Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I'm one of the minority of reviewer's who actually purchased this product (*definitely increasing since I wrote this though!); I didn't pay full retail (still listed some places as just south of $600), so let's say a little over half that. And the replacement head/foil is 80 bucks. So my comments straight up relate to whether I think I got my money's worth, not just the technical aspects of the shaver. The short version if you don't want to read the list is, yes, I think I did, with a footnote. I've used just about every new model electric shaver out there in the quest for the perfect shaver, and reviewed several of them here: Braun Series 7- 790cc Pulsonic Shaver System, Silver, Philips Norelco 1290x/40 SensoTouch 3d Electric Shaver, Black, Panasonic ES-LA93-K Men's 4-Blade (Arc 4) Multi-Flex Dual-Motor Wet/Dry Nanotech Rechargeable Electric Shaver with Vortex Cleaning System, Black. To cut to the chase, there isn't a perfect shaver, at least one that fits everyone's shaving style. This one comes pretty darn close. First the obvious: this is a foil shaver. If you use a rotary shaver and are happy with the results, stop reading and/or get the Norelco; it's the best one out there. A rotary shave is completely and totally different than a foil experience. If you think there might be something better, read on. Second, among foils there are dry shavers only, and those that are both wet and dry. The LV81 is both. The Braun above is dry only. If you like to shave dry only, the Braun will serve you as well as any in my opinion, and has a superior cleaning system to the Panny, as well as costing a lot less. If you like a dry electric shave and don't care to change, get the Braun. If you think there might be something better, read on. The ES-LV81 is the successor to the ES-LA93 (which I was using immediately prior and it was pretty good) and a worthy successor it is. It's the best wet electric shaver I have ever used. Ever. Things Panasonic has improved over the LA93: - The constantly flashing blue police-cruiser charging light is gone; when the cleaning/charging cycle is complete, the unit goes off (cleaner and shaver). Some might miss it; me - not. - The shaver is quieter than the LA93, both in use and during the cleaning cycle. Significantly less to my ear, but the previous model Panasonic shaver itself was already quieter than the Braun, although none of them are anywhere near as quiet as a rotary. - A faster shave. The larger head really is functional, and if you already use the LA93 the transition will be seamless. It's more like gently scrubbing your face with a pad rather than shaving, and less irritating since you don't need to move the head as much over the same area. The larger head covers a lot of ground quickly, and I've reduced my shaving time by 30-40%. There is a shaving timer in the display, which I actually like - I've had one on other shavers; it helps me improve my shaving technique and speed up to a point of diminishing returns. The popup trimmer is functionally the same as the LA93. - The cleaning station looks almost identical to the one for the LA93 externally (other than the silver front); in fact, the LV81 actually fits in the old one (sort of), but it's apparently a completely different unit. The interior well seems to be deeper; the back is contoured differently to fit the LV81, the cleaning cartridge fits flush rather than inset, and it does seem to be quieter. It also seems like the cleaning cycle is shorter, but I haven't timed it. When the cleaning cycle is complete, the lights go out, unlike the LA93 unit where the green LEDs for Clean/Dry flash continuously. It does use the same cartridges, and the water reservoirs appear to be the same. Noisier than the Braun or Norelco cleaners - and it runs longer - it does what it's supposed to do, and very economically as well. So is it worth three hundred and a half bills to upgrade from the earlier Panasonic? To me, yes - I knew what I was getting, and it's really a significant improvement over any other Panasonic. Is it worth it to switch from another system or manufacturer? That depends.... If you THINK you might want to switch from a blade or a rotary experience, or switch to a wet shave from a dry with a different foil, I think a good price point would be in the $200+ range, which this shaver will eventually hit within a few months I would guess, and you might not feel too bad about switching back if it didn't work out. At today's price point, if you have the bucks and want to experiment, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. If you haven't tried it, a wet electric shave with a foil shaver is (to me) the closest, most comfortable electric shave you can get - and with this shaver, as close as you're going to get to a blade with an electric in my opinion. If you've been searching for the perfect electric, this just might be it.