Review (5/5): Excellent Shaver
I've had my Quadra 7886XL for three months now and really like it. This 86XL version is intended for the discount stores and the Norelco phone rep I talked to said its the same as the 85XL except for color ..... in fact it shares the same users manuel. I purchased mine at Cosco for $90.
The shaver is a replacement for a Norelco 710RL which lasted over 10 years. I considered buying the low end Reflex Plus but it seemed a little too cheap and flimsey. So I decided to move up to the Quadra line and have been very pleased.
1. Its provided a very smooth and close shave without irritation from the start. Head/blade design has come a long way in a decade. I have a VERY thick and tough beard and am able to complete a shave in 5 to 7 minutes ...... this may seem long but it took 12 to 15 minutes on my old shaver.
2. The LCD Display is great ....... remaining charge time is right there as well as a periodic cleaning reminder. The battery does a complete recharge in about one hour and provides 40 to 43 minutes of use.
3. Its light and easy to hold.
4. The sideburn trimmer seems sturdy and does the job.
5. Cleaning with warm water once a week is a snap and it dries quickly.
6. Its very quiet.
7. The charger is built right into the power cord plug. There's no separate unit to clutter the sink top when recharging.
My only gripe is that Norelco does not provide a hard case for the shaver. The soft travel bag is OK for packing on trips but isn't convenient for use in the house. The shaver has a small flat spot on the back and can be placed on a shelf but if you have to put it into a sliding drawer it has a tendency to rock over on its side. Oh well, you can't have everything!
Bottom line: this shaver is the real deal. Get one at a discount store if you can ........ but even at $130 its a winner.