Auction Won Realistic STA-76

Went to a local auction won for $5 a Realistic STA-76 Receiver along with some other stuff I didn't need.Cleaned it up checked the DC offset hooked it up to some cheap speakers sound it great all of the inputs work.Found some info on the Radio Shack catalogs it was made in 1975 has 24 watts RMS at less than 1% THD from 20-20,000 Hz both channels driven:36 watts RMS at 1 kHz:50 Watts IHF: 62 watts IHF _+ 1db.Has Quatravox which lets you add synthesized 4-channel by just adding a second set of speakers.Never heard of this was this big in the 70's?Overall I'm happy I got it just haven't decided what I'm going to do with it would put it out in my shop but I do alot of woodworking which would ruin it with all of the saw dust.I had to tell AK's about it as most people just don't get it.Told a friend about it didn't think it was a big deal. Keith

cant go wrong for 5 bucks, Im running an sta-235b out in my shop, when I project dustiness in the near future I toss a sheet or a dropcloth over it. Just pop the case once in awhile and blow it out with air, good to go. Either that or put it in a cabinet that you can seal the doors on (or just duct tape them as a temp measure).

Quatravox is a form of the (David) Hafler/Dynaco Dynaquad circuit for ambience recovery. It is strikingly simple and can actually work quite well. Google dynaquad and read more...

It sounds like you already know that the STA-76 may be found on page 10 of http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalogs/1975/ 12 watts "RMS" (continuous) per channel at 1% THD per the then-new FTC power specification regulations. Seeing one large capacitor in the power supply and those two big caps (2200 uF at 35 WVDC) on the other side of the chassis on a PCB suggests to me that it has a cap-coupled output. New output coupling electrolytics would probably be a good investment.

quatravox

Manufacturers like Panasonic, Phase Linear, Carver had some form of ambient sound feature to provide a pseudo 4 channel quad sound either incorporated in amps or sold in separate modules. Dolby Surround and other Digital Sound Processing like Hall, Church, Jazz, made it obsolete. Some units required a 2nd pair of rear speakers. Some just front speakers.

Radio Shack had Quatravox which required 2nd pair of rear speakers and Quatravox could be selected in some units from the front with a knob or a switch in back.
http://support.radioshack.com/support_audio/doc16/16065.htm

Quatravox synthesizes 4-channel sound from almost any stereo
source - discs, tapes and FM broadcasts take on a rich, new, spacious
sound like you've only heard at live performances.

And it's not a trick - Quatravox actually recovers the important ambient
(reflected) sound hidden in ordinary stereo playback. When this reflected
sound is channeled through the rear speakers, it helps recreate the
acoustics of the studio or concert hall where the recording was made.
That makes the system sound more realistic - and after all, that's what
hi-fi is all about.

NOTE: Quatravox will reveal astounding 4-channel effects in some programs
and very little in others. It all depends on the recording
techniques used and the acoustics of the studio or concert hall.

Quatravox

The theoretically ideal position is shown in Figure A - one speaker in
each corner of the room. Since this arrangement is frequently impractical,
you may want to modify it. Figure B shows a common living room
arrangement. The listener faces the two front speakers while the rear
speakers face each other.

Figures C and D produce a different type of sensation. Instead of being
surrounded by sound, the two rear speakers create a sense of depth - as if
you were sitting in the audience at a live performance. Depending on the
size of the room and the efficiency of the rear speakers, you may want them
to face you or to face each other.

There are almost an infinite number of satisfying Quatravox arrangements,
so if one of these doesn't suit your needs, invent your own.

Always a good day when you score a bit of Rat Shack history. :thmbsp:

mike

Thanks for the comments.Me and the better half decided to put it in the living room along with some Nova 7-b's,Pioneer CT-F650 cassette deck and a Philips DVD/VCR deck I'm using for a CD player.I'd like to find a older CD player to go along with the vintage gear I have in there,I'll post some pictures later of it set-up.Thanks,terra1 for the link on Quatravox,I'd like to find another set of speakers and see what it sounds like.I guess I'm addictted to vintage gear always looking on CL and garage sales,looking for another piece of gear to add to my collection.mhardy6647 your advice on re-capping is well taken as soon as I can practice enough soldering and de-soldering,when my confidence level is up to par I'll try my hand at it.I need to find a service manual for it I've goolged it with no luck on finding one.

Realistic

I have an sta 64 that my mom bought in 1978. Not highly regarded and certainly not a powerhouse at 16wpc but sounds really nice.

the STA-64 was a beautiful little receiver.

Set-up Pictures Realistic STA-76

Got it hooked up in the living room,sounds great !!!!!!!!!!!! Have it hooked up to the Nova 7-b's with my Pioneer CT-F650 and Philips DVD player for my CD player.The Sony speakers are hooked up to my TV for my home theater system,thinking about hooking the TV in to the Realistic and giving the Sony to somebody that needs a stereo. Keith

I have three sta 95s b/c after the first one cleaned up so nicely I "accidnetly" bought two more. I had an opportunity to pass one on to a friend in need. It was greatly appreciated. Your unit could be your trainer unit. Go ahead, test your desoldering skills and change the caps. All you have to loose is 5 buck and maybe a fuse...

jdg

Nice receiver. Love the Realistic receivers. There great sound for cheap and for the most part, there under the radar.

Dang every time I see that characteristic lattice work I shed a tear for my long lost Nova 6s. Lookin good.

mike

mashaffer said:

Dang every time I see that characteristic lattice work I shed a tear for my long lost Nova 6s. Lookin good.

mike

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I really love my Nova's 7-b's I replaced a set of Bose 6.2 speakers the Nova's to me sound Alot better than the Bose's. Thanks,Keith

Wow. If you get a chance to get one of these receivers - jump on it.

Just found one at the dump. Mint. Free. So what the heck, right?
Took it home - polished it up - hooked it up to my POLK RTi-A9's...with rear channel...\\\\ and I literally had to sit on the floor and collect myself...this little free Rat Shack STA-76 blows away the sound from my MARANTZ SR-8000. And the four channel system (QUATROVOX) made me SIT DOWN AGAIN once I found out how to use it...jeez...So much for buying expensive new equipment...never again.

AnalogDigit said:

Nice receiver. Love the Realistic receivers. There great sound for cheap and for the most part, there under the radar.

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