bhunter
The Spherical Cow
Look at the title of the thread. I'm simply pointing out that there is a reason for RS's demise. Brand bash? They did an excellent job of that themselves.
Realistic mach one. Just over hyped?
- Thread starter Audi0
- Start date
Look at the title of the thread. I'm simply pointing out that there is a reason for RS's demise. Brand bash? They did an excellent job of that themselves.
Yes, thread title is asking about Mach 1's which from what I understand, you have never owned. But you needed to post that all RS stuff was junk. Let the OP have the thread back concerning his initial post, your posts are brand bashing. The mods will close this thread if it continues off subject and heading down this road.
What an amazing conclusion you draw: That since you did not have good luck with the items you bought all of RS items must have been bad. Pretty ignorant.
bhunter
The Spherical Cow
One does not need to own a product to be familiar with it. I've heard numerous Mach 1s and I've also been inside of them and many other RS products. My opinion is as valid as any other. In fact, I'm less biased than those that own the product. They were poorly built, suffered from bloated bass, and had a horrible midrange. Hey, it seems I'm in agreement with what the OP discovered. My point is that Mach 1s were overhyped along with just about every other RS product.
the skipper
Professional Curmudgeon
OK, I've got a bit of history with Tandy. I managed their stereo concession in Macy's/Bambergers in 68 - 69, Worked part time in one of their red/white stores going to school in 76 - 77, again, in 81 - 84 going to computer school and finally part time for kicks in 97 - 99. I've pretty much seen their rise and fall.
My first incarnation was before the ubiquitous stores invaded malls and they just bought out Allied. I sold a few of Allied receives but no real Realistic stuff. Atl that this concession sold was brand name stereo. In 76 it got interesting. Their stores had started invading the malls and their full line was quite extensive. To say they sold junk is a bit disingenuous. I wish I had a nickle for evet OTA antenna installation I engineered. I musta sold hundreds of boom boxes, car radios, boosters and CB sets, both mobile and home sets. As for stereos. they did not suck. The speakers were as good as what was out there but a bit more expensive than the competition but, when the 2 for 1 sale hit, the were an unbeatable bargain. Likewise their components. Generally quite adequate but a few standout sstill come to mind. The STA-90 and STA-200) spring to mind. I personally preferred their Nova series to the Machs but that's a personal preference. They played to different audiences. I don't know how many flavor radios I sole, not to mention PA systems to churches.
In 81 - 84 it was fun. TRS-80's gave my my start in programming, where I spent most of my career. Their stereo lineup remained basically the same but they pretty much started the mini component sthick with the STA-7 and 10 (I think) and brought the reasonably priced Minimus 7's and to the market.
At this time, Ma Bell was put to pasture and many people were jumping to buy their own phones. And everyone was jumping to sell whatever they could, including the shack. This is where one gets what they paid for. You could get a one piece phone for $11.88 and it was unmitigated junk. I know. I has two. But, they did work. There were more expensive phones but nothing spectacular. Cordless phones were good sellers too. Again, some were better than others, but this goes for everyone, not just the shack. Their Christmas toys were a gas, and a great seller. We spent hours on the parking lot with the RC cars. By 84 I finished school and went to work in the real world but I kept contact with the friends I made there.. Their xx in one lab kits gave lots of kids a good start in their electronics training. Oh, let's not forget the table and clock radios that were always in demand.
I went to work for a buddy i '96 part time in his store. Now, the decline was obvious. Their electronics had dropped a few pegs in quality and they were in bed with RCA here. They were now pushing cell phones and still pushing their computers when they should have jettisoned them years before when the PC's took over the market in the late 80's. The internet market was just starting and people were buying less and less in the B&M stores and their sales were far and few. They still had the parts rack but few people were interested in this any more. In the 80's, these were a major draw but there was little interest any more. OTA antenna sales were down because a lot of people fell under the thrall of cable.
The market had changed. They simply didn't change to keep up with it. Prices on brand name stuff could be gotten mail order and in local B&M stores. Up to the 90's the had a fine product and fair pricing. They just zigged when they should have zagged and lost their competitive edge in the 90's and is was a quick slide into the morass.
My first incarnation was before the ubiquitous stores invaded malls and they just bought out Allied. I sold a few of Allied receives but no real Realistic stuff. Atl that this concession sold was brand name stereo. In 76 it got interesting. Their stores had started invading the malls and their full line was quite extensive. To say they sold junk is a bit disingenuous. I wish I had a nickle for evet OTA antenna installation I engineered. I musta sold hundreds of boom boxes, car radios, boosters and CB sets, both mobile and home sets. As for stereos. they did not suck. The speakers were as good as what was out there but a bit more expensive than the competition but, when the 2 for 1 sale hit, the were an unbeatable bargain. Likewise their components. Generally quite adequate but a few standout sstill come to mind. The STA-90 and STA-200) spring to mind. I personally preferred their Nova series to the Machs but that's a personal preference. They played to different audiences. I don't know how many flavor radios I sole, not to mention PA systems to churches.
In 81 - 84 it was fun. TRS-80's gave my my start in programming, where I spent most of my career. Their stereo lineup remained basically the same but they pretty much started the mini component sthick with the STA-7 and 10 (I think) and brought the reasonably priced Minimus 7's and to the market.
At this time, Ma Bell was put to pasture and many people were jumping to buy their own phones. And everyone was jumping to sell whatever they could, including the shack. This is where one gets what they paid for. You could get a one piece phone for $11.88 and it was unmitigated junk. I know. I has two. But, they did work. There were more expensive phones but nothing spectacular. Cordless phones were good sellers too. Again, some were better than others, but this goes for everyone, not just the shack. Their Christmas toys were a gas, and a great seller. We spent hours on the parking lot with the RC cars. By 84 I finished school and went to work in the real world but I kept contact with the friends I made there.. Their xx in one lab kits gave lots of kids a good start in their electronics training. Oh, let's not forget the table and clock radios that were always in demand.
I went to work for a buddy i '96 part time in his store. Now, the decline was obvious. Their electronics had dropped a few pegs in quality and they were in bed with RCA here. They were now pushing cell phones and still pushing their computers when they should have jettisoned them years before when the PC's took over the market in the late 80's. The internet market was just starting and people were buying less and less in the B&M stores and their sales were far and few. They still had the parts rack but few people were interested in this any more. In the 80's, these were a major draw but there was little interest any more. OTA antenna sales were down because a lot of people fell under the thrall of cable.
The market had changed. They simply didn't change to keep up with it. Prices on brand name stuff could be gotten mail order and in local B&M stores. Up to the 90's the had a fine product and fair pricing. They just zigged when they should have zagged and lost their competitive edge in the 90's and is was a quick slide into the morass.
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bhunter
The Spherical Cow
That's not what I said. If I've purchased, say, 150 products from RS and each and every one failed prematurely, then does it make sense to continue purchasing their products. I suspect a significant number of people felt the same about RS and along with the new competition it utimately led to the demise of RS as player in consumer electronics. This statement doesn't preclude the possibility of a good product coming from RS. Your 38 year old clock radio is an example.
bhunter
The Spherical Cow
In the mid-90s, I seem to remember a reorganization and an expansion of stores. I always felt that somewhere in mid-1980s they lost their direction and sort of flopped about for a couple of decades until they were little more than a phone store.
BTW, thanks for taking the time to write that history.
I have an STA 90 and an STA 95 and while I like them both, I far prefer the 95. I have a set of cherry Nova 6s hooked up to an equally cherry STA 95 for one my bedroom systems and the synergy is really really good. I have vintage Kenwood, Marantz, MCS, Sony and Pioneer receivers and the Realistic ones are damn competitive compared apples to apples. One thing Realistic units usually blow away the name brands is the case. Even the really cheap 15 wpc units came in a walnut case. The 95 is one of the best looking old receivers IMO in addition to sounding really nice. The 90 sounds about the same but the surround of the tuner is plastic pained silver and it chips and wears over the years.....and I never like the orange backlight.
Yeah yeah we know how cool you think you are because you pop in a lot of threads about vintage gear and tell us so.
It's like owning a Chevy, but Cadillac buyers have to look down their nose at you. 
As long as your happy, that's what counts!
Read the reviews, plenty of hype for everyone.
http://www.audioreview.com/cat/spea...rs/realistic/mach-one/prd_120510_1594crx.aspx
As long as your happy, that's what counts!
Read the reviews, plenty of hype for everyone.
http://www.audioreview.com/cat/spea...rs/realistic/mach-one/prd_120510_1594crx.aspx
restorer-john
Addicted Member
I never had so much fun, made so much money (relatively), won so many awards at great convention venues and met so many great people as the years I spent working in and then managing a Tandy Electronics store.
Mach Ones were gone, but Mach Twos, T120s, and all the other good stuff was in abundance.
Computers were HX1000 and PCAT compatibles, Made in the USA. We had the first mobile car phones (a rebadged Uniden), talking clocks, great radio control cars to rip around the shopping centre at Christmas Time, the best scanners on the market, etc.
Yes, like HiFi, we go on to bigger and better things in life, but to diss Tandy/Radio Shack as a whole, considering the contribution their retailing made to hundreds of thousands of staff and millions of customers over many decades doesn't do them the justice they deserve.
I have a Tandy scientific calculator on my desk that gets used everyday and it reminds me of those years.
Mach Ones were gone, but Mach Twos, T120s, and all the other good stuff was in abundance.
Computers were HX1000 and PCAT compatibles, Made in the USA. We had the first mobile car phones (a rebadged Uniden), talking clocks, great radio control cars to rip around the shopping centre at Christmas Time, the best scanners on the market, etc.
Yes, like HiFi, we go on to bigger and better things in life, but to diss Tandy/Radio Shack as a whole, considering the contribution their retailing made to hundreds of thousands of staff and millions of customers over many decades doesn't do them the justice they deserve.
I have a Tandy scientific calculator on my desk that gets used everyday and it reminds me of those years.
No, they are just a favorite because a lot of us that were alive and into stereo gear (while being young without a lot of money in our pockets) remember them fondly. Many items from when people were young get to be like that; remembered as better than they really were. It is just not fair to compare them to the speakers of today.
It's like owning a Chevy, but Cadillac buyers have to look down their nose at you.
As long as your happy, that's what counts!
Read the reviews, plenty of hype for everyone.
http://www.audioreview.com/cat/spea...rs/realistic/mach-one/prd_120510_1594crx.aspx
But they are just silly peasants who infest the internet making it uncomfortable for those who really know what we should like.
That's why I'm here, and with over 21000 post I have a lot to say about all audio, vintage or other wise. Do you mind if I comment in Audi0 thread and talk to him?
And on the other hand in every thread that you latch onto you end up starting fights and running the thread into the ground and get them closed. As evident here with you quoting others and myself, there was no reason to quote me, or try to insult me but to start a fight. Now this is not your thread and you'll be so kind as to never quote me again, you just don't play well with others and I will not put up with you harassments.
Yeah, we should let the OP put the thread to rest by saying........ The Mach 1 is over hyped by those that happen to own and like them, and under hyped by those that don't like them.
I personally try not to put down any brands or models of equipment other than stating they weren't for me.
I personally try not to put down any brands or models of equipment other than stating they weren't for me.
stereoguy70
Well-Known Member
Why don't we agree to disagree rather than thread crapping on it.
I owned a pair recently (they were given to me) and I recapped them because I thought they sounded shrill to my ears. They were better after the recap, but not fantastic. I still think the Optimus-1 is a far better sounding speaker (as far as Radio Shack speakers go). Mach Ones are a horn loaded speaker and horns don't always sound good with certain equipment, not everybody's cup of tea either. There are those who dislike Klipsch K-horns and their decendants/derivatives too and we all know how glorified those are here. Face it, horns aren't for everybody. Neither are acoustic suspension, but those are the type of speakers that sound best to ME. Everybody has an opinion and they are entitled to it. I think more people remember the Mach One with rose tinted glasses rather than their ears though.
I owned a pair recently (they were given to me) and I recapped them because I thought they sounded shrill to my ears. They were better after the recap, but not fantastic. I still think the Optimus-1 is a far better sounding speaker (as far as Radio Shack speakers go). Mach Ones are a horn loaded speaker and horns don't always sound good with certain equipment, not everybody's cup of tea either. There are those who dislike Klipsch K-horns and their decendants/derivatives too and we all know how glorified those are here. Face it, horns aren't for everybody. Neither are acoustic suspension, but those are the type of speakers that sound best to ME. Everybody has an opinion and they are entitled to it. I think more people remember the Mach One with rose tinted glasses rather than their ears though.
Me to Steve as someone always has whatever components or parts on this site of ALL audio equipment. They ALL should be aloud to enjoy it without ridicule and participate on this site of ALL audio no attitude.
However I never ask or really listen to people on the internet, well unless I know them and or their reference point.
It's like owning a Chevy, but Cadillac buyers have to look down their nose at you.
But you also stated this comment, to try and stereo type people you don't even know, or know anything about them. Sometimes people feel that way, or that people are doing it to them from their own insecurities.