I have BIC Acoustech mains + center so I'll chime in here. First every "review" of the speaker is total crap. Don't read it, don't quote it, pay it no attention. I can tell you from my use of these speakers that the main review they quote for the speaker is total junk. The "reviewer" makes so many pointless remarks and keeps quoting the great bass out of the towers. I can assure you that bass out of the towers is nonexistence. It sucks. It's no biggee though because with a sub you'll have no problems.
The reviews they quote on the box for the Acoustec's are actually related to their older speakers too, not the Acoustechs.
Their website is total junk as well. They still quote a gmail email address last time I checked. Very shady.
That being said, the speaker's are actually pretty good. I'm satisfied with my purchase, although somewhat disappointed. They seem to handle strings and cymbols and similar instruments exceptionally well. Better than I expected actually.
My beef with them is mainly for HT use. I bought them (without hearing them) with the understanding that they were great for HT but only good for music. I think they're poor with HT and good for music.
They just don't seem to handle vocals well at all. I've never been listening to a dvd or HDTV and felt like the person speaking was actually a person. It always sounds like a mechanical representation of a human voice (which it is).
But, for the price I'd say they're definitely NOT a rip-off. Are they best speakers available for the price? Probably not but I have no idea since I've only heard a couple speakers in this range.
I plan on keeping mine for a few years and eventually upgrading to some Ascend's or something similar.
FYI, I run 2 towers and the center via an HTPC w/a JVC receiver and Wharfedale rears and a Mirage Omni S12 sub.
