Realistic 31-2020 equalizer

[deeder7001]

I just bought one from the local CL. Needs to be cleaned but it works good. How did I do on this one?

 

[ferninando]

have one, also cl $10. pretty colored spectrum display.
open it up. blo out the dust with comp. air. contact cleaner on all switches and sliders and rotary controls. mild soap/water on faceplate to clean.
plug in and play. touch up anything that remains scratchy. forget the expander thingy.

 

[deeder7001]

That IMX Expander is really is a weird thing. I don't like to press it. Yet I do it anyways.

The only thing that seems slightly amiss is the bypass button. It just looks like this thing hasn't been used in a while.

 

[ferninando]

like I said, repeat contact clnr and exersize iffy switches etc.
I just leave the expander thingy "bypassed" or off . the mnl says it's only good for certain conditions. supposedly 'widens' the listening space to some degree. turn it on and turn the level control to see how it works. otherwise forget it.

 

[DSChamber]

Buddy of mine has the same one in black and its a nice unit... Is yours in silver or black (they came in both colors)? The silver one looks almost identical to my 31-8000.... Realistic made some nice EQs back then....

 

[dgwojo]

I keep a half dozen of the RCA versions around, the IMX works well with Altec speakers!! Dave. :yes:

 

[deeder7001]

I have the silver version. Looks nice even though it kind of clashes with the rest of the system which is black.

 

[deeder7001]

So did I do good on my first buy of (vintage?) audio gear?

 

[DSChamber]

So did I do good on my first buy of (vintage?) audio gear?

Yup!! Like I said above... the RatShack made some nice EQs back in the day, the 2020, like all that came before it and all that came after it, is a good EQ.

 

[ferninando]

mine too is silver with orig box and manual

 

[deeder7001]

I need to figure out how to set it. The sliders seem to be really sensitive. Move them up a little and it gets loud real quick. I don't quite know what to do with the tape loops on it as I don't have a cassette deck.

 

[adicio]

Hi
I know this is an old post. I just pick up the silver Realsitic EQ 31-2020. Does any body have a PDF of the instruction manual? Thanks.

 

[vintageboy]

I had the same one and they are good eq. I replaced it with Teac and I could feel a difference but still not bad silver eq

 

[dgwojo]

Hi
I know this is an old post. I just pick up the silver Realsitic EQ 31-2020. Does any body have a PDF of the instruction manual? Thanks.

Use the RCA manual;
31-5001

Or the Optimus in Spanish;
31-2030

 

[cyberey66]

I had the same one and they are good eq. I replaced it with Teac and I could feel a difference but still not bad silver eq

What Teac did you replace it with? Do you prefer the Teac?

 

[Rome]

You did fine. I have always liked the clean no-nonsense look of the Realistic eq's.

Rome

 

[vintageboy]

with Teac EQA-20

 

[Caminokid]

I have two Realistic EQ's. I like thier Eq's. I have several Pioneer EQ's and 1 Technics EQ.

 

[coonmanx]

I have owned both a Teac EQ and the Realistic 31-2020. The Teac unit was in somewhat poor condition so that is why I replaced it with the Realistic. I gave the Teac unit to a guy in my apartment building and he gave it to somebody else because he said that there was static while moving the sliders. I told him that it probably only needed a good cleaning. The Realistic unit had to go to the repair shop about three months after I got it when there was quite a loud pop and it developed a hum. So I took it to this local guy who fixed it for $50. All in all I am very happy with my Realistic 31-2020 because it gives my system a very good sound and does not introduce any hum or noise into the signal. It is a very nice unit.

 

[TwoFooted]

This thread looks ancient, but just snagged one of these for $3.50 at a thrift store. Still gonna pry it open and clean it (blow out dust, clean contacts) but test drives nicely.

Feels like I stole something.