Customer Reviews

Braun Shaver Series 5 550cc

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The shaver works well, but really doesn't cut any better than my 6 year old Braun razor with a cutting block that was replaced ~3 years ago. I think that the expensive enhancements with the power comb in the Series 5 and the pulsonic technology in the Series 7 razors do not really help in making a faster or closer shave, but do add significantly to the price. I do not think the auto cleaner is worth it either as my razor cleans easily without having to buy the cleaner cartridges or keep that huge auto cleaner on the bathroom counter. I like how the Series 5 fits my hand and face though as compared to my old Braun, so I'm glad I made the upgrade.

I read all the reviews on line and was debating between the Braun 5-550 and the Panasonic Arc-4. I chose the Braun expecting to have a good shaver that works better (or at least as good) than the Remington foil I have. I was thoroughly disappointed. After many passes across face and neck I still couldn't get a close shave. I needed to use my Remington to clean up where the Braun continued to miss. I returned the Braun and purchased the Panasonic and love it.

Braun Shaver Series 5 550cc

Have now used this shaver for several weeks. Previously used a Norelco in the same quality category. The Braun treats my skin somewhat more harshly (just short of true irritation) and does not appear to cut any closer. Based on my 5 o'clock shadow it appears to give a slightly poorer shave.

I will keep trying to improve my results with the Braun but suspect that I will go back to a top of the line Norelco in a month or so.

Charlie

This Braun did not give me a close shave at all. It will cut through a tough beard but I prefer the Norelco 8240 for a much closer, more comfortable shave.

I bought this to replace a Panasonic Shaver. Previously, I had a Braun 360 shaver that did well. It fits in your hand nicely and is easy to use but it just doesn't shave nearly as close as my Panasonic did. I have only had it a few weeks but I have already ordered another Panasonic.

Norelco vs. Braun. The Norelco Spectra has fantastic battery pack. I took Norelco to Europe for a month and never charged it - BUT it never has shaved me near as close nor got all the hairs as this Braun. The Braun doesn't miss the hairs on my neck- Norelco would just skip any long hair. The Braun hasn't hurt my face- just a good shave. And it does my neck really well too-way better than Norelco. I guess the long hair trimmer between the 2 curved heads does its job pretty good. It is not too noisy. The top pops off in a partial mode easily and you just rinse the head under faucet. Quick. If you want to take the screen all the way off, that is easy too- still just rinse under the faucet. I did not see any reason to get the fancier model with the cleaner system. The rinse routine I use is maybe 30 seconds max. I do leave it out to dry. It cleans easily and completely this way. I haven't had it long enough to check battery life- but I haven't charged it in 2 weeks and its still strong. The popup trimmer is pretty wide so it helps make a straight edge on the mustache- No blood yet so thats a good thing! Norelco says to replace the head every 18 months. Only thing I see wrong with this machine is it cost more than my Norelco.. By the way, if you want to try something nice, Williams Lectric Shave smells good and seems to help the shaver do its job. I would call this Braun 550 a really good machine.

I've been using rotary electric razors since I started shaving - several good reviews on this razor convinced me to give a foil model a try when my last rotary broke.

I'm really quite pleased. It took a few days to learn to shave with it, and for my face to get used to it. But now I'm getting a better shave than before, in about the same amount of time. When I started with this razor, I had to be careful to avoid small nicks, especially around my neck. But as I learn to shave correctly with this razor, those have largely gone away. (I think it is primarily an issue because I am so used to a rotary razor, not a foil model.

Overall, I am quite pleased with this razor. It gives a better shave than I'm used to getting, is easy to clean up, and to me is not really that noisy. I'm glad I decided to spend a little more money and get this model.

I bought a Braun 370 last month and then a few days ago I saw the 550 on sale so I bought that one also. Both deliver a pretty good shave compared to the Panasonics I have been mainly using these past eight years. The Norelco triple head I bought last year gives a good shave also, but I really don't like the triple heads that much---none seem to cut well on the neck hairs. In any event, altho the Braun 37 and 550 both give a good shave, I wonder what the designers were thinking when it came to the case and protection for the shave heads. The case hold the shaver and that's it. There is no room for the power/charge cord, the oil bottle, or the brush. The supplied brush with the 370 is a joke it is so small and useless. The one with the 550 is really nice and useful. Now that I have two Brauns, I am wondering how I am supposed to transport them on trips if the cord, etc. do not fit in the nice hard case?? Certainly not together, it seems, unless I use duct tape or a large rubber band. And, to top it off, they no longer deem it necessary to protect the heads with a plastic cap. there is none supplied. You would think for the money Braun charges for these things they would at least design a case that held both the power cord and the razor!

I care mostly about the shaver itself, as opposed to the accessories that come with it. Bought this because my old Braun from about 10 years ago now has a bad switch that won't stay in place, so it turns on or off unexpectedly.

I bought the 570 (essentially the same shaver as the 550, but comes with the cleaning system), and have to say WOW. great shave, even better than my previous Braun.

+ VERY close shave
+ quiet
+ comfortable to hold / good ergonomics
+ comfortable on my face
+ seems to have good build quality, at least it looks and feels well made.
+ Love the case it comes with. Don't care that it doesn't hold the cord.
+ trimmer is awesome. The way it extends means I can actually SEE it no matter what angle I hold the shaver at. (My old model flipped out from the side, and if I turned the shaver to the side, the trimmer couldn't be seen.)

- No foil shield (but I don't think it matters)
- Kinda pricey. (But how many products are there where you can go buy the very best for under $200 -- and it's something where quality really matters, and you'll use it every day for many years?! Easy to justify the cost if you ask me.)

BTW, I had bought + returned the model 340. Realized it didn't allow for corded operation -- I learned that lesson a long time ago, I need it to work either cordless or corded. Also, the head seemed bulky - didn't care for the 3 independent elements that each wobble on their own, but I didn't actually try it. I did feel that the quality look/feel was lacking, and don't get that sense at all with the 570.

I owned a old 7 series this takes same refill, nice. Get the red - fun morning!!

I do not like the washer because it takes up space and more to the point the liquid cleaner caused a rash, sensitive skin. Good as old shaver love it. I got mine for one hubdred and fifteen buck on a well know acution site with buy now no bidding. Great buy. Cleans under runing water or just "shake it out"