Braun Büffel Syncro 7570
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- Input voltage: 100 - 240
- Hair Trimmer: With Hair Trimmer
- Features: With Hair Trimmer
- Number of Heads: 2 Heads
- Water Resistant: Dry Only
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Braun Syncro System Shavers - worth getting?
Pros
Fastest motor, close shave, nice design, convenient cleaning system
Cons
Relatively pricey, cleaning system adds a periodic cost
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Braun has done it again - this has to be the BEST foil shaver on the market! But, make sure you choose the right model.
This is a *4* years later follow-up to my review below. I still have the same shaver. I replaced the foil and cutter block at the 2-year mark (an easy operation and worth doing). I have taken it internationally (Japan, Australia, Germany, France, Turkey) and it works perfectly with non-US voltages. At this point, the battery has lost some of its capacity, but I still find I get about 10 days of shaving before having to recharge. The only annoying thing I'm experiencing is that the low charge light (flashing red LED) activates a bit too early by about 2 days. Overall, not bad for over 4 years of use. I have heard testimony that the new Norelco Spectra shavers are giving Braun a run for the money, so it may be worth checking them out (I still prefer the slim profile of the Braun, which travels easily). The only trouble is that Norelco shavers now come in plastic blister-pack containers, so that you cannot try-and-return. Good luck in your decision!
~Gary
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May '00 submission:
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The Braun Syncro System shavers debuted in the US around the spring of 2000. They made quite a splash, looking quite different from the predecessor, the Braun Flex Integral. As a result of its introduction then, sales of the Flex Integral line (notably the top model 6550) went up quite a bit because they were being discounted with the introduction of the new line. Some would argue you were better off saving your money and getting the older top rated 6550 model. Well, after having used the new Synchro System line for the past year, I disagree.
The Braun Synchro System line consists of several models: 7570, 7546, 7526, and 7505. The top of the line is, naturally, the 7570. I suggest you go to www.shavers.com to see the spec comparison, as this site does a good job of showing you the differences. In a nutshell, they ALL have the same motor and cut exactly the same. The differences are in the number of indicators (the 7570 has an LCD screen), some additional chrome trim, and the inclusion of the cleaning system (the 7505 comes without it).
I chose the 7526. At the time I bought it, there was quite a price difference between the 7526 and the higher 7546 and 7570 models. The 7526 comes with the cleaning system, while the 7505 does not. Other than that, the 7526 simply has only one LED indicator to show the remaining charge, and no decorative chrome trim on the head. Quite frankly, I see no need to get the 7570 in order to see exactly how much charge I have left, how long the cleaning system has been running, or how many hours I've spent shaving! All models will show a flashing red light when the charge is low. At that point you have two shaves left. Simply plug it into the socket when you're done and in about an hour or two you are fully charged. How hard is that?
Although I bought the 7526, the 7570 shaver is essentially the same unit, so this review will apply.
Details on the shaver itself: The Synchro System has a new high speed motor, and I think it is the fastest one for a shaver under $200. I find I get a very close shave, when using traditional foil shaver techniques (see the Epinions section on this). Also, a single charge seems adequate enough to operate the shaver for two weeks. The motor and battery are light weight, so this shaver is not heavy, and it fits nicely in your hand. Three usage settings are available: 1) pivoting head, 2) locked head, and 3) trimmer extension. I use all three at various times--once again, Braun thought this out very well.
The cleaning system: I find this device very ingenious, for a variety of reasons. First, it really does clean the shaver well. Second, it isn't overbearingly loud. And third, it has indicators to show when cleaning and charging are done. The fourth is revenue. Braun was very clever about this. If men are only going to spend money once every two years on the foil and cutter block, how could they make more money? Well, this cleaning system is the key. If the cleaner is used the way Braun recommends, you end up replacing the cleaning cartridge every month. The smart thing to do is buy the "value pack", which brings the cost down to about $5 per cartridge. How do you know when to change it? Well, the cleaning system will tell you. It detects when there is a high amount of particles in the solution, or if the solution is too low to flow through, and will flash the red cartridge light while simply not running until you replace the cartridge. The cleaner unit itself is slightly big (about 12" tall x 5" round), so you may have a little difficulty finding a place for it. And don't think of bringing it with you when traveling! (You don't really need to clean everyday anyway).
But, I found a trick that Braun will probably shoot me for. The 7526 and higher models come with one cleaning cartridge in the box. I have been using this for 1 year and it is STILL working--not replaced yet. How did I do this? Well first of all, after each shave I dump my "whisker debris" down the sink, like you would normally do with the Flex Integral. It doesn't take long--simply pop off the foil, tap it in the sink, blow on both sides of the cutter block, replace the foil, and you're done in 10 seconds. This reduces the number of particles in the cleaning solution. So, why use the cleaning system at all, you may ask? It does do an excellent job of cleaning the cutter block, and whisker dust that is stuck on it and within the head and foil holder. A tedious task, even once or twice a week. When do I use the cleaning system? Well, usually whenever the shaver needs to be recharged. At this point, I take out the cartridge from my drawer, remove the top plugs, and slide it into the cleaner. Then I slide in the shaver and let the cleaner do its work. When the cleaning and charging is done, I remove the cleaning cartridge, reseal it with the plastic plugs, and put it away. This way the solution level does not get low from evaporation! Clever, eh? The only catch is that if you try to charge the shaver while mounted in the cleaner without the cartridge, it will not work. But you can always plug it in directly, without the cleaner. Anyway, that's my trick for getting around one this somewhat minor drawback. Some have said it's nice to have a "clean" shaver to use each time, but I find the cleaning process works well enough to use once per charge (just dump the whisker debris after each shave).
If price is no object, get the 7570. Otherwise, I recommend getting the 7526 if you find it priced low enough below the 7546 and 7570. NOTE: I paid $139 for my 7526 last year. The Amount Paid indicated in this review is for the currently available 7570.
~Gary
-----------------------------------------------------
May '00 submission:
-------------------
The Braun Syncro System shavers debuted in the US around the spring of 2000. They made quite a splash, looking quite different from the predecessor, the Braun Flex Integral. As a result of its introduction then, sales of the Flex Integral line (notably the top model 6550) went up quite a bit because they were being discounted with the introduction of the new line. Some would argue you were better off saving your money and getting the older top rated 6550 model. Well, after having used the new Synchro System line for the past year, I disagree.
The Braun Synchro System line consists of several models: 7570, 7546, 7526, and 7505. The top of the line is, naturally, the 7570. I suggest you go to www.shavers.com to see the spec comparison, as this site does a good job of showing you the differences. In a nutshell, they ALL have the same motor and cut exactly the same. The differences are in the number of indicators (the 7570 has an LCD screen), some additional chrome trim, and the inclusion of the cleaning system (the 7505 comes without it).
I chose the 7526. At the time I bought it, there was quite a price difference between the 7526 and the higher 7546 and 7570 models. The 7526 comes with the cleaning system, while the 7505 does not. Other than that, the 7526 simply has only one LED indicator to show the remaining charge, and no decorative chrome trim on the head. Quite frankly, I see no need to get the 7570 in order to see exactly how much charge I have left, how long the cleaning system has been running, or how many hours I've spent shaving! All models will show a flashing red light when the charge is low. At that point you have two shaves left. Simply plug it into the socket when you're done and in about an hour or two you are fully charged. How hard is that?
Although I bought the 7526, the 7570 shaver is essentially the same unit, so this review will apply.
Details on the shaver itself: The Synchro System has a new high speed motor, and I think it is the fastest one for a shaver under $200. I find I get a very close shave, when using traditional foil shaver techniques (see the Epinions section on this). Also, a single charge seems adequate enough to operate the shaver for two weeks. The motor and battery are light weight, so this shaver is not heavy, and it fits nicely in your hand. Three usage settings are available: 1) pivoting head, 2) locked head, and 3) trimmer extension. I use all three at various times--once again, Braun thought this out very well.
The cleaning system: I find this device very ingenious, for a variety of reasons. First, it really does clean the shaver well. Second, it isn't overbearingly loud. And third, it has indicators to show when cleaning and charging are done. The fourth is revenue. Braun was very clever about this. If men are only going to spend money once every two years on the foil and cutter block, how could they make more money? Well, this cleaning system is the key. If the cleaner is used the way Braun recommends, you end up replacing the cleaning cartridge every month. The smart thing to do is buy the "value pack", which brings the cost down to about $5 per cartridge. How do you know when to change it? Well, the cleaning system will tell you. It detects when there is a high amount of particles in the solution, or if the solution is too low to flow through, and will flash the red cartridge light while simply not running until you replace the cartridge. The cleaner unit itself is slightly big (about 12" tall x 5" round), so you may have a little difficulty finding a place for it. And don't think of bringing it with you when traveling! (You don't really need to clean everyday anyway).
But, I found a trick that Braun will probably shoot me for. The 7526 and higher models come with one cleaning cartridge in the box. I have been using this for 1 year and it is STILL working--not replaced yet. How did I do this? Well first of all, after each shave I dump my "whisker debris" down the sink, like you would normally do with the Flex Integral. It doesn't take long--simply pop off the foil, tap it in the sink, blow on both sides of the cutter block, replace the foil, and you're done in 10 seconds. This reduces the number of particles in the cleaning solution. So, why use the cleaning system at all, you may ask? It does do an excellent job of cleaning the cutter block, and whisker dust that is stuck on it and within the head and foil holder. A tedious task, even once or twice a week. When do I use the cleaning system? Well, usually whenever the shaver needs to be recharged. At this point, I take out the cartridge from my drawer, remove the top plugs, and slide it into the cleaner. Then I slide in the shaver and let the cleaner do its work. When the cleaning and charging is done, I remove the cleaning cartridge, reseal it with the plastic plugs, and put it away. This way the solution level does not get low from evaporation! Clever, eh? The only catch is that if you try to charge the shaver while mounted in the cleaner without the cartridge, it will not work. But you can always plug it in directly, without the cleaner. Anyway, that's my trick for getting around one this somewhat minor drawback. Some have said it's nice to have a "clean" shaver to use each time, but I find the cleaning process works well enough to use once per charge (just dump the whisker debris after each shave).
If price is no object, get the 7570. Otherwise, I recommend getting the 7526 if you find it priced low enough below the 7546 and 7570. NOTE: I paid $139 for my 7526 last year. The Amount Paid indicated in this review is for the currently available 7570.
