Anyone heard of BIC America Acoustech Series

[erics0531]

I'm glad someone had the cojones to actually try these buggers. I was curious. Construction seems fairly solid? Good sign.. ...can't tell by pictures y'know.

Yes, they do seem quite solid. If I have the time I may unscrew one of the drivers today and check it out. Or I might just listen to a Pat Metheny DVD instead

[Matthus]

Yes, they do seem quite solid. If I have the time I may unscrew one of the drivers today and check it out. Or I might just listen to a Pat Metheny DVD instead

I have a good sized room...how is the sub from a bass perspective?

[erics0531]

I have a good sized room...how is the sub from a bass perspective?

The bass is pretty decent. What I particularly like about it is the absense of boominess, it's got a nice under control sound to it compared to some subs I've heard. Haven't really gone for the whack you upside the head volume test with it, although my wife cranked up Blue Crush pretty loud the other night (a little too loud in point of fact) and you could definitely feel the bass in the chest as the waves were breaking.

For reference our room is about 17' x 17', and the back wall is open from about 4.5 ft up into the kitchen level. I've got the sub about 1.5' away from the front wall, and about 4' from the nearest side wall.

[DerProfi]

erics0531,

How do the fully-assembled front channel towers look? At the Costco I visited today they had them laying on their sides and I noticed two holes drilled in the lacquered base of each tower. I've got hardwood floors and I'm wondering if maybe there's some sort of pad that attaches into those holes to keep the lacquer from just resting directly on the floor.

Also, was the finish in pretty good shape out of the box? The ones I saw today were chipped in a couple of places and I wasn't sure if that was due to Costco or BIC.

(not directed to you erics0531 but to the thread in general)
As for all the comparisons to KLH being tossed around, I don't think that's accurate or fair. I've owned a couple of BIC speakers (my BIC center has an audioreview score of 4.87 with 70 votes) and although made in China as are many other respected speaker brands, they are in a totally different league. Having not even heard the Acoustech system, I challenge anyone to buy the "top-of-the-line" KLH system (if there is such a thing), A/B it with the Acoustech, and say that they're both "entry level" and essentially the same

[erics0531]

erics0531,

How do the fully-assembled front channel towers look? At the Costco I visited today they had them laying on their sides and I noticed two holes drilled in the lacquered base of each tower. I've got hardwood floors and I'm wondering if maybe there's some sort of pad that attaches into those holes to keep the lacquer from just resting directly on the floor.

The towers (really all of the speakers) look fantastic. Those drilled holes in the bottom of the towers puzzled me, as there was nothing in the box to put in them. Curious indeed, especially since there were only two! I put four small felt type pads on the bottom of each speaker as we have laminate flooring where the speakers sit.

Also, was the finish in pretty good shape out of the box? The ones I saw today were chipped in a couple of places and I wasn't sure if that was due to Costco or BIC.

There were no cosmetic issues on any of the speakers I got - I did swap the center channel box that had been strapped to the others in my set for one that looked less abused when I picked mine up. There was a little slip in each box with a number to call regarding any cosmetic damage from shipping - different from the warranty number on the back of the speakers. They were well packed, so I would guess that the ones you saw took some abuse there at Costco.

(not directed to you erics0531 but to the thread in general)
As for all the comparisons to KLH being tossed around, I don't think that's accurate or fair. I've owned a couple of BIC speakers (my BIC center has an audioreview score of 4.87 with 70 votes) and although made in China as are many other respected speaker brands, they are in a totally different league. Having not even heard the Acoustech system, I challenge anyone to buy the "top-of-the-line" KLH system (if there is such a thing), A/B it with the Acoustech, and say that they're both "entry level" and essentially the same

Actually I think I was the one that brought up KLH . BIC does have a line called RtR which proobably *is* pretty close to KLH. Kind of off topic, but what happened with KLH? My dad still has a pair of vintage KLH speakers that must be circa late 50's, haven't heard them recently but I remember they sure still sounded good when I was in college in the late '70s early 80's. Now KLH has the dubious distinction of being sold at Fred Meyer stores (think Target with groceries).

[DerProfi]

I think the story with KLH is the story with so many other former greats in the audio world like Akai, Sansui, etc. They used to make great stuff but eventually went out of business and now they simply license the name to some manufacturing consortium. In defense of the modern-day Akai, they mostly rebadge Samsung products so they're actually pretty good. KLH and Sansui, however, seem to have been hooked up with the stereotypical slave-labor-powered Chinese junk factories that everyone complains about

Thanks for the great info on the Acoustechs, by the way. I came this [--] close to picking up a set yesterday but I decided I could wait another day and see if you posted anything else. What are you driving them with, by the way?

[erics0531]

Thanks for the great info on the Acoustechs, by the way. I came this [--] close to picking up a set yesterday but I decided I could wait another day and see if you posted anything else. What are you driving them with, by the way?

Just a Pioneer VSXD711 - nothing special.