By: Dipin Sehdev
BIC America is bringing back a name that some longtime home audio enthusiasts may remember. The company has announced the return of RtR with the new RtR Elite On-Wall Series, a seven-model passive speaker lineup designed to deliver a traditional component home theater experience without filling the room with floorstanding speakers.
And this is a company and brand I haven’t thought about in quite a while, which makes the return particularly interesting. BIC America has historically focused on delivering a lot of performance for the money, so I’m curious to see how these new RtR speakers perform in a home theater market that has changed considerably.
The RtR Elite Series begins shipping September 1, 2026, with prices starting at $429 per speaker.
Built Around Today's Bigger TVs
Rather than simply making another collection of slim on-wall speakers, BIC America has designed the RtR Elite lineup specifically around modern wall-mounted TVs. There are three On-Wall Towers: the OWT65, OWT75 and OWT85, intended to visually complement 65-, 75- and 85-inch-class displays. Each tower uses an internally braced MDF enclosure with two extra-long-throw 4.5-inch woofers and four passive radiators. The comparatively substantial cabinet volume is intended to provide greater output and bass extension than extremely shallow on-wall designs.
BIC has also tapered the cabinets so the speakers direct their output downward toward the listening area when mounted alongside TVs positioned higher on a wall. All three OWT models are rated for up to 100 watts RMS and include gold-plated binding posts compatible with speaker wire up to 14 gauge.
“Today’s TVs have gotten dramatically larger while becoming thinner and less intrusive, but traditional speaker options haven’t evolved in the same way,” said Eric Huang, President of BIC America. “With the RtR Elite line, we set out to preserve the performance, separation and impact consumers expect from a component home theater while matching the size of the large-screen TVs on the market today.”
Two Center-Channel Options
The lineup includes two voice-matched center speakers.
The OWCLR35B is intended for installation below a television, while the OWCLR33A can be mounted above the display and provides three downward-angle positions to direct dialogue toward the seating area.
Interestingly, both center speakers can also be mounted vertically and used as left and right channels. That adds flexibility for installations where one of the taller OWT speakers won't work.
RtR Elite Specifications and Pricing
| Model | Type | Key Design Feature | Power/Placement | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OWT65 | On-wall tower | 2 × 4.5-in woofers, 4 passive radiators | Up to 100W RMS; 65-in-class TVs | $429 each |
| OWT75 | On-wall tower | 2 × 4.5-in woofers, 4 passive radiators | Up to 100W RMS; 75-in-class TVs | $449 each |
| OWT85 | On-wall tower | 2 × 4.5-in woofers, 4 passive radiators | Up to 100W RMS; 85-in-class TVs | $469 each |
| OWCLR35B | Center channel | Voice-matched; vertical mounting supported | Designed below TV | $439 each |
| OWCLR33A | Angled center | Three downward-angle positions | Above-TV or vertical L/R use | $469 each |
| S2040 | Surround pair | Selectable 20° / 40° mounting | Front-height, side or rear | $429/pair |
| S3070 | Surround pair | Separate 30° / 70° driver baffles | Wider seating coverage | $549/pair |
BIC America did not provide complete driver, frequency-response, sensitivity or impedance specifications for every model in the supplied announcement.
Surround Speakers Take a Different Approach
The S2040 and S3070 are perhaps the more unusual members of the lineup. The S2040 offers 20- and 40-degree mounting positions, allowing its angle to be adjusted based on its location relative to the seating area. The S3070 goes further with separate driver arrays positioned on 30- and 70-degree angled baffles. The idea is to increase useful coverage across different seats, particularly when surrounds have to be installed close to listeners or on side and rear walls. Both models can be installed horizontally or vertically and can serve in front-height, side-surround or rear-surround applications.
These Aren't Soundbar Replacements
It is important to understand what BIC is targeting here. These are passive speakers, so you'll still need an AV receiver or separate amplification. BIC recommends pairing the system with a subwoofer and using a crossover of 80Hz or higher. The complete voice-matched family can be configured for conventional 5.1 and 7.1 systems as well as immersive home theater installations.
Mounting templates, heavy-duty keyhole mounts and installation hardware are included.
That positioning makes the RtR Elite Series interesting. Soundbars have become the default space-saving audio solution for many large TVs, but they still can't physically place discrete speakers around the room. RtR is effectively betting that there is an audience that wants the separation and flexibility of a component system without traditional speakers sitting several feet into the living space.
Pricing and Availability
The complete BIC America RtR Elite On-Wall Series is expected to begin shipping September 1, 2026, through BIC America's distributor network and Amazon. A basic front L/C/R setup using two OWT65 speakers and an OWCLR35B would come to $1,297 before adding surrounds, a subwoofer or amplification. Stepping up to the larger OWT85 speakers and OWCLR33A brings that front stage to $1,407. That puts RtR into an interesting part of the market. It isn't trying to compete with an inexpensive soundbar, but it's considerably more approachable than many architectural and premium on-wall home theater systems.
For me, though, the most interesting part is simply seeing BIC America and RtR back in the conversation. These are names I haven't paid much attention to in recent years. If the new Elite Series can deliver the dynamics and value BIC is promising while maintaining the clean installation people increasingly want around large wall-mounted TVs, it could be worth watching.
