BIC Model 66

[Johnny_Law]

Quick follow-up: After another month+, I have not been able to bring myself to unhook these Model 66's. They became a staple in my rotation, joining my JBLs, ARs, and Snells. I have listened to many types of music now and I am impressed at the BIC's versatility and ease of listening. I'm currently listening to them do a great job with the jam session on Eat a Peach.

Since my last post, I have re-covered the grilles with black cloth which gives the aesthetics a serious update compared to the old worn brown cloth. The black cloth really compliments the shiny depth of the walnut veneer. I have decided to "keep them in the family" by giving them to my girlfriend's father, who wants to listen to his records again after 20+ years of keeping them in the closet with an old Dual record player. He has asked for a refurb of his old dusty record player along with the era-appropriate equipment needed to listen. So the BICs will go to him along with a Sherwood S7650 receiver I restored. It should be a heck of a setup for him.

They certainly fly under the radar at the prices they seem to be found at. Hopefully these posts help anyone considering BIC Model 66s in the future.

-Ryan

 

[jwhvt]

Quick follow-up: After another month+, I have not been able to bring myself to unhook these Model 66's. They became a staple in my rotation, joining my JBLs, ARs, and Snells. I have listened to many types of music now and I am impressed at the BIC's versatility and ease of listening. I'm currently listening to them do a great job with the jam session on Eat a Peach.

Since my last post, I have re-covered the grilles with black cloth which gives the aesthetics a serious update compared to the old worn brown cloth. The black cloth really compliments the shiny depth of the walnut veneer. I have decided to "keep them in the family" by giving them to my girlfriend's father, who wants to listen to his records again after 20+ years of keeping them in the closet with an old Dual record player. He has asked for a refurb of his old dusty record player along with the era-appropriate equipment needed to listen. So the BICs will go to him along with a Sherwood S7650 receiver I restored. It should be a heck of a setup for him.

They certainly fly under the radar at the prices they seem to be found at. Hopefully these posts help anyone considering BIC Model 66s in the future.

-Ryan

Very nice! How do they compare to your AR3a's?

 

[Johnny_Law]

Very nice! How do they compare to your AR3a's?

Hmm, interesting question. Without directly A/B'ing them, and having been at least a month since I listed to them, I imagine that the verdict would favor the AR3a's, but the BICs would make a strong case. They are kind of apples and oranges. For example, I would use the ARs if I wanted to pay attention and listen closely to a particular record, but probably the BICs if I wanted to listen to a playlist all day while working on the computer (which is what I'm doing now).

Comparatively, for one, the BICs are larger - about the same height but a larger cross section. In terms of sound, the best I can explain is that the BICs are a less precise but also less fatiguing. The ARs have a very forward sound. They hit pretty hard in the bass department which is wonderful with certain music (like the bass line on a Jazz track) but can be fatiguing to my ears for other music (like the bass drum in a rock song). The BICs in comparison would be more laid back for rock music but less precise for jazz (although "less precise" is a relative term ... they are no slouch and sound great with jazz). Both sound good with piano music, like George Winston, but the ARs provide more depth to the keystrokes which I find key to good reproduction of piano music.

(That all being said, I find my JBL L26s the best mix of both worlds, but that's neither here nor there!)

 

[jwhvt]

Hmm, interesting question. Without directly A/B'ing them, and having been at least a month since I listed to them, I imagine that the verdict would favor the AR3a's, but the BICs would make a strong case. They are kind of apples and oranges. For example, I would use the ARs if I wanted to pay attention and listen closely to a particular record, but probably the BICs if I wanted to listen to a playlist all day while working on the computer (which is what I'm doing now).

Comparatively, for one, the BICs are larger - about the same height but a larger cross section. In terms of sound, the best I can explain is that the BICs are a less precise but also less fatiguing. The ARs have a very forward sound. They hit pretty hard in the bass department which is wonderful with certain music (like the bass line on a Jazz track) but can be fatiguing to my ears for other music (like the bass drum in a rock song). The BICs in comparison would be more laid back for rock music but less precise for jazz (although "less precise" is a relative term ... they are no slouch and sound great with jazz). Both sound good with piano music, like George Winston, but the ARs provide more depth to the keystrokes which I find key to good reproduction of piano music.

(That all being said, I find my JBL L26s the best mix of both worlds, but that's neither here nor there!)

Thanks for the thoughtful comparison. I doubt I'll ever own AR3a's but it's good to know that the BICs are keepers even in the company of your other very reputable speakers.

 

[Johnny_Law]

Thanks for the thoughtful comparison. I doubt I'll ever own AR3a's but it's good to know that the BICs are keepers even in the company of your other very reputable speakers.

No problem. They absolutely are!

 

[71CNY]

If you do a re-cap on them, do an a-b comparison on them and see you hear a difference. Please keep us all in the loop if you do.

 

[Benti77]

Hi all, I'm new to this forum.
Im an Italian guy passionate for HI-FI but with only a little knowledge over it.
I've from long time 2 BIC model 44 still working (actually i need to repair the rubber around the woofers every 15-20 years) connected to an 20 years old denon amplifier (a old 5.1 amplifier 2x75W).
They were my father speakers long before my birth and I find that they have a really nice sound, even if I can't compare to something new of good quality.
I'm looking for the speaker specs in order to buy a new ampli, or in ad advice to select the right one.
Would be nice something that gives them a few more "energy" and high tone sound.

 

[jwhvt]

Hi all, I'm new to this forum.
Im an Italian guy passionate for HI-FI but with only a little knowledge over it.
I've from long time 2 BIC model 44 still working (actually i need to repair the rubber around the woofers every 15-20 years) connected to an 20 years old denon amplifier (a old 5.1 amplifier 2x75W).
They were my father speakers long before my birth and I find that they have a really nice sound, even if I can't compare to something new of good quality.
I'm looking for the speaker specs in order to buy a new ampli, or in ad advice to select the right one.
Would be nice something that gives them a few more "energy" and high tone sound.

Hi welcome to AK!

The Model 44 is rated at 89dB sensitivity so I don't think you need a particularly powerful amp to drive them. Here are some pics from a sales brochure.

 

[Benti77]

Thanks so much !
So far I've this amplifier,

https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/denon/avr-1602.shtml

but it has some problems after more than 20 years and I would like to buy a new one, maybe that better suit mine speakers.
I think something that exalt more the sound, my denon isn't bad but it seems to me too much neutral.
For example my brother has a very old Luxman (the one my father used with the BIC speakers) and 2 medium quality infinity speakers and they seems more "joyfull".

Now I have at least some info to better look for the ampli !

 

[dapbmw]

I just picked up a good pair a few weeks ago, sanded down the cabs and oiled them, refoamed the woofers, got them from Rick Cobb as well. They sound not as good as the other speakers I have here but it’s a rare piece of history and I even have the original optional stands with them.

I painted the grilles black too it looks much better.

 

[HeavyKevy]

I just got some information on the BIC 66 speakers from the original owner. I wasn't able to find much of anything on them in my web searches so maybe this will help someone else in the future...

I also got the original sales slip. They cost $247.80 in 1979 ($735 in today's dollar)....

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you rock! I’ve had a set of these speakers for almost 20 years and this is first time I’ve seen the details from someone’s original purchase for these. Thanks!

 

[jwhvt]

you rock! I’ve had a set of these speakers for almost 20 years and this is first time I’ve seen the details from someone’s original purchase for these. Thanks!

Glad to help! My son has my pair of 66's and they're still going strong.

 

[Pawfan]

So about six weeks back I saw some BIC Series 66 speakers for sale locally for $150, and it was this thread that came up researching them that ultimately had me driving to the address with cash in hand. The guy had only successfully re foamed one and the other one hadn;t taken to the glue and he had no way for me to hear them so the price became $75. Needless to say I have them now and one sounds great...but I want to finish the woofer surround he started, re-cap them, re-finish these beautiful walnut cabinets and I really dig that change of color on the screens to black.

So thank you so very much for keeping the story on your refinish going and your detail on the parts as well as the sound results! You have provided a valuable resource. Much appreciated!!

I am dying to hook up my most recent acquisition of a Macintosh MR77 + MC2105 + MC 26 + Elac Miracord 50H TT (among some other Bang & Olufsen and Audio Pulse pieces) to see what all the fuss is about with the Macintosh! I am truly hoping these BIC Series 66's I picked up do well.

Screenshot_20210515-175438_Gallery

• Pawfan
• May 15, 2021

 

[jwhvt]

So about six weeks back I saw some BIC Series 66 speakers for sale locally for $150, and it was this thread that came up researching them that ultimately had me driving to the address with cash in hand. The guy had only successfully re foamed one and the other one hadn;t taken to the glue and he had no way for me to hear them so the price became $75. Needless to say I have them now and one sounds great...but I want to finish the woofer surround he started, re-cap them, re-finish these beautiful walnut cabinets and I really dig that change of color on the screens to black.

So thank you so very much for keeping the story on your refinish going and your detail on the parts as well as the sound results! You have provided a valuable resource. Much appreciated!!

I am dying to hook up my most recent acquisition of a Macintosh MR77 + MC2105 + MC 26 + Elac Miracord 50H TT (among some other Bang & Olufsen and Audio Pulse pieces) to see what all the fuss is about with the Macintosh! I am truly hoping these BIC Series 66's I picked up do well.

Screenshot_20210515-175438_Gallery

• Pawfan
• May 15, 2021

Nice stack of gear! Interested to hear your opinion once you have everything sorted out.

When I started this thread almost 9 years ago, I could hardly find anything online about BIC 66's. Now there have been two postings in less than a week!

 

[Dreb Pipley]

I bought a set of BIC-66's new back in the late 70s, matched them with a very clean Yamaha receiver that was conservatively rated at 55W RMS per channel, at a claimed 0.02% THD and they blasted the college apartment I lived in at the time . They were very efficient, had great sound, and could light up any gathering very well. I had friends that owned JBLs and Altec's and most people agreed that my BICs were good stuff. I put them on the floor.

 

[Naktk]

This thread has been helpful! thanks to all that have provided information. Just got a pair of these and am excited to hear them after the refurb. @Johnny_Law, I am curious to hear some more details on using the tone signal to center the driver. Thanks again!!!

 

[Johnny_Law]

Congrats!

In regards to refoaming with a test tone, there's a lot of info out there but check this vid out:

 

[Naktk]

Perfect!! Thanks a bunch. Hoping to start working on these this week. Once I finish, I’ll send some pics.