Member
WA
So after two nights comparing two different razors while keeping everything else the same, I have to say that both razors produced a great two pass BBS. As for picking one winner, I will have to declare the same thing that many politicians say – the winner is me because I am in possession of two great razors!
Looking at the features of both razors, the DX has the advantage of easy blade loading and unloading. The Essence, while not needing special tools or an Engineering degree, does take a little more effort. Also, a blade left in when the razor is closed will hit against the bottom of the scale. Whether this causes serious damage to the blade edge is another matter.
The DX is a smaller razor both in length and blade width. It is also a simpler and more straight forward razor with a 5/8 blade width. For those preferring wider blades, a notch behind the blade, and longer tails (and lots of jimps), the Essence has all those features, and it integrates them very nicely and stylishly.
There is a large gorilla left in the room – price.
Personally I won’t discuss this, except to say that price is not as important as perceived value. Yes, the Essence is a $300+ razor, but it is extremely well designed, elegant, and an excellent shaver. My DX is the one with wood scales. My original DX had plastic scales. Did spending $50 more on one with wood scales give me better shaves or made it superior in any way to the one with the plastic scales? Not really. Did I see spending $50 more as being more valuable to myself? Yes.
So much for my thoughts.
Looking at the features of both razors, the DX has the advantage of easy blade loading and unloading. The Essence, while not needing special tools or an Engineering degree, does take a little more effort. Also, a blade left in when the razor is closed will hit against the bottom of the scale. Whether this causes serious damage to the blade edge is another matter.
The DX is a smaller razor both in length and blade width. It is also a simpler and more straight forward razor with a 5/8 blade width. For those preferring wider blades, a notch behind the blade, and longer tails (and lots of jimps), the Essence has all those features, and it integrates them very nicely and stylishly.
There is a large gorilla left in the room – price.
Personally I won’t discuss this, except to say that price is not as important as perceived value. Yes, the Essence is a $300+ razor, but it is extremely well designed, elegant, and an excellent shaver. My DX is the one with wood scales. My original DX had plastic scales. Did spending $50 more on one with wood scales give me better shaves or made it superior in any way to the one with the plastic scales? Not really. Did I see spending $50 more as being more valuable to myself? Yes.
So much for my thoughts.