Series 9 9477cc Silver

This razor is the 4th in a series of Braun razors I've owned over my lifetime (also Norelco and Remington razors). This is the second series 9 razor and replaced one purchased in February 2020. I replaced the unit because of a few things: first the power switch got snagged and pulled away, because it was becoming noisy, the edge trimmer wasn't cutting as well and because the cost of a new cutting head was nearly 1/4 that of a new razor. Of note, after 5 years of daily use, mostly while traveling using battery power, there was never a decline in battery function or life. So with that background, now on to the review. I stayed with the Series 9, because I liked it the best of all Brauns I used. It was difficult to determine from the product description if the "PRO" designation really added anything, after all the cutting head looks identical to the standard series 9. The unit otherwise seems identical as well structurally and functionally. However, I do believe it cuts better. Six months in it still provides an excellent close shave without effort. I'm still on the original cutting head. I use the cleaning system daily (except when I, now rarely, travel away from home for a few days). My tough 70 yo beard is cut close without irritation and with little effort. For my beard I have found the razor works great on a daily growth up to a 3 day growth. I actually think the sweet spot is 2 days. Beyond 3 days you need to really give the razor time to chop thru the longer hairs, but it works great without lots of pulling. A few suggestions: (1) don't rush or push hard onto your face - let the razor slowly glide over the skin and you can hear when its done because you'll stop hearing it cut each beard hair as it is moved (2) there is no one best way to hold the razor and you'll end up using it turned one way and then flipped over for other parts of your face - this improves the closeness (3) use a quality pre-shave - this is essential and I highly recommend the Mennen AFTA Pre-electric Shave Lotion which you liberally apply then let evaporate a bit until you feel the skin slightly tighten - then have a great shave. I also use the AFTA After Shave as well. I've been using Mennen products my whole shaving life, as my father did as well, and can attest to their quality. One caveat: this unit came with the counter top cleaning system which seems to be nearly identical to the one with the 2020 razor, but I replaced the old one anyhow thinking Braun might have made an incremental improvement. The indicator lights work when they want to, but otherwise it cleans the razor well (so no stars off). But remember that this cleaning system is pretty critical (in my opinion) to keep the razor functioning, and much like printer toner cartridges, Braun has you by the beard hair by necessitating regular replacement of the cleaning solution cartridges. I get mine on a subscription cycle from Amazon and 4 cartidges cost me $24. How often you need to replace a cartridge depends, I usually get them every 5 months. But beware that they will require replacement even if you don't use the cleaning system much because the cleaning/lubricating solution is highly volatile and evaporates even if you don't use it. So you might as well use it and keep your razor in the best operating shape!! Lastly, when you purchase a new razor I'd also purchase a new cutting head for future use. After all, prices are only going up!!

I’ve had this shaver for a couple months now, and it does what it’s supposed to. I purchased it to use on my head for haircuts (high and tight) but have also used it on my face. My first impression was wow this thing cuts so much faster! To add a little content, the shaver this was replacing, I purchased 26 years ago. It was still kicking, albeit a little slower. It really is night and day. I still have not run out of the initial charge after 2 haircuts, and multiple shaves on my face. I normally shave with an old school double edge razor so I’m used to a very close shave. This gets close, but not DE close, but this is to be expected. I have no problem using this before going out, or going to work. I like how the cutting assembly is serviceable by a a replacement cartridge. The last shaver had blades below the foil making it harder to clean. This one is a breeze. Shaver is light, fits my hand comfortably, and shaves very efficiently. In the end, I believe you get what you pay for, and yes, this was pricey, but if this is anything like my last one, I feel good spending the money on a good tool that will last a long time.

It’s actually a step up from their last model, surprisingly. I no longer have stray hairs on my neck and it’s a really close shave, all while not giving me red bumps. The eternal quest for an electric shaver that does what it says has ended. Well almost, it doesn’t clear my face in one stroke like it says it does but this is by far the best shaver/razor I’ve ever used. +Close shave. Once you get used to how the different blades work (like using the bottom shaving surface instead of the top on your top lip) this is the closest shave I’ve ever had. My wife comments on it regularly when our mornings line up. +Comfort. I get red bumps from any blade and most shavers, not from this though. Pretty much from the first day it’s left my skin alone. I cannot put on ferulic acid for skin care for a few hours after or it stings, but not having red bumps and being able to go to town on my neck is awesome +No stray whiskers. The last model left a few whiskers mostly on my neck or sometimes along the sideburns that I would trim off with a pen shaver. This however catches all of them, whatever the redesign they nailed it. + Battery is amazing. I took it on a 2 week vacation and never had to charge it despite shaving the back of my neck every few days too. +Cleaning station work. The last model I had the cleaning station did not work well. It would stop randomly and plugged up with debris while cleaning the shaver. This just works. +Time saver. It’s easily the fastest way to shave. there’s no prep, few strokes, and the design makes it easy to get straight lines on side burns or neck line because the shaving surface is a flat line. I’d say in total it takes me about 5 minutes to cover my entire neck (including above my back) and face from start to finish. Plus there’s no cleaning, and the blade lasts forever. A cleaning cartridge lasts about a month. +Cost. Despite being expensive, for a high quality shave the shaver and blade last forever. My last model shaver from them still works fine but I wanted to see if this was better at catching stray whiskers, which it is. There are cheaper ways to shave, but it’s also surprisingly not the most expensive if you keep it for multiple years. I have a thick beard, with neck hairs going in different directions, and sensitive skin (red bumps) to shaving. If you don’t have those things or even one of them you might be able to get away with a cheaper shaver. I can’t, and I’m increidbly happy to have a shaver that does everything

I haven't used many electric razors over the decades and this is my first foil one. It gves a close shave in general though it struggles with areas under my jawline for some reason, even with the flexible head, necessitating many passes from multiple angles. That dings it considering the price. The razor fits comfortably in my hand and holds a good charge and was convenient for travel.

I've owned several Braun electric shavers but never invested in the higher-up models like this one. I finally decided to treat myself, and I'm glad I did. Like any shaver, there is a break-in period, so don't expect the best shave of your life the first couple times you use this, but after a week of use, my face got used to it and now it provides the closest, most comfortable shave I've ever experienced with an electric. I don't even need to use any pre-shave products. I can hop out of the shower, dry off my face and shave smoothly without any irritation. This is the first Braun unit I've owned where (with a couple exceptions) I get a good shave on a single pass. The exceptions are a couple of stubborn spots around my jaw line, but that's to be expected. It's nice not to have to go over the same areas repeatedly which can lead to irritation. I was especially eager to try a shaver with a cleaning/charging station, and this really contributes to the overall value despite the higher price tag of this model. I will say, the first time I ran the cleaning process, when I removed the shaver from the base an hour later, it was still pretty wet with the solution. However, this seemed to have been a one-time thing, because I've been using the base every two days for the past month or so and it has worked flawlessly every time since. I love the fresh, clean scent the cleaning solution leaves behind, and it also lubricates the foils just enough for a smooth shave without excessive oiliness. I've been removing the shave head, dumping out the excess hair and cleaning the inside of the shaver with a brush as I've read this helps ensure a good, thorough cleaning and prevent hair from building up and clogging the base. I haven't had the opportunity to travel with my new Braun yet, but I think the smart case that charges the shaver is a stroke of genius and I can't wait to try it. I have a business trip coming up in a few weeks so I'll get a chance to bring my new shaver along with me. It'll be great not to need to bring the charging cable, or charge it up before leaving and hope you have enough juice to last you the trip. The case should provide ample power for the four days I'll be on my trip. Overall, if you've been buying the cheaper Braun models or using other inexpensive electric shavers and you're thinking of upgrading, this model is well worth considering. I'm extremely pleased with mine!

I have had electric shavers from Braun, “Company N,” and “Company R.” In fact, until the subject of this review, I had owned only one Braun shaver, a Series 7 that lasted for sixteen years – until I dropped it onto a concrete floor from a considerable height, and it still worked even then, albeit taped together. In this state it nevertheless gave a closer shave than the others, and so it made sense to replace it with another Braun. And here we are. The Braun Series 9 Pro is available in a bewildering range of SKUs. This one (9974cc) is a notch below the top of the line, as it does not have the separate beard-trimming attachment…because I don’t have a beard. But it does have the charging/cleaning station (the “SmartCare Center”), and it does have the “PowerCase,” which I call the “charging casket,” which allows many days’ away-from-home charging without any electrical connection. So, what’s it like to live with one of these things? I’ve had this one for several months, and I held back on writing this review until I had run through seven refill cleaning cartridges; this is important, because it’s an ongoing cost. Here’s the lifestyle, and the cost breakdown. Now, I know that some owners try to stretch the life of a cartridge – the chief consumable – by cleaning only infrequently, but I vote the other way: I typically clean/charge the shaver after every use (if not on the road), so my usage rate and cost numbers here are conservative. As of this writing, I’ve had the shaver for just shy of seven months and have recorded the rate at which I’m replacing the cleaning cartridges. How long does a cartridge last? In my use, the first cartridge went 19 shaves (I assume this was a break-in period), while the other six managed 22 or 23 shaves each, with an average of 22.8. Call it 23. As I write, a pack of six cartridges costs 32 dollars; therefore, we might say that those six cartridges would give 6x23=138 shaves, for a cost of 23.2 cents per shave, which is effectively 23.2 cents per day in my use of the cleaning cartridges. But to be complete, we must add in the cost of replacement shaver heads; these should be replaced annually, or even, as it says on the package, every 18 months, but I have long been in the habit of replacing them twice a year, in June and December. Currently, a Series 9 shaver head costs 70 dollars. Dividing that by half a year’s 182.5 days gives an additional 38.4 cents per shave, for a total of 61.6 cents per shave. But as I say, most users will probably replace the shaver head only annually, and many will try to stretch the cleaning cartridges. To this last point, I should warn that going two or more shaves between cleanings will cause the clean/charge station to kick into a “higher gear” at the next use, running a longer cycle and using more fluid, because it will sense the need for additional cleaning time. When used daily in 24-hour cycles, the shortest cleaning cycle is triggered – i.e., only one of the three “Cleaning Program” lights is lit. In some instances (weekends), I have delayed the next shave for an additional half-day, and in those cases, two lights have lit, and the cleaner runs for a longer time. In one instance only – after several days away, using the “casket” for charging – were all three lights and the longest cleaning cycle triggered. And it was long indeed. What this means is that cleaning the shaver every *other* day probably won’t make the cartridge last twice as long, because each cleaning will use more fluid. One reaches a point of diminishing returns. Me, I’d rather have a clean shaver head every day. There are other places in life where one might better save a few pennies. I can say further that this Series 9 machine is a bit more “thirsty” than my long-lived Series 7 Braun. That one would reliably go 25-27 cleanings per cartridge. (Observer: “You must be an engineer.” Me: “What gave it away?”) On the favorable side, the new Braun is much more quiet than the old one, both in use up near one’s ears and in the charger during the cleaning cycle. I can’t say that the old one caused me permanent hearing loss, but I did wonder from time to time. This new one is a mere hummer by comparison. The product descriptions for the many Braun SKUs are liberally supplied with photos, so I have added only three here. The first shows what comes in the kit, including the documentation. (But I neglected to include a cleaning cartridge in the pic; rest assured, it includes your first one.) The second picture shows the shaver in the “charging casket.” I used this on a road trip, and it has far more re-charging capacity than I needed over those several days. The third photo shows the proprietary power chord/DC adapter. The kit includes just one of these. In normal use it will be plugged into the cleaning/charging station; or it can charge the shaver directly; or it can charge the road-trip “casket” before and after a journey. Pick any one at a given time. About the documentation: You get a booklet for the shaver and another for the charging station, plus the separate cartoon strip which tells you not to put a wet-used shaver into the charging station; dry it first. (I have tried wet-shaving and find no advantage but much extra cleanup time, so I don’t care about this). The booklets both rely mainly on pictorials, with a minimum of text…except for the Safety Warnings which nobody reads; these gripping details are provided in English, French, and Spanish. That’s the world we live in, I suppose. Hey, where does all this come from? Turns out this product is a Citizen of the World. The shaver itself, and the Series 9 replacement heads (“94M”) are made in Germany; the clean/charge base station is made in Hungary; the on-the-road charging casket is made in China; and the cleaning cartridges are made in…Ireland? Well, I’ll be darned. User tip: After each shave, you can extend the life of your cleaning cartridge by simply popping off the shaver head and blowing out the whiskers and skin shards from it and from the shaver head mount. That’s probably 90% of what’s left after a shave. Takes only seconds.

I have own several other brands of electric shavers. I was tired of missed areas or painful nicks and burns. So after 20 years of numerous shavers I went for this expensive Braun series 9 and I wish I purchased this shaver years before. Gives me the best smooth and complete shave I have ever had. Easy to operate. Cleaning system is super nice way of keeping it in top form. Instruction manual skims what you need to know but luckily there are excellent YouTube videos showing everything you need to know. Looking for the best shaver? Then stop looking and buy this one. It will be the best purchase you ever made. I threw out every other shaver I purchased since this one is by far that good! Addendum: After just three weeks the change foil indicator came on. I cleaned it. Still on. Maybe 10 shaves so this makes no sense. Now the clean indicator is on again just after cleaning and refuses to reset. Check internet, there are others complaining about the same issue. It is issues like this which makes an expensive shaver not a good buy. Changed rating to one star. Nothing at this price should have these problems in less than a month. Very disappointed. Update October 15, 2022: This shaver no longer cuts like the first couple of weeks. Misses hairs. Very noisy shaver. Probably the loudest I have ever had. Cleaning module is also noisy but does clean it well. Tap water cleaning really does not work very well. I have ordered and received a new Norelco 3800 shaver which is quiet in comparison and nicely shaves what this way too expensive Braun misses. At this point I regret buying this shaver. The Norelco and Panasonic shavers are much better and less expensive. The 3800 Norelco gives a better shave than their more expensive models. Despite other reviews more expensive does not mean better. This shaver, in my opinion and over one month of use is a do not buy. I would prefer buying a new Norelco 3800 annually than deal with this Braun forever. When this cutting head needs replacement I will discard this shaver and never buy a Braun again! November 7, 2022 Update: When you think this shaver can not get worse, it does. Does not cut hair close or completely. Have to get the close shave by shaving after with my Norelco. Plus, half the hair comes out around the foil head. Very little goes inside. You have to wash it in the included washer after each use or at the most weekly. I can not wait for it to break so I can discard it. Have a Panasonic for backup. My advice is DO NOT BUY this shaver. Worst shaver I have ever owned. Waste on money! January 22, 2023 Update: Shaver is still working (unfortunately) but that is the only positive point. It no longer gives a close shave. I always have to follow up with another shaver to get a smooth skin shave thus it takes me 10-15 minutes to shave which is way to long. The cleaner is noisier than a mother-in-law at a Sunday meal. Does clean but check the cleaning solution as to when to change it out since there is no indicator as to when to change. You will know when to change since the solution will look disgusting. Still have not changed my mind about this shaver as being a DO NOT BUY. I wish it would break so I can move on to another shaver. Plan on a Panasonic shaver which I have owned before to replace this one. It was ten times better than this one.

I want to offer an unreserved, deeply felt endorsement of the Braun Series 9 Pro electric shaver, particularly for autistic men and others who live with intense sensory sensitivities. For most of my life, shaving was not a minor inconvenience. It was an ordeal. After shaving, my face and neck felt as though they were burning with electricity. The sensation did not stay localized. It spread, gradually and relentlessly, across my body. It was excruciating. Even the slightest touch, a collar brushing my skin, or a gentle breeze could reactivate the pain, as if my nervous system had been short-circuited. Shaving was something I endured, not something I ever improved at tolerating. That history makes what I am about to say feel almost unbelievable. I have been using the Braun Series 9 Pro for a month now, and the change has been nothing short of miraculous. For the first time in my life, shaving does not feel like an assault on my nervous system. Instead of hours or days of burning, electrically charged pain, I experience only minor sensitivity, and even that is fleeting and manageable. What surprised me most is the consistency. I have learned that for best results, I need to shave daily. With daily use, the Braun remains gentle, predictable, and remarkably kind to my skin. There is no cumulative irritation, no escalating sensory backlash. The shave is close without being punishing, thorough without being aggressive. My nervous system no longer braces for impact. For autistic men who struggle with shaving due to sensory overload, pain amplification, or delayed full-body reactions, this shaver is not just a grooming tool. It is a quality-of-life improvement. It restores a sense of dignity and calm to a task that many of us have associated with dread for decades. I do not use the word lightly when I say this: the Braun Series 9 Pro is miraculous and has changed my life in a small but profoundly meaningful way. If shaving has ever felt unbearable to you, if it has left your body buzzing with pain long after the mirror is forgotten, this may be the first device that finally gets it right.