BRAUN 6520 - A Good Razor at a Reasonable Price
Written: Oct 26 '02 (Updated Nov 17 '02)
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Pros: Easy to use and clean. Good feedback when shaving.
Cons: Storage pouch is useless.
The Bottom Line: This is a good razor at a middle of the road price. I definitely recommend this razor.
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| joe_gadget's Full Review: Braun Flex Integral 6520 Electric Shaver |
Background
I have been using electric razors for about 5 years now. I have a semi-tough beard. My last razor was a Remington DA-407. It did the job for a cheapy. I figured it was time to upgrade to a better razor instead of spending $25 on a new foil when I only paid $35 for the razor !!!
Performance
I have been using the Braun 6520 razor for about a month. The charge provides about two weeks of shaving. I shave once a day and each shave takes me about 3-5 minutes. No problems or issues so far.
I have tried shaving with this razor before and after my morning shower. Even though the manual recommends shaving before your shower, I get better results shaving after.
I find myself going over my "trouble spots" multiple times, but I can get a close shave. I need to be careful of pressing too hard, because it will irritate my skin. But that will happen with any razor you buy.
The razor lets you know when you have gotten a close shave because you can hear the razor cutting the stubble. Not loudly, but you can hear it. I find this a nice thing that I did not have with my old razor.
The pouch that Braun supplies to store the razor in is completely useless. It is made of what looks and feels like heavy leather, but it does not secure the razor. It can easily fall out because it is open on the sides. Very poor design. I am using the pouch from my old razor.
The replacement foils are on the pricey side (about $25), but I have seen worse.
I got mine at Kmart for $80. I see them cheaper online, but I tore a whole in my other razor's foil and I just wanted to get it over with so I bought it when I saw it.
Summary
I definitely like this razor over my old one. After much research (I always over analyze everything) I chose this razor because it offered all of the features I thought were important and it lacked the features that I thought were not worth the extra cost.
The newer (and more expensive) shavers offer a cleaning system which I think is an absolute waste of time and money. I mean, how lazy can you be? After each shave I remove the foil (a quick push of a button) tap it on the counter, blow out the blades with a couple of puffs and it's done. Why spend the money on the cleaning fluid which is over priced and waste the counter space (another thing for my kids to knock over). It also complicates the razor and is something else to break. Some also offer shaving gel dispensers, which don't work and adds to the cost of shaving. There are also the wet shavers, but come on, why do you need to shave in the shower anyway? They don't shave any better than dry shavers.
It charges up very quick (about an hour) and you can use it corded or cordless. This is a nice feature because when the battery does not hold a charge any more you can use the cord instead of buying a replacement battery (about $50) or a new razor.
The head moves to the contour of your face which is a nice feature. It keeps the foil flat against your face to maximize the performance. You can lock in place if you don't like the feature.
As far as handling goes, I like the feel of my old razor a little better, because it was contoured to fit your hand, but this razor is okay.
The Bottom Line
This is a good razor at a middle of the road price. The Braun name has been around forever and is known for quality and good customer service.
I have heard that this razor has been discontinued, but it seems to be readily available. The replacement model (5441)has the base charger/cleaner, which again is not something I like.
There is an optional 12-volt adaptor, but with a charge that lasts for 2 weeks, I don't see the need unless you are living out of your car.
The foil is a very common one, and is used on many other Braun models, so it should remain available for a long time.
I definitely recommend this razor.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 80
Noise Level: More quiet than most
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Epinions.com ID:
joe_gadget
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Location: NJ, USA
Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
Husband, Father, Computer Software Development Manager, and Gadget Lover.
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