.

Regarding the one negative review about replacing the foil...I had to replace the foil once or twice on my old braun shavers over those 6 years. I found that they are SOMEWHAT fragile. Meaning that you shouldn't toss it on the counter or bump it against anything or drop it. Use the blade cover!

The Braun works much better than the rotary shavers. The sound of the blades cutting through the beard lets you know you're not done yet. More accurately, once that cutting sound is gone, I know I have a very close shave that will last the whole day.

The self cleaning system is very nice. Like another reviewer, I don't clean the shaver every day, more like every few shaves. I do shake out the stubble after each use.

Years ago I owned a Norelco Triple header, but never liked the shave I got from it and switched to blades. In '97 I bought the Braun and never looked back.

Braun makes a quality shaver. If not this one, try another. You won't be disappointed. (No I don't work for Braun. I've just been a satisfied customer for 7 years).

I bought TWO of these shavers over the period of a year. While the shaver itself is the best on the market, the cleaning mechanism does not work as it should. The spring latch breaks and will not allow you to charge or clean the shaver. Read some of the other reviews. I'm not the only one experiencing this obvious design flaw. I was very dissappointed and have returned it to Amazon.com. I also called Braun customer service to register a complaint. The engineers on this product need to go back to the drawing board. They have the potential for a great product.