790cc Review – Shaver & Accessories

Review by D. E. Johnson:
I have owned many electric shaver over the years. Most all have been top of the line Norelco or Braun eclectic shavers. The Braun 9595 is replacing the Braun 8585 Activator that I have used since they first came out. 

After only 2 shaves ( a 1 day beard and a heavy 2 day old beard ) I can see I am really going to enjoy this shaver.

My actual shaving time is reduced considerably since the 9595 seems to cut stubborn facial hair on the first pass.

The 9595 gives a smooth fast shave and doesn’t cause me any skin irritation.

By far the very best electric shaver that I have ever used and I have used dozens over my 65 years.

Review by Avid Reviewer:
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.

Review by Guy in California:
You don’t HAVE to use the cleaning function of the Braun. You can use it like any other shaver and clean it with a brush. But if you don’t mind paying ~/year on these refills, then the cleaning system works great. I hope eventually someone decides to make generic versions of the refills or sells the fluid only so we can refill them (like they do with inkjet printer cartridges). I would NOT take the advice of the guy who recommended using alcohol and lemon juice as a refilling liquid. Lemon has sugar (and other impurities) in it, and alcohol doesn’t have lubricating agents and may strip the lubricating that the blades need. 

Cleaning every other day may seem like a money-saving idea, but I have found that even if you don’t use it for weeks, the cleaning fluid still evaporates and you have to replace it almost as frequently, so I figure I might as well get the benefit of cleaning rather than let the stuff just evaporate away.

I hope Amazon starts selling these things directly since buying it from J&R is not a good deal because of the shipping charges. Instead, go to Walgreens or some other store that sells the shaver system, and buy it there. BestBuy.com sells it for the same price with free shipping. J&R’s prices are regular street prices (not 50% off).

Review by R. Tock:
I’ve owned a Braun Syncro for about a year and a half now. It’s the closest shave I’ve ever had without cutting myself, and that includes the new triple blades. But those refills are pricey. Another Amazon review gave me a clue as to how to make each cartridge last six months. Here’s how: Clean your razor once a week instead of every day. Between cleans, remove the cartridge from the cleaning machine and reseal the cartridge with the original plastic tab. No more evaporation problem. I’ve been very happy with the results. 

Review by D. Buzzelli:
The seller got a bad rap from Grigoriy Grinberg. The cartridges come 2 to a box. You get 6 boxes = 12 Cartridges. Great deal! Grab it if you can 

Review by W. E. Bell Jr.:
I read another review that said that the customer only received a partial shipment from the vendor, but because of the cost differential, I ordered a dozen anyway. I promptly received my order. I love the razor and I love the way it cleans itself. It is spotless afterward and ready for the next shave. I did think that the freight was extremely high for the small container. 

Review by Mark R. Koppen:
I thought I’d wait a full month (and cleaning cycle) to write this review, and I have to give this razor 5 stars almost across the board: 

Shave quality – ***** – After a few days I would have given this only 4 stars, as it seemed only as good as the Braun 7526 I replaced with this razor. But after a full 3 weeks or more, my face (or my technique) adjusted and this razor gives me a better shave than the 7526 in about the same time.

Comfort – ***** – This razor is far more comfortable than the 7526, not nearly as much irritation. I took care of my 7526, replacing the blades and foil annually, but this is a far superior razor. As a bonus, it is also quieter, which my wife likes too.

Cleaning – ***** – I have now run through a full cleaning cycle, and I think the automatic system helps save a bit of the fluid in the cartridge; I gained at least 4-5 days on the first cartridge over what I used to get (4 weeks). Cartridge changing is just as easy as before.

Styling – *** – The Braun guys should have asked their auto compatriots for help here. A silver razor, refrigerator white cleaning stand, and black power cord. Not nearly as nice as the black on black of the 7526. Just an esthetic issue, but you have to wonder what they were thinking.

Charging – it automatically charges each time you put it back in the cleaning unit, whether you clean it or not. Much better than the old model where you had to select “charge” every time.

Overall, this is a great razor – I don’t know if it’s because of the sonic feature, but whatever, it works. I wanted to be critical of this razor due to its cost, but it is a step above the 0-150 razor.

Review by S. Edmiston:
I really wanted to like this razor, especially considering its price. My concern was focused on the closeness of the shave and after using it for two weeks, I am very pleased with the shave that I get. The other drag from using an electric was the cleanup, but it is effortless with this razor. The two LEDs on the base station indicate the level of cleaner remaining and how “dirty” the razor is. If you did not charge the razor for some reason, you can operate it as a corded shaver, as the power cord can be plugged directly into the razor. Very nice product. 

I had used one of the nivea norelco models, but hated the clean up. The power turbo razor gives a marginally closer shave, but I was prone to cutting myself under my nose and below my lower lip.

Review by C. Fain:
I have tried all the electric razors on the market and this one is by far the best and easy to use. 

Review by B. Klick:
The pack does what it intends to do – brings your razor back to 100%. Not too much else you can say about it!