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Classic gear from yesteryear; vintage audio standing the test of time.

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RE: BIC 960 Turntable

Posted by Richard Steinfeld on December 26, 2011 at 16:05:19:
Answering DougG,

Please understand that I am fond of the first generation of BIC changers. How fond? I have one complete 960 machine plus more than one carton of new and used BIC parts. That complete 960 needs servicing, and I've never gotten around to it. I could probably make two more machines just from the parts. I have worked on a number of these machines, as well as the repair-hostile monstrosities that British Industries Corp. replaced them with.

But I also have a few Thori, a Rek-O-Kut, and even a Weathers, Lencos, and three Dual 1019s.

Made by VM, the BIC changers were well-known for workmanship defects. The tolerances were just not to the level of precision of, let's say, the best changers from Dual and ELAC (Miracord). If you want to see how good a changer can really be, let me recommend that you just feel the platter bearing play of a (non-abused) Dual 10nn or a Miracord. Then feel the BIC's bearings, and you'll understand where I'm coming from. Platter bearing quality is audible. Sight across a Miracord's platter for flatness.

So, my remark was simply about its quality as a turntable, compared with other changers that really were capable of audiophile performance in their ordinary build quality.

A BIC's build quality could be critical. The finish of the aluminum strutwork could be so poor that a coarse cam follower could, and did, slice through the plastic pin on the cam gear. When I removed all these parts to clean and relube them, I would file this cam follower smooth so that it would not eat that pin. Otherwise, you could be required to search, like Diogenes, for a new BIC cam gear.

BIC came up with a truly revolutionary motor, and some day, if he's still alive, I'd love to meet the engineer who conceived the thing. It's unique, brilliant, and cost-effective. Pull one apart and you'll marvel. But you'll also see how BIC cheaped out on excellence, by eliminating the bottom bearing. Let me be clear: this motor has only one bearing; even a kiddie phono has more class! That's just unconscionable. And, with all the belt torque pulling against that lonely single bearing, it wears eccentric in normal use (frequent lubrication may help!).

Dual's 10nn-series motors are virtually the best classic motors I've ever seen. They're so finely machined, balanced, and quiet, that I have had to put my fingernail against them just to see if they're actually running! So, here's a case in which the changer's motor is actually better than its manual turntable contemporaries.

So, as you can see, I'm not being a "snooty audiophile," but writing from solid knowledge and workshop experience, comparing the BICs with other, finer changers. My tendency is to be practical about sound reproduction.

Now, here's the good part. Despite what I just wrote, I want to emphasize that it's possible to have a good BIC. The arms, although the headshells are a bit "bendy," are lower in mass and more stable than most Duals and Miracords, so that's a plus. You can tweak them. I don't know what to do about the ratty platter mats; there's probably a decent solution for that. Haven't put my brain to this yet.

I hope that this clears up any misunderstandings.