Realistic Collectors?

[Dr Tinear]

I did a quick inventory and found a surprising amount of Radio Shack gear in the house.

STA-18B stereo receiver (with a blazing 7 Watts per channel)
SCT-7 Dolby B autoreverse cassette deck
Two SCT-41 Dolby B/C cassette decks (Realistic versions of a surprisingly decent Sharp deck)
PRO-60 headphones (Realistic version of the Koss HV/X)
Two Optimus CD-3400 portable CD players
Tape control unit (expands one tape loop to three)
One-point stereo condenser microphone
Analog sound pressure level meter

 

[buffdaddy]

I recently rescued a pair of MC-1000's before the garbage collector came.One speaker looked like it was dropped so the cab was a bit rough.The other one was in very nice condition. I was surprised at how well they sounded.I took the damaged one into work and use it with my amp and tuner there.For one little speaker plucked from the trash,I am sure getting the compliments about the great sound. Now i only wished i had known about the RS gear about a year and a half ago when some folks moved out after 40 years of renting a house and tossed all this RS stuff in the trash I was delivering my mail route and saw it all.Paused,had a quick glance from across the street and decided i would have a further look when i delivered to that side on my way back.Guess who beat me to it? Yep, the garbage man D'OH!

 

[HomeBody]

Can anyone recommend Shack's best headphones?
My neighbors are getting just a wee bit bent around 2 in the morning.

 

[xupernaut]

Dunno if I'm a collector but I keep my eyes open for Realistic stuff. Alot of the older stuff is good but it doesn't get any respect so it goes cheap. I have ........

STA-84 receiver
Lab 1500 turntable
Nova 10 speakers
10 band eq w/spectrum analyzer

 

[haromaster87]

I picked up a 10 band equalizer from Realistic at a pawn shop for 10 bucks. It looks to be out of a rack system, probably nothing out of this world, but it turned my stereo around. I thought my stereo was good before, it really made a difference. I think it's pretty cool that they're the old RadioShack brand.

 

[jleon92f]

Hi, I just won this, picking it up tomorrow.

Thanks,
John.

 

[jancumps]

... and I picked up this one approx. 30 years ago:


(hope you don't mind it is a Micronta, and that is not audio - although it did beep in its hay days)

 

[ricohman]

I've got:
STA-2000 receiver
two pairs of Mach One 4024
one pair of T-100's
10 band EQ (that I am afraid to hook up, it pops)

And I just bought another STA2000 for $25 and its in excellent condition.
All I need is a decent lab TT.

 

[HomeBody]

I picked up alot of neato stuff back in the old shack days.
The parabolic cigarette lighter..
Micronta pen w/clock, alarm & chime..
Space Shuttle desktop radio...
Damn, that was a good trip down memory lane-

 

[HomeBody]

...All I need is a decent lab TT.

If you're wanting to stay on the Realistic road, look for any one of the following:
LAB-395, 400,440,500-
I've got a LAB-1500 Linear-Tracker that plays excellent, but it just doesn't have that vintage look about it.
the 395 is about the size of a bed in breakfast tray...I luv it-

 

[ricohman]

Here is my $25 STA2000. Just need a few bulbs. Anyone know of a good source for bulbs? My local shop charges $5 for a single grain of wheat bulb.

 

[70salesguy]

Here's the neatest thing in my Realistic collection.

A friend of mine gave it to me when he was "cleaning out" a few things.

 

[sobr1]

have a sta-2000d,10 band eq,optimus 40 speakers,2pair nova's i think thats it?

 

[HomeBody]

:grnbounceSUPER-Tape

 

[SBEEZ]

I picked up a Realistic STA-72 (I believe) at an antique shop in Hawthorne, NV last year. 20 bucks. It's a nice little receiver.

 

[aabottom]

Cut my audio teeth on Realistic gear

Similar to post on I'm in Radio Shack heaven.

Have now.
STA-80: 1974 Catalog, page 8
Optimus-2B : 1975 Catalog, page 24
Realistic Stereo Test Record, CAT. NO. 50-1001, 1975 Catalog, page 32
Realistic STA-7M . 12 VOLT Mobile Stereo Receiver
Green Laser Pointer (63-132)
For specs see:
http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalog_directory.html

I am the original owner of a STA-80 reciever and a set of Optimus-2B speakers. Last time I fired them up about 5 years ago, the speakers still put out decent sound. And they still look great in their real woodgrain walnut veneer. Not bad for $390 (in 1975 dollars, STA-80 + two Optimus-2B ).

I bought a RS turntable too, but I gave it to my sister (can't remember the model number, perhaps the Realistic/Miracord-40C (Cat. 1975, page 30)). I used to have the LV-10 headphones (Cat. 1975, page 29), but they are in disrepair.

Unfortunately the STA-80 has some blown electronics.

I'm thinking about hooking up the Optimus-2B set to the "B" side of my new Yamaha RX-797 to see how they compare to my Klipsch RF-7 set.

 

[jleon92f]

STA-65B works!after some minor repairs. Very clean unit, needs bulbs, and cleaning..

Thanks,
JOhn.

 

[geiman]

Nova 7 and Optimus 1 speakers.
I used to manage a store for them in the early 70's.
Their totl stuff was pretty good.

 

[harleyrider]

Just picked up a Realistic STA -870 today $20 , it can go with my LAB-400 and my Min 7s. Dont know much about the STA -870 havent had time to hook it up yet .

 

[HomeBody]

I've wanted an 870 for some time now.
Something tells me you're in for a serious treat.