Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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394 of 401 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Closer shave than braun, November 18, 2005
This is my second panasonic linear, just used for a couple days. I have also had 2 Braun self-cleaning shavers in the past, including the latest Activator 8595. Haven't used the cleaning system for my new vortex yet, sorry, can't report on how well it cleans, but hey, must be better and more convenient than me cleaning it manually (which was a pain for my first panasonic in that my stubble gunk would get caked onto the blades and wouldn't easily rinse off). I think the Vortex is the answer to my prayers. Both my panasonics shaved closer and operated more quietly and was less irritating on my skin than either Braun models. The reason I went back to Braun and bought the Activator after my first Panasonic was that it was just so much more convenient to clean for my lazy self. Now there doesn't appear to be any need for a tradeoff, can have your cake and eat it too--quality shave and practical convenience.
I was very disappointed at the seemingly bogus claims of the Braun Activator's new patterned slots at improving shave closeness and cutting down on shave time over the previous models of Braun. In contrast, this new pansonic vortex seems to be an improvement over even my older panasonic in that it has a triple blade system. The old panasonic and brauns have two blades on either side of a central comb that i suppose guides and preps the hair. on the vortex, that center comb also has a blade to cut long/stray hairs, and so far doesn't seem to be just a gimmick, i feel a difference. furthermore, the panasonic is a wet/dry system while braun is strictly dry. i use panasonic only dry and am already satisfied, but the unit is supposed to be watertight and panasonic invites you to try using the shaver with shaving foam for an even closer shave, not even an option with the braun. dry panasonic shave for me is already closer and faster than dry braun, nice to know if need be for special occasion, important interview or date, can try using the panasonic wet for supposedly an even closer shave.
the panasonics do a better job of hugging the contours of your face than the brauns as the head pivots in more directions. quieter motor, higher frequency hum than braun, which has a loud and harsh noise that had not improved at all with the new Activator. they are also lighter units than brauns, which i happen to like. handle is also more contoured for gripping too, braun is just a brick shape. some might say the panasonic feels cheaper/more flimsy, but i feel that the shave outcome is more important. braun has fancier packaging, the unit, the plug, the carrying case, manual, even the box (as i recall was a doozy to open). the panasonic is no nonsense but gets the job done.
the panasonic cleaning unit itself has a little larger footprint than the braun; though may be easier to pack as it can lie flat and is thinner. braun's is unwieldy bc it's round in shape so in the end might take up more suitcase room. Also, the panasonic cleaning cartridge is smaller and not alcohol-based. you do have to add tap water to the panasonic. the braun uses alcohol which evaporates over time once you pop the lid open, regardless of whether or not you use it.
Update: Have used now for 1 month. Still loving it. Can now comment on the cleaning feature. Does a very good job of cleaning =) Quite economical too! I was able to get refills from Amazon 3-pack for $8.88. I clean once every 3 days, 1 cartridge supposed to last ~ 1.5 months, but i can see stretching it even longer duration. That 3-pack i just got should last me 6 months, just buck and half per month, well worth the convenience and quality of cleansing. braun cleaner is bulky, more expensive, will run you at least $10 for a 2-pack and you can't really stretch the life too much b/c alcohol based, will evaporate over time whether you use it or not, once it's been opened. A whole 3-pack of panasonic is smaller in size than a single braun cartridge. braun's cleaner had lemony scent which is nice, panasonic has no scent, just like out of the box. does take up to 3x longer to clean than braun, but for me that has turned out to be more academic rather than practical issue. i usually run the cleaner after a shave not before i need to use. just push the button and leave; so i don't care if it takes 1 or 3 hours since i won't be coming back to use the shaver until the next day anyway. hope that helps.
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187 of 190 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Light and quick,, December 16, 2005
I have uploaded several photos of the unit, including everything it came with.
I bought this as a replacement unit for my old Braun 5550, which after a few years of use has finally died.
I have yet to try to cleaning unit, but here is a breakdown of the time it should take to clean, according to the manual:
1) Charge - Approx 1 Hour
2) Clean/Dry/Charge - Approx 3 Hours
3) Clean/Dry - Approx 3 Hours
4) Dry/Charge - Approx 2 hrs 50 mins
5) Dry - Approx 2 hrs 50 mins
For most people, the lengthy cleaning time shouldn't be much of a concern since if the battery is low, just plug it in after your shave, and it'll be clean and ready for your next shave.
The manual recommends replacing the "HydraClean" detergent cartridge every 30-40 days. They also include an alternative method to clean -- using liquid soap and water; this would be convenient when on the road, so you don't have to lug around the cleaning base!
Replacement Parts & Accessories (Retail prices & model # as indicated in insert):
1) Protective Cap (WES8044X7158): $0.62
2) Outer Foil (WES9085PC): $35.00
3) Inner Blades (WES9064PC): $21.95
4) Charging Adapter (WES8044K7658): $16.11
5) Self-Cleaning Recharger (WES8078H4218): $41.89
6) Detergent Cartridge 3-pack (WES035P): $9.99
Pros:
- The Panasonic Vortex is relatively light, and easy to hold/grip.
- Wet/Dry: One of the main features that won me over. I decided to get this unit instead of the Braun Activator because of this feature. I usually shave right after I take a shower, and my old Braun wouldn't cut cleanly until I fully dried off. First thing I did when I received this unit was to try shaving after a shower -- worked perfectly.
- Speed: For my old shaver, I had to take several passes, and yet still missed stubs here and there. With the Vortex, I was able to shave cleanly in one quick pass. I'm impressed!
- Head Pivots: The head of the shaver adjusts smoothly to the contours of my face.
- Battery life: Right out of the box, I used the shaver for a month before it finally ran out of batteries. I shave about once every other day, so seems like this could really last for those long trips!
Cons:
- After my shave, my skin got a bit irritated. However, I'm sure my skin may just need a little time to adjust. (Edit: My skin seems to have adjusted perfectly. I would now give the product a perfect 5!)
- Came with a cheap travel bag.
- The cleaning/charging unit is fairly big.
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Some reviewers have mentioned the noise of the unit. With any electric shaver, the noise is unavoidable. I didn't find the noise too annoying, though some of you may.
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113 of 114 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
best shaver out there. , January 28, 2006
before i get into my review of this shaver, i am compelled to give a little background of my skin type and the problems ive had with shaving. i'm a 25 yr old white guy with medium beard thickness. i have sensitive skin that is prone to bumps and ingrown hairs if i shave too close. i have tried many aftershave products and none has completely eliminated the problem. for years, ive been using the gillette mach III razor(and before that the sensor excel), but due to the sensitivity of my skin, i have been limited to shaving in the downward direction. this method has never given me a very close shave. a few months ago, i got fed up with having a 5:00 shadow at noon and decided to try an electric shaver.
i figured it would be worth it to buy the top of the line shaver. most of them have what i consider "luxury" features, such as the cleaning base unit, travel plugs, and cases. these are nice, but not very important to me. i want a razor that gives a nice shave all over (face and neck), doesn't hurt during the process, and doesn't leave my skin red and dried out when im done. i have also read some complaints of a shaver and/or the base being loud, but while some are louder than others, none are going to wake up the neighbors. when reading my review of the 3 shavers i tried, keep in mind that a shaver that has these three qualities makes me happier than one with a cool base and a travel kit.
anyway, lately Braun has been flooding the airwaves with ads for the new Braun Activator, so i figured i should give it a shot. at first, i was very happy with the Activator. it has a strong motor and when i applied it to my 2 day beard growth, it mowed right through. i did have trouble around my neck, as the Braun just wouldn't cut the rather long hairs there. i went over the area quite a few times, which left my neck red and with a couple of nicks. i ended up having to use a regular razor just to clean up the spots along my neck that it wouldn't cut. i also noticed that after a few days, it left my face chaffed. it had a nice trimmer on it and for those who care, the cleaning base was actually kind of nice and it did indeed make the shaver feel just like new after each shave, but i would have gladly sacrificed that for a better neck area shave.
so i tried Braun's chief competitor, Norelco. again, i went for the high end model, the SoftTouch. my first impression of the SoftTouch was of its rather weak motor. it just didn't feel very powerful to me, but to my surprise it shaved a teensy bit closer than the Activator and it was much more successful around my neck. after a few shaves with it, however, i noticed some problems. first, if i skipped shaving for a day, i had to use a blade because the SoftTouch just couldn't do it efficiently. i'd spend 10 minutes shaving with it and i'd still have hairs that it just hadn't cut. no good. secondly, it pulled. i don't feel i was moving it over my skin too quickly, but even after just one days growth, i felt the little blades tugging on some of the hairs. i actually started shaving slower out of fear of that very uncomfortable tug. it too seemed to have some trouble around my neck. while better than the Activator, it actually cut the hair on my neck, however it also left some nicks. the trimmer is equally weak and i had to work at it to get a nice even line on my sideburns. also, for some reason, it isn't very good at using it to get the stray whisker. sometimes, it just doesn't cut that pesky hair even though you are holding it right up to it.
so after using it for a month (they ask you to try it 21 days), i sent it back. i did not buy the one with the cleaning unit, but it wasn't hard to clean at all. and i liked how it told you when it was dirty and when it needed new blades (though, obviously i didn't have it long enough to see them in action).
lo and behold, i was perturbed by the results my little test. then i remembered that i had owned a Panasonic shaver back in high school. it was very simple by today's standards, but i never had a problem with it. so i figured i should check out what Panasonic had to offer.
i bought the ES8077S Vortex with high hopes. at $129 on amazon, it was cheaper than the other two i had already bought and returned. i have only owned it for a week now, but i already know that this is the shaver for me. so let me rave about it a little bit.
the Vortex, like the Activator, has a powerful motor. it cut through my beard without any problem and left me with a softer, smoother shave than either of the others. it shaves my face nice and smooth with absolutely no pulling. and also important, i don't feel dry and chaffed afterwards. in fact, i can apply aftershave, right after using the shaver and only experience a very minimum sting, less eventhan a regular blade. i can't say the same about the other two shavers. the Braun, in particular, really left my face burning when i applied aftershave.
around my neck area, the Vortex isn't perfect. i have a hard time getting some of the hairs, but it does a much better job than the Activator and even after going over it a few times, the Vortex doesn't nick or leave my skin raw. and if i flip up the trimmer, i can easily clean up what it misses, again with no pain or irritation. the trimmer is powerful and has no difficulty with stray hairs. it is also safe to drag it across your skin without worrying about nicks or cuts.
so the Vortex is far and away the best of the 3 shavers in my opinion and this is without even using one of its key features. the Vortex is a wet/dry shaver, whereas the Activator and SoftTouch can not be used wet. i am getting the closest, most comfortable shave with it and i haven't even used it with water yet. this means that i can get an even closer shave if i use it with gel/shaving cream.
it comes with a cleaning base, which works nicely. if i had to offer one criticism of the Vortex, i guess i'd say it is not as quiet as the SoftTouch, but with its more powerful motor, i would gladly sacrifice the quietness for a good shave and no pulling.
all in all, if you are going to spend over $100 on an electric shaver, check out the Panasonic line first. i think it blows away all the other guys, which is suprising. i hope you found this helpful. sorry for writing this much, but i wish i had a review like this when i was shopping for shavers.
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