Braun 8595 Activator Self-Cleaning Shaving System with LCD Display
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Customer Reviews of Braun 8595 Activator Self-Cleaning Shaving System with LCD Display
Customer Review: BRAUN MAKES THE BEST EVEN BETTER!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Braun 8595 Activator is one razor that's worth the price!
Great shave. I've been a fan of the Braun electric razors for the past 15+ years. Nothing I've tried provides a closer shave, not even the best disposable razors. And nothing I've tried is as gentle on my skin. No bumps, burns or irritation. The best Norelco and Remmington shavers I received as gifts didn't come close. Even after several tries, they each chewed up my face, leaving my skin raw. When I upgraded to the Braun 8595 I was pleasantly surprised that it provided an even closer and smoother shave than my Bruan 6000 series shaver. I was upgrading because of the self-cleaning feature. The improved quality of the shave was an added and unexpected bonus.
Braun made the best even better. The self-cleaning feature is a big time saver. And, it's a great feeling to use a really clean razor each morning. Trust me, you'll love it! I loved my Braun 6000 series razor. The only drawback was the time I spent cleaning it each morning and the mess it created. Cleaning it meant taking the foil off to remove whiskers from the cutter block area, which left a mess in and around the sink. The Braun 8595 even tells you when it's time to change the cleaning cartridges. And, they're easy to replace. Simply push one button, the unit rises to reveal the cleaning-solution cartridge. Simply pull it out and replace it with a new one. Easy!
Another feature I love about my Braun 8595 is the "Smart Logic" system that keeps the razor fully charged for each use. Although I loved my Braun 6000 series razor, it did lose a little in the quality of the shave as the battery ran down and was ready to be recharged.
A great shave AND a razor that cleans itself! It's one of the best purchases I made this year! This razor is well worth the price! And, with the discount, rebate and Amazon coupon... My advice is don't wait! This is one instance that the product description lives up to its promises. As Bruan states, put simply, "The Braun Activator... takes care of itself. Aside from giving you a super-close shave, the nifty unit automatically detects when it needs to be cleaned, alerts you on the LCD panel which of the 3 cleaning programs is required and proceeds to wash and dry itself. It also lubricates the cutting parts and tells you when the shaving foil and cutting block need to be replaced. The charger is great too-it juices up the shaver while optimizing the battery capacity and life-span." This is one case of truth in advertising.
Customer Review: Great Shaver--This Applies to the 8595 and the 8585
Summary: 5 Stars
The key thing in an electric shaver is getting the whiskers to the cutting blades. If the foil is too thick, or the holes in the foil don't get the stubby hairs inside, the shave won't be close. My whiskers grow flat along my skin in some parts of my face, especially in my throat area. The heads of most electric shavers just glided over them without picking them up. I could only get a close shape with a blade. My previous Panasonic wet/dry shaver had little rubber fins (like on some of the better Gillette razors) at the leading edges of the foil to lift up the flat hairs so they could go into the foil. That was the best electric shave I had ever gotten up to now. But Panasonic no longer sells any model with those fins, and the replacement foils with the fins for my shaver have been discontinued.
I looked around for current shavers that might have a new approach. Shaving with a blade every day is just too hard on my skin. I came across these Brauns 8595 and 8585. The explanation of the new foil design approach seemed to make enough sense to give it a try. The two models are the same, except that the 8595 has an LCD display for $40 more. The information on Braun's website sort of reveals, if you look at what the functions of the display are, that its main purpose is to nag you--time to clean, time to replace the foil, etc. So I saved the extra money and got the 8585.
I have been very impressed with it. The differently shaped foil slots/holes really do seem to pull in the hairs. No electric shaver is ever going to be as completely close as a blade--a blade scapes your skin; a shaver always has a foil between your skin and the cutters. But this is pretty near to it. It's at least as good as my old wet/dry Panasonic with the hair-lifting fins.
Here's a semi-undocumented tip. The instructions say that you charge the shaver by putting it in the cleaning/charging station. They also say that you can use the power cord for corded shaving if the battery is discharged, and that the battery charges whenever the shaver is connected to a power outlet. What they DON'T say outright is what these facts suggest and I discovered: you can charge the shaver by connecting it to the outlet directly with the power cord. You don't have to use the cleaning/charging stand. This makes it easier to travel with the shaver, since you don't have to take that liquid-filled cleaning stand with you.
Customer Review: A high quality shaver
Summary: 5 Stars
I have previously owned 5 Braun shavers, my last one being a 7000 series which lasted for about 5 years. I was very happy with my 7000 series shaver, but I recently dropped it and the popup trimmer mechanism broke about a week later. Except for my 7000 series shaver, the recharable batteries in all of my previous shavers died within 2-3 years. Continuing to use them on AC only eventually caused the battery charging circuitry to blow-out, as the batteries would no longer take a charge. The move to NiMH batteries in the newer shavers seems to have corrected that problem.
The Activator is well-made, well-balanced, and provides an exceptional shave. The automatic cleaning function has been improved since the 7000 series in two respects. It now has the intelligence to determine how dirty the shaver is, and enters one of three different cleaning programs to conserve the cleaning solution. It also has a more sophisticated battery charging program that will vary the charging mode to provide the longest battery life possible. As far as shaving is concerned, the main improvement seems to be the foil and cutter design. Without exaggeration, this shaver provides a noticably closer shave than my 7000 series ever did with a new foil/cutter -- and that was a pretty good shave. The motor is strong, and the vibration is comparable to my 7000 series. The cleaning/charging base is the same size as the old except that the arm that extended upwards to lock the shaver in place is gone. This is a nice redesign, as it blends in better with the bathroom decor. The advanced cleaning programs will also clean the shaver in less time if a full cleaning cycle is not required. Also, the cleaning cartridges are the same as those for the 7000 series, which is nice if you have a few unopened ones on hand as I do!
Although it kills me to spend so much on a new shaver when my 7000 worked so well, this is a very good shaver and I am happy with my purchase. The shave is better than before, and the unit itself seems to be well-made and well-designed. The new foil desing seems to be the major advancement, and the improved cleaning/charging system is well thought-out. Although all of this may seem like unnecessary gimmicry, you will get an awesome shave and a well-made unit that will probably last for many years to come.
Two thumbs up.
Customer Review: Sensative skin shavers, this one is for you!
Summary: 5 Stars
I will make this short and too the point.
I shave my head and have sensative skin. I purchased this shaver on the suggestions from other Amazon users. This is What I found:
Pros:
-Shaves the closest next to a straight blade!
-Doesn't give you skin irritation. I go over spots multiple times and my old shaver would give me bumps and red spots on my head and neck. This one leaves my skin feeling smooth and not irritated at all.
-Cleans up very well. After putting it through the cleaning cycle, it looks new, shaves new, and even smells good from the solution it cleans itself in.
-Best shaver out there. Worth every dollar!
-Makes shaving easy. Becuase the base and shaver work together, this shaver will charge itself as much as it needs, keep track of how long you shaved before to determine the proper cleaning. This shaver does all the thinking for you.
-Newer design is a plus. The new shaver head does capture more hairs than other ones. This is a vast improvement from previous versions and normal foil razors.
-Looks cool. This is like the Cadillac of razors. You can hold it at any angle and it isnt too heavy or bulky, just right!
-Put together well. Even the carrying case is a hard molded plastic with a head cleaning brush that forms to the inside.
-Is able to get all shaving areas, especially when you lock the pivoting head to get into hard to reach areas.
Cons:
-Hair does come out of the shaver. As noted by a few other reviews, if you have a decent amount of hair to shave, the hair starts to fall out of the shaver like some one is sprinkling pepper by your head. Because i shave my head, it creates a decent amount. But you can cut this down by opening the head and shaking out the excess. But it can create a mess if you don't pay attention.
-Is pricey. Most people would have a hard time putting out over 100 bucks for a razor. But please listen to others and myself, you will see that you get what you pay for and in this circumstance, it is very true! I found an awesome deal at Sams Club. The razor kit plus a pack of 2 refills for the cleaner for $140.00 which is the best deal even on here and doing a froogle search. Chek that out.
Other than that, this is the best shaver to date!
Customer Review: A best-buy, even when compared to newer models
Summary: 5 Stars
The pressure facing health and beauty grooming appliances is tough... they have to constantly think of new and better ways to improve their products, EVEN THOUGH they may have already reached a technological ceiling. It's because of the competitive nature of business. They could make subtle improvements in an existing shaver and price it less, but people won't buy it because there isn't some compelling difference. So, companies keep trying to invent catch phrases and ambiguous functionality.
How much better can a foil shaver get? Braun reached a major pinnacle with the 7000 series. The Syncro line was the first introducing a head cleaning system, as well as a faster motor with side-to-side vibration. You take a shave with a 7000 series and the new 7 series, and guess what? You won't feel a noticeable difference. [...]
But the 7000 series isn't as well built as the 8000 series. The 7000 series had some issues, most notably with the cleaner (the securing clasp weakens and won't hold the shaver in place) and the shaver casing. My 7000 still works, but the side grips have warped. And it's noisier than the 8000 series. My 8595 is solidly built. It works quickly, doesn't become hot to the touch, and charges fully within 60 minutes--enough to last almost two weeks. The cleaning station is a notable improvement over the 7000 series.
As some other reviewers have pointed out, you don't need to use the cleaning station after each shave. I use mine once every couple of weeks, then recap it and put it away. In between, I just dump the whiskers into the sink after each shave. This makes the fluid last about 20 times as long.
I also tried the newer 790cc series (borrowed from a friend). I did a shaving comparison with the 8595 on one side and the 790cc on the other. Guess what? No difference. Plus, the 8595 has the LCD technology that gives you more information (Braun removed this to save $$ on production costs in the later models).
So, in my book, this is the best foil shaver you can get. Well, the 8995 model is basically the same, with just some minor cosmetic changes to the casing.
If you're cost conscious and looking for the optimal Braun shaver, look no further than the 8595 or 8995. :-)