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Robert
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Pulsonic
« Thread started on: Sep 14th, 2007, 5:10pm » |
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As I said in another post today, I bought a Braun Pulsonic yesterday after using the Arcitec 1095 for three weeks. I have to set this up a bit. I hesitated for a long while before breaking down and getting the Pulsonic, mainly because the Arcitec is such a superb device. I didn't want to put it down for another shaver. Okay, so I bought the Pulsonic and shaved with it this morning. Yesterday, I shaved with the Arcitec. All day long I stroked my face, and all day long there was no shadow. At 5PM, there was nothing. No shadow. No Philips rotary has ever been able to accomplish that for me. At 8PM last night, I had the most minimal of shadows. So this is a tribute to the Philips Arcitec, which for my money is the best shaver I've used. Till today. Today I used the Pulsonic. First of all, It is now 5PM est. I have no shadow. No shadow on a first shave. So if, at 8PM tonight, the degree of shadow is what it was yesterday, the Pulsonic on a first shave is as good as the Arcitec after 3 weeks, shave for shave. Now as far as shaving is concerned, this is where the Pulsonic is not really a Braun, or Braun as we know it. Let's face it, all Brauns have traditionally been the same. This Braun is extremely different. The shaver has a pulsating rhythm that is unique and that makes shaving kind of pleasurable. Like the Arcitec, you don't feel it on your face. The shaver dances over the face and it feels great. like the Arcitec, and unlike any other foil I've ever used, the shave is unbelievably fast. Fast and very effective.
This is a breakthrough device for Braun. This is not an Activator/360, which is nothing more than the ongoing manifestation of a very dated template. This is a new Braun. This is washable. Can you believe it? A high end Braun that is washable. Hold on, I'm stroking my face again... No shadow. It's now after 5.
In a nutshell - the Pulsonic is a monster shaver. It is so unlike the conservative, undramatic Brauns of the past 20 years. It's a new Braun era. The build quality is of course perfect and it looks good. The cleaning module is elegant and smart.
Would I put aside the Arcitec for it? Maybe
Would I recommend it over a Panasonic 8228. Yes because it does dry what the 8228 does wet. Why be wet? Didn't we choose electric to be dry and quick? It's dry and quick.
Again, I don't advocate any shaver. I tell it as I see it, and I wanted to pass my experience on to you. This shaver is a keeper.
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mrradio
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Re: Pulsonic
« Reply #1 on: Sep 14th, 2007, 5:43pm » |
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I never thought I'd see the day that Robert had such praise for the innovation AND performance of a Braun;
and that I'm amazed by the dry shave results of a Panasonic.
It really proves folks, everybody has to try every unit before you're really going to know what it does for you.
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Robert
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Re: Pulsonic
« Reply #2 on: Sep 14th, 2007, 6:09pm » |
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Like a lot of people, I waited a long time for a Braun that I thought was the equal of shavers that I felt represented the very best. This Braun is unlike other Brauns. All Brauns are high quality devices, but but, but. It's only one shave. I'll give it the time I gave the Philips, but it's an excellent shaver. I'm looking forward to using it again, just for that pulsating motion.
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healinginfluence
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Re: Pulsonic
« Reply #3 on: Sep 14th, 2007, 7:35pm » |
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Robert:
Thank you for your thoughtful and well written review. You make a great contribution to this wonderful forum.
I've had a Pulsonic for a couple of weeks and my experience is similar to your experience. When I bought the Pulsonic I thought perhaps it would be a slightly improved Activator. And I was not impressed by the Activator. The Pulsonic as you point out is in a different league than the Activator. It provides a close and comfortable shave. And in my opinion it shaves closer than the Arcitec. However, I do find the Arcitec gentler on my face than the Pulsonic. I have both on my vanity and find that I reach for the Pulsonic as my shaver of choice. The trimmer in my opinion is excellent. The Pulsonic looks great and feels wonderful in my hand. To me, it is interesting that both Braun and Phillips managed very significant advances around the same time. And we are lucky that they are each in business -- and competition -- with one another.
I look forward to your updates.
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Robert
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Re: Pulsonic
« Reply #4 on: Sep 14th, 2007, 9:59pm » |
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Here's an update. It's 10PM and I have no appreciable shadow. That's a first shave.
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healinginfluence
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Re: Pulsonic
« Reply #5 on: Sep 15th, 2007, 06:37am » |
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That's amazing. Candidly, I can't make it that long with any shaver. I have a very heavy beard. But the Pulsonic has done the best I've been able to get.
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Robert
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Re: Pulsonic
« Reply #6 on: Sep 15th, 2007, 07:57am » |
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I just had my second shave with the Pulsonic. It's faster than any foil shaver I've ever used. This is where it more resembles an Arcitec than it does a Panasonic or a Remington. Panasonics are slow. So are Remingtons. Panasonic wet is faster, but it's still not a really fast shave. High end rotaries are fast. The Pulsonic is very fast. After shaving, there are no missed spots; no uneven places; no pesky little hairs at the bottom of the neck. Look, this is my subjective reaction to a new shaver. Not everyone will share this set of experiences. All I can say is that Braun has reinvented itself with this. It was a long time coming.
I'm an avowed advocate of he Arcitec, but I fear I feel more closely shaved at this moment than I did immediately after shaving with the Philips. As I run my hand over my face, there isn't a single point of stubble. I always had one or two with the Panasonic 8228. Nothing serious, but I was aware of them. I had them with the Arcitec too, though not as often.
I don't know if this will become my all the time shaver. All kinds of things motivate these decisions for me, but I have to say the the Pulsonic is a fabulous shaver. I'm glad that Braun is back in the game.
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| « Last Edit: Sep 15th, 2007, 08:11am by Robert » |
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Herky
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Re: Pulsonic
« Reply #7 on: Sep 15th, 2007, 09:47am » |
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Robert,
First of all, thanks for your analysis and impressions of the Pulsonic. I appreciate your expertise and intellectual subjectivity.
To those of us who have had less than satisfying encounters with Brauns in the past, the new Pulsonic appears to offer the hope of an enjoyable shaving experience.
Also, your comparison wih the new Arcitiec is particulary interesting.
Now, I wonder if at some point you might compare the Pulsonic and the Arcitec to the Remington MS-900.
Back in January, you wrote: "For me, the 900 is the very best foil shaver ever manufactured. No foil has ever given me this kind of shave. And I think the BMW design is sensational. Finally a true departure from years of sameness in shaver design. Everything about this design is tailored to a near perfect shave. They pulled it off."
I'm guessing both the new Braun and Phillips have now surpassed the MS-900 in technology and performance.
I look forward to reading your obersevations on this point.
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Robert
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Re: Pulsonic
« Reply #8 on: Sep 15th, 2007, 10:07am » |
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I love the Remington MS 900. When I first used it, I was convinced there was no better foil shaver. I still think it's right up there. The Panasonic 8228 altered the foil picture considerably. Here was a significant redesign that changed ergonomics and performance for Panasonic. As a wet shaver, I found it absolutely flawless. As a dry shaver, I always compared it to a Braun 360, and as far as I'm concerned that's accurate. Then along came Philips and the Arcitec. Well, I have to say, no Philips rotary has ever come close to this shaver in my opinion, and my shaving history is really a Philips rotary history. Now the Pulsonic. Well, on my face it's better than the MS 900. It's a more pleasurable shave and I have to say, it's closer. The other really important quality of the Pulsonic is the speed of shaving. No foil can shave this fast. It's like shaving with the Arcitec, which is as fast as it gets.
I'm always looking for excellence. I'm a fanatic for industrial design. Raymond Loewy is one of my heroes. The Arcitec is very impressive industrial design, as is the 8228. The Pulsonic is impressive in a more utilitarian way. On this day in history, I pick the Arcitec and the Pulsonic as the two "must have" shavers. I like the Arcitec enough to use it for years, but the Pulsonic has clearly presented itself as the alternative.
Would I go back to the MS 900. No.
Would I go back to the Panasonic 8228. No.
To me it's now about these two shavers in the high end sphere.
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mrradio
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Re: Pulsonic
« Reply #9 on: Sep 15th, 2007, 10:51am » |
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My experience is a mirror-image of Robert's only with the Panasonic.
I thought I'd love the Pulsonic.
However for me the Pulsonic's ultra-gentle, ultra-glidy, ultra-pleasant (all true) approach seemed to take forever to feel done and I always had little missed spots and patches even 20 minutes after finishing.
I decided to "try" the Panasonic Nano 8228s becasue I found it for the first time at a mass retailer (Target). I hadn't like Panasonics in the past.
My dry shave from the Nano continues to mirror Robert's experience with the Pulsonic, fast and incredibly close. I haven't even used i wet yet, haven't felt any need.
Still hate the way the cleaning base on the Nano seems to be prompting you to take the darn thing out. No-one has caught up to Braun on the design of the cleaning modules yet.
I love Remington but didn't care for the MS900.
I think the Arcitec is the coolest looking shaver I've ever seen but ultimately in use it was not for me.
About all one can do is try for yourself.
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| « Last Edit: Sep 15th, 2007, 11:36am by mrradio » |
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Robert
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Re: Pulsonic
« Reply #10 on: Sep 20th, 2007, 07:59am » |
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I'm going to reawaken this dormant thread by reporting on the Pulsonic after a week. It's a better shaver than the Arcitec. On me. On me. No question. It is a pleasure to use. I look forward to shaving. No foil has ever shaved this fast. As for closeness, it goes without saying. This is a real winner. Sooner or later, a company with Braun's stature had to drop the gauntlet and say "let's kick butt". They did.
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psternklar
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Re: Pulsonic
« Reply #11 on: Sep 20th, 2007, 09:11am » |
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Robert, I currently use the Panasonic 8228 wet and enjoy it. I find that the shave is not "baby bottom" close. The Remingtom ms5500 was very close, the ms900 just a tad less close. Do you believe the Pulsonic is much closer than the 8228 (I do not want to start a wet/dry debate, just want to know about closeness)? I thank you for your thoughts.
-Phil
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Robert
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Re: Pulsonic
« Reply #12 on: Sep 20th, 2007, 09:34am » |
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I hesitate to answer this Phil, because I know what will follow and from where, but okay. This is my personal opinion based on my experience. The Pulsonic shaves as well or better than the 8228 wet, and significantly faster, and for my money, I would rather shave dry than wet. I use an electric because I think electric shaving, in its purist form is dry shaving. If it's dry, fast and close, you have it all.
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psternklar
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Re: Pulsonic
« Reply #13 on: Sep 20th, 2007, 09:44am » |
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Robert, thank you. I may give it a try; if I do I will post my results.
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healinginfluence
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Re: Pulsonic
« Reply #14 on: Sep 20th, 2007, 3:07pm » |
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on Sep 20th, 2007, 07:59am, Robert wrote:| I'm going to reawaken this dormant thread by reporting on the Pulsonic after a week. It's a better shaver than the Arcitec. On me. On me. No question. It is a pleasure to use. I look forward to shaving. No foil has ever shaved this fast. As for closeness, it goes without saying. This is a real winner. Sooner or later, a company with Braun's stature had to drop the gauntlet and say "let's kick butt". They did. |
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This is high praise indeed. And consistent with my experience.
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