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Optimus Pro LX7 - My love for Radio Shack

jobrewer1983

jobrewer1983

AK Subscriber
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Hi All,

Today I was able to pick up a few sets of the Optimus Pro LX7s for a good deal. They were posted to my local CL, and not to far away. Got to talk audio for a while as well with the gent I got them from. Had a good time doing so, it’s always good to talk to folk who have a passion for audio and good sound.

Got them set up and playing, they sound fantastic. I’m a collector of JBL so most of my speakers are JBL, but I’ve always had a soft spot for RadioShack speakers Realistic and Optimus. I’ve had the LX5s and have a single LX4 that I’ve been hunting for a match. The 5s are nice but the 7s blow them out the water. Really nice bottom end and the tweeters sound really nice and smooth.

I’ve always had good luck with realistic and Optimus speakers, I’m really happy with this set. If you ever see a set locally for a good deal I say run don’t walk, they are great speakers.
 
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Lavane said:
Thanks for the heads up. I know very little about the later speakers RS sold.
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I’ve had them playing all day now and have yet to get any sort of fatigue.

the SQ is absolutely fantastic, good deep bottom end and silky smooth top end. There could be more in the mids but they are not lacking. Just a factor of any 2 way speaker. Over all I would compare them to B&W and Energy in SQ, built like the old 90s B&W DM series. They are kinda ugly compared to most of the nice wood veneer cabinets most folks have but man do they sound good to my ears.

2EC6BDAB-AF7F-4FD6-A6E3-4717620C0F01.jpeg 17C9E66F-371E-467E-970B-D24A4C20B771.jpeg CF4437C1-707E-4446-9B01-7FD1B22EA3D3.jpeg
 
Dman it, I’m smitten…

Like most of you, I’m a collector of gear and speakers. I listen to a ton of music, 8-10hrs a day. I can say this set is not fatiguing to my ears for long listening times. They have a very rich sound, slightly forward but not over done at all, my ears keep saying B&W, that have that deep accurate forward bass and mid range but better top end.

They don’t seem to go for big $$ either, most likely due to the branding. As a fan of good speakers, I’d highly recommend this set. A true hidden gem, I’ve been reading reviews on them and it cracks me up to see how many folks comment on the sound stage yet never listened to a set…. That always cracks me up, the folks who have them all seem to love them.

I set them up according to the spec sheet, says to get them 6-8 feet apart and same distance from listening space. I’ve towed them in slightly.

with a good recording they are absolutely fantastic speakers.

I need to track down a match to the LX4 I have.
 
Reviving and old thread I know. I picked up a pair of these over a year ago for $5 on FB. I’ve been using them since as test speakers for newly acquired gear. I’ll be honest, it’s probably the best $5 I’ve spent in a very long time. These things never stop surprising me. I currently own ADS, Canton, JBL, Epicure, KLH and others. These are butt ugly, but could easily be put in use on a full system. Some folks would just call them Rat Shack speakers, but I say they deserve respect. They certainly got mine.
I’ll step down from my soap box now. LOL
 
Jakeabean said:
Reviving and old thread I know. I picked up a pair of these over a year ago for $5 on FB. I’ve been using them since as test speakers for newly acquired gear. I’ll be honest, it’s probably the best $5 I’ve spent in a very long time. These things never stop surprising me. I currently own ADS, Canton, JBL, Epicure, KLH and others. These are butt ugly, but could easily be put in use on a full system. Some folks would just call them Rat Shack speakers, but I say they deserve respect. They certainly got mine.
I’ll step down from my soap box now. LOL
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Oh they are fantastic I had 2 sets gave one to my brother in law who loves them too.

They are ugly as all get out but man do they sound good. It’s the bottom end, those things just seem to have no bottom. No sub needed at all.
 
ive been rocking a pair of these as dailies for 25 years. picked up a pair in ~Jan '99 after they where discontinued at the radio shack i worked at, got them for like $50CAN. theyve always sounded great but seem to get better with every amp/avr upgrade, on my new Pioneer vsx-935(5.1.2*) they blew me away. i like how they look, it's "retro" now lol, and have always left the covers off too.

*with some made in canada Merak center/surrounds/sub and polk atmos modules
 
The feeble rubber surrounds on my bedroom Wharfedale Diamonds bit the dust (tired of patching them together DIY style) and a spare set of Mission 700 Leading Edge speakers weren’t cutting it, so I hooked up these Pro LX7s I got for $20 a year or two ago. Never really gave them a chance. Probably the plasticky tactile quality didn’t endear me to them, and the design and execution of the Linnaeum tweeters looks haphazard and crumpled.

But holy crap! They do indeed sound quite excellent, crumpled, haphazard looks be damned. Deep but tonal bass, and a very smooth midrange and treble. The treble is as smooth (or smoother?) than those little NHT Super Zeroes we all have sitting in a corner of our storage space - but with bass! And unlike the Zeroes, the top end doesn’t feel rolled off (but still with that smoothness and incredible detail, and fast response).

image.jpg
 
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jobrewer1983 said:
View attachment 2355514 View attachment 2355515

Hi All,

Today I was able to pick up a few sets of the Optimus Pro LX7s for a good deal. They were posted to my local CL, and not to far away. Got to talk audio for a while as well with the gent I got them from. Had a good time doing so, it’s always good to talk to folk who have a passion for audio and good sound.

Got them set up and playing, they sound fantastic. I’m a collector of JBL so most of my speakers are JBL, but I’ve always had a soft spot for RadioShack speakers Realistic and Optimus. I’ve had the LX5s and have a single LX4 that I’ve been hunting for a match. The 5s are nice but the 7s blow them out the water. Really nice bottom end and the tweeters sound really nice and smooth.

I’ve always had good luck with realistic and Optimus speakers, I’m really happy with this set. If you ever see a set locally for a good deal I say run don’t walk, they are great speakers.
Click to expand...
Really? I would have thought radio shack would be your punishment for not finishing up your plate. Never heard em.
 
doctor fuse said:
The feeble rubber surrounds on my bedroom Wharfedale Diamonds bit the dust (tired of patching them together DIY style) and a spare set of Mission 700 Leading Edge speakers weren’t cutting it, so I hooked up these Pro LX7s I got for $20 a year or two ago. Never really gave them a chance. Probably the plasticky tactile quality didn’t endear me to them, and the design and execution of the Linnaeum tweeters looks haphazard and crumpled.

But holy crap! They do indeed sound quite excellent, crumpled, haphazard looks be damned. Deep but tonal bass, and a very smooth midrange and treble. The treble is as smooth (or smoother?) than those little NHT Super Zeroes we all have sitting in a corner of our storage space - but with bass! And unlike the Zeroes, the top end doesn’t feel rolled off (but still with that smoothness and incredible detail, and fast response).

View attachment 3696971
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Yea they are a true hidden gem!!
 
maxhifi said:
How do they handle power? Do they get pretty loud? Is that a poly cone woofer?
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I forgot what the efficiency rating on them are, I ran them with a 75w SS amp and they did fantastic, also ran them with various tube amps and they did great. They seem to like power though. Yes its a poly cone woofer.
 
jobrewer1983 said:
I forgot what the efficiency rating on them are, I ran them with a 75w SS amp and they did fantastic, also ran them with various tube amps and they did great. They seem to like power though. Yes its a poly cone woofer.
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Cool, I've always been curious about those and also the floor standing version sound. They were introduced when RS and home audio were already on the way downhill, so they're quite rare compared to the 70s and 80s stuff. I really do like poly cone woofers in general.
 
maxhifi said:
Cool, I've always been curious about those and also the floor standing version sound. They were introduced when RS and home audio were already on the way downhill, so they're quite rare compared to the 70s and 80s stuff. I really do like poly cone woofers in general.
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I’m tempted to go for these, but too many speakers already (and it doesn’t look like they ship to Canada). I say you go for it!
www.ebay.com

Optimus PRO LX-10 Linaeum Tweeters Floor Standing Speakers Pair Dirty Grills | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Optimus PRO LX-10 Linaeum Tweeters Floor Standing Speakers Pair Dirty Grills at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com
 
doctor fuse said:
I’m tempted to go for these, but too many speakers already (and it doesn’t look like they ship to Canada). I say you go for it!
www.ebay.com

Optimus PRO LX-10 Linaeum Tweeters Floor Standing Speakers Pair Dirty Grills | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Optimus PRO LX-10 Linaeum Tweeters Floor Standing Speakers Pair Dirty Grills at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com
Click to expand...

Wow, that's a rare find! I can vaguely remember those being sold as a mains for a 5.1 setup. By the mid to late 90s, Radio Shack was so bad at marketing audio, but had some nice products anyway.

I'm another Canadian with too many speakers though, international shipping of something this large would be a deal breaker. If a set shows up in Alberta or BC, I'm going to try and make the logistics work out!
 
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maxhifi said:
Wow, that's a rare find! I can vaguely remember those being sold as a mains for a 5.1 setup. By the mid to late 90s, Radio Shack was so bad at marketing audio, but had some nice products anyway.

I'm another Canadian with too many speakers though, international shipping of something this large would be a deal breaker. If a set shows up in Alberta or BC, I'm going to try and make the logistics work out!
Click to expand...

We might find ourselves bidding against each other if a pair shows up in BC! ;)
 
maxhifi said:
Nice. For me, a speaker has to get to a satisfying level with a 20-30W amplifier, so I can use my Heathkit W5M or Mullard 5-20 amplifiers.
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Now I’m curious. I will try to find time to power them with a flea watt Se 6BQ5 amp and see how they do together.
 
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