BIC America speakers?
- Thread starter tommywpg
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
MJ Clemmer
Well-Known Member
BICs
What model # are the BICs, I have 3 diff pair , wife loves em... Not a bad speaker at all (IMO) Michael...
What model # are the BICs, I have 3 diff pair , wife loves em... Not a bad speaker at all (IMO) Michael...
ferninando
Lunatic Member
gee, we make lighters and razors and ballpoint pens. I bet we can make speakers too.
just teasing
just teasing
PhoenixRisin
New Member
I've had a couple pairs of BIC Venturi's, and I'm currently using a couple of Venturi's in my downstairs hometheater for my front L&R presence channels.
They are designed and engineered in America and built in Asia somewhere. From what I've read online, they are considered to be a strong value in speakers. You get a ton of performance for a fairly low price.
They make speakers under a couple of different name brands, including BIC, Acoustech, and RTR. Check 'em out at www.bicamerica.com.
My Venturi's are nice speakers. Definitely not the best, but I'd agree with the reviews. Big performance at a low price.
They are designed and engineered in America and built in Asia somewhere. From what I've read online, they are considered to be a strong value in speakers. You get a ton of performance for a fairly low price.
They make speakers under a couple of different name brands, including BIC, Acoustech, and RTR. Check 'em out at www.bicamerica.com.
My Venturi's are nice speakers. Definitely not the best, but I'd agree with the reviews. Big performance at a low price.
B3Nut
tubes and spinny things!
I know some of the later BIC speakers are fairly solid designs, I believe Ed Frias had some input into some of them. My main 6.5" 2-way bookshelves are an Ed Frias design Madisound used to sell as a kit until Peerless quit making the drivers (the final revision of the audioreview.com DIY monitors.) They're great little speakers.
Todd in Cheesecurdistan
Todd in Cheesecurdistan
The older BIC Venturis, in particular the 5's and 6's, were very good ROCK speakers, as they were decent at the highs and had an extra kick in the low frequencies. They got a bad rap from purists who disliked their boomy nature.
BIC, RTR, and other speaker companies had problems with their later offerings. I believe both these speaker companies were bought out by DAK, which used the names but cheapened the products. It wasn't like the products immediately went to hell. It was more like the Bose effect, where marketing became more important than product quality and the products became overly pricey for their capabilities. Some of these companies have been resurrected a bit since breaking free of DAK.
BIC, RTR, and other speaker companies had problems with their later offerings. I believe both these speaker companies were bought out by DAK, which used the names but cheapened the products. It wasn't like the products immediately went to hell. It was more like the Bose effect, where marketing became more important than product quality and the products became overly pricey for their capabilities. Some of these companies have been resurrected a bit since breaking free of DAK.
The RtR name was sold to Bic sometime in the late 70s or early 80s.
Some of the pre sale RtRs have a pretty good rep.
I have a pair of RtR 160 (if I remember correctly) and from the limited audition I gave them they sound pretty good. They have a unique design with 1.5 inch tweets set on both sides of each speaker.
From what I have read, the newer BIC speakers are decent quality but as was mentioned pretty good bang for the buck.
Some of the pre sale RtRs have a pretty good rep.
I have a pair of RtR 160 (if I remember correctly) and from the limited audition I gave them they sound pretty good. They have a unique design with 1.5 inch tweets set on both sides of each speaker.
From what I have read, the newer BIC speakers are decent quality but as was mentioned pretty good bang for the buck.
MJ Clemmer
Well-Known Member
For Home Theater
I ONLY use the B.I.C.s in a hom theater atmosphere only. I think the model #s B.I.C. Venturi V820, Venturi V620, and Venturi V630s, I use them with a JBL Sub, and a Klisph center. Shes tottaly satisfied with her set up so I guess thats what counts.... Michael... BTW, I havent heard the Model 5s, so I cannot comment on them.....:scratch2:
I ONLY use the B.I.C.s in a hom theater atmosphere only. I think the model #s B.I.C. Venturi V820, Venturi V620, and Venturi V630s, I use them with a JBL Sub, and a Klisph center. Shes tottaly satisfied with her set up so I guess thats what counts.... Michael... BTW, I havent heard the Model 5s, so I cannot comment on them.....:scratch2:
gonzothegreat
Super Member
My first pair of "real" speakers were BIC Venturi 6 with the lovely disintegrating foam grills. They're in another AKers collection now but they were well loved. The original owner used to use them for band practice iirc so that gives you an idea how loud they can play if beaten with a large stick. They had something of a kabuki look to them (12" woofer, hefty cone midbass, dual horn midranges and two piezo tweeters)
While the old models have decent quality parts and cabinets, they never achieved the success of the big names. The old models had a sculpted foam grill that is usually long gone by now. The Venturi line of the single digit original series had a wide slot "Venturi" vent along the bottom of the cabinet front. The woofers used accordion surrounds so they should last forever (or nearly so...) Too bad the internal damping foam on certain models rotted away to dust. One pair I had (Venturi 4?) used the aforementioned foam in one cab while its mate used the kind of white foam I've seen in classic Advents. WTF?
I've never heard any of the newer BIC line so I can't comment. I've seen a number of the small bookshelf models with busted tweeter mounts so the quality of the smaller models is suspect in my book
While the old models have decent quality parts and cabinets, they never achieved the success of the big names. The old models had a sculpted foam grill that is usually long gone by now. The Venturi line of the single digit original series had a wide slot "Venturi" vent along the bottom of the cabinet front. The woofers used accordion surrounds so they should last forever (or nearly so...) Too bad the internal damping foam on certain models rotted away to dust. One pair I had (Venturi 4?) used the aforementioned foam in one cab while its mate used the kind of white foam I've seen in classic Advents. WTF?
I've never heard any of the newer BIC line so I can't comment. I've seen a number of the small bookshelf models with busted tweeter mounts so the quality of the smaller models is suspect in my book
gonzothegreat
Super Member
70salesguy
Only 99 easy payments!
BITD we sold the B.I.C. Venturi speakers.
They were pretty stout if not a bit "forward".
B.I.C. was the importer for Garrard turntables.
They were pretty stout if not a bit "forward".
B.I.C. was the importer for Garrard turntables.
similost
Rockin and Rollin....
Just to dig up an old thread... I know where a pair of these are... they worth $75 for a pair of garage speakers or similar?
gonzothegreat
Super Member
Hell yeah! I paid $100 for mine back in '83 or so with a dead mid-horn and a fried midbass. Set me back ~$75 for new ones from BIC in '85.
I have the smaller version of the Formula series, called the Formula 20 IIRC. They may not be the most accurate speakers, but they have a lot of great qualities that make them fun and involving.
Thanks to the horn loaded mid driver they image and soundstage nicely. They are also fast and efficient. My guess is that the unusual combination of a paper tweeter, horn loaded mid and slot vented woofer makes for an unusual presentation. But it works for me. Yes 90120 never sounded better than on these speakers.
I think they sound best on stands and at ear level. I suspect that the midhorn has limited dispersion. Mine are pretty banged up so they do outdoor duty when we garden or entertain outdoors. They never fail to please.
Thanks to the horn loaded mid driver they image and soundstage nicely. They are also fast and efficient. My guess is that the unusual combination of a paper tweeter, horn loaded mid and slot vented woofer makes for an unusual presentation. But it works for me. Yes 90120 never sounded better than on these speakers.
I think they sound best on stands and at ear level. I suspect that the midhorn has limited dispersion. Mine are pretty banged up so they do outdoor duty when we garden or entertain outdoors. They never fail to please.
gonzothegreat
Super Member
I have a pair of Formula 4 which use a phenolic ring paper cone tweeter, the BIC midrange horn and a 10" woofer. The factory grills were missing so I found some plastic frames that fit and permanently screwed them into the cabs. Normally I wouldn't do that but the drivers needed protection from der kinderpokingundprodding in their next assignment (see below).
Funny - I bought them for use at a cousin's party (paired up with a QSC 200wpc pro amp) and he loved them. His wife wouldn't let him keep them for the garage as they were "too loud" so they went home with me.
