BIC FH6-LCR Center Speaker Review

[acctx]

What centre channel do you use when mixing?

I ask, because I was under the impression that mixing work was typically performed on speakers with neutral tonality, and as few resonances as possible. Surely if you mix dialogue to suit the response of a speaker like the BIC FH6-LCR, it would sound worse on good speakers like the Revel C25 or C208?

I don't use center channel. I mix on Neumanns KH120 and I have other studio monitors as well.

This is a home theater speaker. Not a Hifi stereo system speaker. My understanding is that this was designed with the sole purpose of providing clear voices without harshness and sibilance.

 

[DanielT]

Thanks for the test Amir.

Maybe an exception but this:

Amir
Upon unboxing I saw one woofer screw ready to fall out

Tried to tighten but could not full as the thread was stripped. Tested the rest of the screws and none would tighten in either woofer! Clearly the front baffle is thin and screws were overtightened causing none of them to really hold. I expect low quality from "BIC" brand but this is lower than that low bar.

That in itself is enough not to buy, choose BIC FH6-LCR Center Speaker, regardless of how the speaker measures.

OT:
Speaking of wood screws that don't want to take hold. If you want to fill in to level, fix new screw holes and so on, you can try mixing superglue and sawdust (there will be a strong thermal effect, so be careful), or baking soda and superglue, for plastic repairs. There are lots of videos on Youtube, if needed/interested do a search and check.

 

[AudioSceptic]

No, this Bic stands for something like “British Imports Company.” It started out as an importer of UK speakers in the 50’s but started designing their own. In the 70’s and 80’s, they were known as a “very cheap but fairly decent” speaker brand but nowadays, they seem to just be “very cheap.”

Not hard to find.

BIC, originally an abbreviation for British Industries Corporation, was established in 1950 as an American corporation that imported hi-end British audio products. BIC was one of the earliest pioneers in the audio industry, distributing top-of the-line brands including Garrard turntables, Luxman amplifiers and Wharfedale loudspeakers.

<https://bicamerica.com/about/>

The BiC we all know as a maker of cheap-but-good ballpoint pens and disposable razors is a French company.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bic_(company)>

 

[sarumbear]

Horizontal Orientation
Preference Rating
SCORE: 1.4
SCORE w/ sub: 5.0

Anyone care for the vertical orientation? If not I’ll just leave it at horizontal only.

Was that low score a record?

 

[restorer-john]

Hard to do worse than this.

White Van speakers coming up next. Kidding, I hope.

 

[sarumbear]

Based on frequency response it is PERFECT for voice-oriented center channel. I mix music and this curve is pretty much how I mix vocals.

Meat of the vocal is 400-2000Hz, low end is rolled off from 125hz, there a dip where most voices have nasty harshness around 2200-2500hz, and a further dip in nasty 3-4k but bump around 5k for clarity/articulation, and sibillance 6k and beyond is sharply shelved..

This curve looks like pure center speaker perfection.

It seems you have a different understanding of what to expect from a monitor speaker than to the rest of the industry. Strange and very disturbing if you mix commercially.

 

[Curupira]

That's the usual trend I've seen here with central speakers. Are there any actually good measuring central speakers that distinguish itself from this rest?

 

[sarumbear]

I could probably accept the measurements given the price and my expectations of MTM center designs...

What are your expectations for a centre speaker, if I may ask, as this speaker's directivity is the opposite of what a centre speaker should have.

 

[restorer-john]

I'm gonna give it credit where I see it due.

Based on frequency response it is PERFECT for voice-oriented center channel. I mix music and this curve is pretty much how I mix vocals.

Meat of the vocal is 400-2000Hz, low end is rolled off from 125hz, there a dip where most voices have nasty harshness around 2200-2500hz, and a further dip in nasty 3-4k but bump around 5k for clarity/articulation, and sibillance 6k and beyond is sharply shelved..

This curve looks like pure center speaker perfection.

Ands that's exactly why music and movies sound like utter crap these days. The speaker is basically an early April Fools joke and I feel sorry for the Klippel. A horror show.

 

[sarumbear]

That's the usual trend I've seen here with central speakers. Are there any actually good measuring central speakers that distinguish itself from this rest?

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[alex-z]

That's the usual trend I've seen here with central speakers. Are there any actually good measuring central speakers that distinguish itself from this rest?

Erins Audio Corner measured several. Elac UC52, Emotiva C1+, and SVS Prime Center are all decent and $300-500. KEF Q250C, Q650C, and R2C are more expensive but all above average.

You can also run a single bookshelf speaker as a centre channel. Some models like the Revel M16 are solid individually.

 

[MZKM]

Was that low score a record?

Negative scores can exist due to how the formula works, but that is usually for designs such electrostatics.

 

[prerich]

Not a fan of BIC, however this speaker looks used. Was it new, open box, or used?

 

[sarumbear]

Negative scores can exist due to how the formula works, but that is usually for designs such electrostatics.

Does a negative score shows how much people hate the speaker instead of preferring?

Come to think of it, is there an electrostatic speaker within the Harman range?

 

[MZKM]

Come to think of it, is there an electrostatic speaker within the Harman range?

Not single panel one I would assume.

But the Preference score wasn’t designed for them and even the Spinorama may not show them in best light. The LRS for instance is going to have a bit more bass due to the floor reinforcement as it is so low.

 

[Spkrdctr]

I have to say, this speaker should be replaced with a single regular two way of decent quality. I expect a 5 inch woofer with 1 inch tweeter could do very well as the center does not need to do any bass. Mid bass is as low as they have to go. But, I would get one of Amir's recommended centers no matter what.

 

[Rottmannash]

Thanks for the test Amir.

Maybe an exception but this:

Amir
Upon unboxing I saw one woofer screw ready to fall out

Tried to tighten but could not full as the thread was stripped. Tested the rest of the screws and none would tighten in either woofer! Clearly the front baffle is thin and screws were overtightened causing none of them to really hold. I expect low quality from "BIC" brand but this is lower than that low bar.

That in itself is enough not to buy, choose BIC FH6-LCR Center Speaker, regardless of how the speaker measures.

OT:
Speaking of wood screws that don't want to take hold. If you want to fill in to level, fix new screw holes and so on, you can try mixing superglue and sawdust (there will be a strong thermal effect, so be careful), or baking soda and superglue, for plastic repairs. There are lots of videos on Youtube, if needed/interested do a search and check.

...the question is-was this speaker new or used? Perhaps the original owner played with the screws? Not likely but one never knows.

 

[sarumbear]

...the question is-was this speaker new or used? Perhaps the original owner played with the screws? Not likely but one never knows.

The broken unit excuse has arrived. This time it took 37 posts.

 

[acctx]

It seems you have a different understanding of what to expect from a monitor speaker than to the rest of the industry. Strange and very disturbing if you mix commercially.

Strange and disturbing I get judged by someone who has no clue what they're talking about who doesn't even have basic cognitive skills to understand what I wrote.

 

[anphex]

Stunning. While I thought it really funny that the screws were already falling off, the more impresses me the super low distortion. This can't be right, can it?