Realistic... Another Realistic find???
- Thread starter D.E.K
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Splatter Pak
High-End Scrounger
The tuner might be worthwhile, though the TM-1001 is preferable.
Splat
Splat
vintaggeman
Well-Known Member
i wasnt an realistic fan till i got two mint receivers, sta- 2300 -2290
they sound very warm and sweet! :thmbsp:
they sound very warm and sweet! :thmbsp:
I will do my best to post the catalog pages for at least the amp, tuner and speakers tomorrow. I don't remember the amp but finding the catalog page will refresh my memory. The turntable is a middle of the line BSR. Sturdy and functional but nothing special. More of a Timex than a Rolex. The Optimus 1 speakers on the other hand are excellent. There is a whole series of speakers modeled after them that followed over the next ten years or so. They are frequently compared to KLH speakers of that point in time. They are quite good. The tuner is a decent tuner but probably not the absolute best that Radio Shack ever made (or had made for them). It is, however, a very good tuner. The rest of the stuff is just average. I think that the speakers alone are worth most if not all of the $90 asking price if they are in decent shape. they will surprise you (after you replace the crossover caps). The rest is a bonus.
It sounds like a decent deal. Go for it!
It sounds like a decent deal. Go for it!
TM1000 Tuner SA1000 Amplifier Lab-12 Lab-24 Lab-36
There is a lot of information on AK about the very popular Optimus 1 speakers. Here is a recent post with a catalog page for them: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=164921. I was not able to locate anything on the SA-550 amplifier so it could have been a model that was only sold in Canada. The TR-165 8-Track player is a typical 8-Track playback only tape deck, nothing unusual or special, just functional and reliable. That is pretty much the same story for the Lab 12, 24 and 36 turntables. Manufactured by BSR, they were very popular at that time not only with Radio Shack but with many other brands that "made" and sold turntables separately or as part of compact tabletop all-in-one systems. They were basic inexpensive workhorses. The Lab 36 was one of the better models. Here are the 1973 catalog pages for the tuner and the turntable.
The TM1000 tuner and the matching SA1000 amplifier were quite good. Look what you could get for only 469 1973 dollars. Not bad, not bad at all! Once again, I think Radio Shack had some pretty decent values back in the "Good old days of Radio Shack".
There is a lot of information on AK about the very popular Optimus 1 speakers. Here is a recent post with a catalog page for them: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=164921. I was not able to locate anything on the SA-550 amplifier so it could have been a model that was only sold in Canada. The TR-165 8-Track player is a typical 8-Track playback only tape deck, nothing unusual or special, just functional and reliable. That is pretty much the same story for the Lab 12, 24 and 36 turntables. Manufactured by BSR, they were very popular at that time not only with Radio Shack but with many other brands that "made" and sold turntables separately or as part of compact tabletop all-in-one systems. They were basic inexpensive workhorses. The Lab 36 was one of the better models. Here are the 1973 catalog pages for the tuner and the turntable.
The TM1000 tuner and the matching SA1000 amplifier were quite good. Look what you could get for only 469 1973 dollars. Not bad, not bad at all! Once again, I think Radio Shack had some pretty decent values back in the "Good old days of Radio Shack".
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D.E.K
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Hey Ultra, thanks SO MUCH for the catalogues and your time. Much appreciated, more than you'd know. I'm getting the whole works Lab 36, SA-550, TM-1000, tr-165 and the Optimus-1's for $80. Although the guy said there's a bit of static, which could be gotten rid of by a decent cleaning, in the Amp and possibly the tuner I don't think I can go wrong with that.
Once again, thanks a lot.
Once again, thanks a lot.
No sweat D.E.K. . It's all about the karma! 
Actually, whenever I go looking through those old catalogs for someone it's a trip down memory lane for me. I always spot things that I have completely forgotten about. Someday when I am not pressed for time I want to start a couple of threads with scans of the phono accessories pages and another one for the audio accessories pages that RS carried over the years. Some of that stuff is very interesting. I like looking through that stuff and I think that some of our members would find it to be fun to see.
Once you have that gear all cleaned up and set up you will have to take some pictures and let us know how you like it. I think it will make a very nice system. Are you planning to replace the crossover caps in the speakers or doing any other work on the equipment?
Actually, whenever I go looking through those old catalogs for someone it's a trip down memory lane for me. I always spot things that I have completely forgotten about. Someday when I am not pressed for time I want to start a couple of threads with scans of the phono accessories pages and another one for the audio accessories pages that RS carried over the years. Some of that stuff is very interesting. I like looking through that stuff and I think that some of our members would find it to be fun to see.
Once you have that gear all cleaned up and set up you will have to take some pictures and let us know how you like it. I think it will make a very nice system. Are you planning to replace the crossover caps in the speakers or doing any other work on the equipment?
D.E.K
Loader
Hi Ultra;
I got the gear today. They are in very, very good shape. Tuner is flawless and very Pioneer like with the warm blue light. The amplifier is not the most powerful thing but she has that warm, old look and of course a little static when playing with the Volume. The turntable is almost like ANCIENT but in perfect working order (he gave me 2 cartriges and a needle and a cleaning kit along with a Boney M record lol) The 8 Track player is in perfect working order and came with 12 Tapes. Now the speakers... I just can't get over them. They look so old I was positive they were going to sound like tin-can junk. They sound great! I'd say it is an $80 very well spent. Except for the turntable, everything came with the original manuals as well.
I will post the pictures ASAP. Thanks a lot for telling me to go for it! Cheers...
I got the gear today. They are in very, very good shape. Tuner is flawless and very Pioneer like with the warm blue light. The amplifier is not the most powerful thing but she has that warm, old look and of course a little static when playing with the Volume. The turntable is almost like ANCIENT but in perfect working order (he gave me 2 cartriges and a needle and a cleaning kit along with a Boney M record lol) The 8 Track player is in perfect working order and came with 12 Tapes. Now the speakers... I just can't get over them. They look so old I was positive they were going to sound like tin-can junk. They sound great! I'd say it is an $80 very well spent. Except for the turntable, everything came with the original manuals as well.
I will post the pictures ASAP. Thanks a lot for telling me to go for it! Cheers...
Yes, I also have the tuner (and the matching SA-2000 integrated amp even though they're not in my signature, I'll have to check that...). The Auto-Magic feature is nice, if not just a little overkill. But it works well.
Leave it to Ultra-Hog to have those catalog scans! By the way, Ultra, where did your moniker come from?
Leave it to Ultra-Hog to have those catalog scans! By the way, Ultra, where did your moniker come from?
soundmotor
super modified
I've picked up enough mid-70's RS, Lafayette, & Allied catalogs to give me perspective on some of the gear I run across. I will usually take a chance on any of it that was high priced for the time and selling for nothing now.
I picked up a Lafayette tuner from 1974 this way and it was their best one for that year. It is the best tuner I've ever owned as well. Absolutely staggering performance. When they had nothing but their specs on the catalog page to sell from, the unit better perform. Dice rolls on gear like this are a pretty same bet.
I picked up a Lafayette tuner from 1974 this way and it was their best one for that year. It is the best tuner I've ever owned as well. Absolutely staggering performance. When they had nothing but their specs on the catalog page to sell from, the unit better perform. Dice rolls on gear like this are a pretty same bet.
Moniker... was that the right word? I meant your screen name, Ultra.
I have picked up many of the smaller Realistic integrated amps and tuners from the early-to-mid seventies that I used to own in the day (see list in my signature). Some of tuners have really surprised me in their performance- most notably the little TM-100 and also the TM-90 with its black-out dial. They both tune in on a dime and the TM-90 has fantastic fidelity. I don't know what the problem is with reception at my house- I am near a flood zone- but the 90 is also one of the few tuners I own that will bring in everything with just a line cord antenna connected.
I have picked up many of the smaller Realistic integrated amps and tuners from the early-to-mid seventies that I used to own in the day (see list in my signature). Some of tuners have really surprised me in their performance- most notably the little TM-100 and also the TM-90 with its black-out dial. They both tune in on a dime and the TM-90 has fantastic fidelity. I don't know what the problem is with reception at my house- I am near a flood zone- but the 90 is also one of the few tuners I own that will bring in everything with just a line cord antenna connected.
I do have the catalog with the SA-500 in it. I will scan it when I get a chance.
The screen name is just something that I have used for many years on a lot of different forums. I was going to see if you could guess (I can see how it could paint quite a vivid picture in one's mind!) but it is just a bit too far off topic for Dollars & Sense. The "Ultra" is the model of motorcycle that my wife and I ride, a Harley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Classic. The "Hog" part just a reference to the club, Harley Owners Group. That's all.
The screen name is just something that I have used for many years on a lot of different forums. I was going to see if you could guess (I can see how it could paint quite a vivid picture in one's mind!) but it is just a bit too far off topic for Dollars & Sense. The "Ultra" is the model of motorcycle that my wife and I ride, a Harley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Classic. The "Hog" part just a reference to the club, Harley Owners Group. That's all.
I would love to have the catalog page AND the manual! 
If I may be so greedy... In return, here's a photo of MY 500:
Back in '71 I bought the big brother of the SA-500, the SA-900 at 90w peak power, skipping the 500 as I had just come off the SA-700 at 70w peak. There wasn't much difference in output but I loved the midrange control on the 900. Plus, with the black face it looked "cooler".
I just recently found BOTH the SA-500 and 900 (I actually bought two of the 900's) on eBay. The 500 actually sounds BETTER than the 900. Maybe it's the discreet outputs, maybe it's the design but there is a noticeable difference. The bass in the 500 seems smoother and less "hollow". The 900's do whip the 500 on output power, though.
If I may be so greedy... In return, here's a photo of MY 500: Back in '71 I bought the big brother of the SA-500, the SA-900 at 90w peak power, skipping the 500 as I had just come off the SA-700 at 70w peak. There wasn't much difference in output but I loved the midrange control on the 900. Plus, with the black face it looked "cooler".
I just recently found BOTH the SA-500 and 900 (I actually bought two of the 900's) on eBay. The 500 actually sounds BETTER than the 900. Maybe it's the discreet outputs, maybe it's the design but there is a noticeable difference. The bass in the 500 seems smoother and less "hollow". The 900's do whip the 500 on output power, though.
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Oh, OK. It makes sense now that you explained it. My limited experience in motorcycle ownership was spent on a couple of rice burners in the 80's and 90's so my Harley knowledge is "spotty", at best.
