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Realistic Minimus 7 ID Thread

Minimus 7s were manufactured by Bose. Or, rather, Bose designed and sold them to us - whom they got to do their back end manufacturing at the time, I don't know. I worked as middle management for Intertan back in the good days of the early 90's and we were presented with a gold plated Minimus 7 after selling our millionth speaker in Canada. At the presentation we were told that the Minimus 7 was the best selling speaker in history, a claim I well believe the M7 still holds.

I'm 99% sure Tandy had an exclusive arrangement with Bose for the speakers, but I also know that Intertan (much to Dad's annoyance) used to resell some exclusive Radio Shack stuff back to other OEMs in the states and elsewhere. I'm fairly sure that's how Marantz got ahold of them. It's also why the Marantz version went for $300.
 
The best selling speaker in history has been recognized as The Advent Loudspeaker (in walnut and vinyl finishes).

All Minimus 7s were made in Japan from the 70s forward. I find it odd that Bose would sub out to Japan. But I don't know.
 
Reviving this thread,...
I purchased these today from GW for $15. A lil on the high side but they're really clean and in working condition. I'm uncertain of the date on these, was thinking maybe 11/1990? 11/1980?
Any help on the date and if these are worthy would be great!

Also, can these speakers be modded to the PZ mod that @Pete B has done?

IMG_2308.JPG

IMG_2309.JPG

Thank you for the help.
 
8xlaxx said:
Also, can these speakers be modded to the PZ mod that @Pete B has done?
Click to expand...
Simple answer is yes,they can be modded per the PZ mods..

8xlaxx said:
Any help on the date and if these are worthy would be great!
Click to expand...
Worthy,I'd say yeah,but opinons vary,so who knows what the next guy would say ?

If what you're getting at is if these are the most desired min7's,then no they are'nt,and I'll explain why.
These are the 40-2030C variants,which were'nt equipped with the prefered tweeters.
And some feel the early woofers may be better too,but I really dont sweat that deal myself.

The ones most folks hunt for are the earlier 40-2030/40-2030A/40-2030B "Japan" variants.
So it goes that the ones from Malaysia / Korea / ??? usually are'nt as highly sought after.

But the thing is,that means these are perfect for modding,as you can add/swap various other drivers if you want to.

Me,I often swap out the OE min7 woofers for the Kevlar LX-4 woofers.
And I usually swap the less desireable tweeters for the early "Japan" tweeters (w/the smooth metal mounting plates).

And yeah the plan is to do the crossover mods last as I get around to the various pairs I have "in-progress" @ the moment.

As for the date of these,someone else will have to answer that,me I dont really bother to get that specific with mine,so I dunno what these date to.

HTH

Bret P.
 
I've had a pair of 40-2030's for a looooong time. Serial numbers are 501 apart. I currently use them with my McIntosh MC-30 amplifiers, perfect speaker for listening to my records when I need to relax.

image.jpg
 
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Those are really early models. The screw terminals were the first available. Do the drivers look different?

I like pairing the Minimus 7s with my stereo 70. Tubes seem to make them sound best.
 
@xero-D-hero

Thank you for the very fast response on these speakers.

I hooked these up last night to give them a listen on a mid-1990's, Denon receiver with the variable Bass response (w/ push-button) and they sound really good on the lower end. I was very surprised. Glad I found these but wished I had paid a little bit less like the others here.:rolleyes:
 
8xlaxx said:
@xero-D-hero
<snip>
I was very surprised. Glad I found these but wished I had paid a little bit less like the others here.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Its most important that you like them and feel you got value from your purchase - don't sweat what everyone else paid as markets vary with availability and local love for the Minimus 7's (along with every other brand of speaker out there).
 
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8xlaxx said:
@xero-D-hero

Glad I found these but wished I had paid a little bit less like the others here.:rolleyes:
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For $15 you did great. They usually go for around $30-$40 on CL and even here on Bartertown. Some people spend more than $15 a day on coffee. I'm happy if I can go out to a restaurant and stay under $15.

If you want to bring out the most in your M-7's, you should get yourself a Realistic or Optimus receiver with an 'EQ' switch on the back. This really enhances the overall performance, especially on the low end. The specific receivers you should look out for are STA-7, 11, 19 and 20 (there may be others). You can usually get an STA-19 or 20 for around $30-40 on Ebay, the STA-7 and 11 require a bigger investment.
 
8xlaxx said:
@xero-D-hero

Thank you for the very fast response on these speakers.

I hooked these up last night to give them a listen on a mid-1990's, Denon receiver with the variable Bass response (w/ push-button) and they sound really good on the lower end. I was very surprised. Glad I found these but wished I had paid a little bit less like the others here.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
You did great pricewise,I almost always paid more than that for mine,he!! I've paid more than that for a pair of the Japan tweeters.
And as far as how they sound,I feel they all sound good,and even the later variants have ample potential to improve the SQ.

I've even got the Optimus Pro7AV variants and those have shielded drivers,and even those sound really good to me.

So the whole "prefered driver" thing is mostly about improving/upgrading drivers from a more -or- less baseline state.

As for lower end,they do really nicely with some sorta subwoofer helping out there.

FWIW

Bret P.
 
I have a set of 7Ws with a date code of September of 88 and use them for rear surrounds in our HT setup powered by a Marantz SR 4002 and they are just perfect for that role. I just found a cherry pair Minimus 1s at a local thrift and now use them for the front mains in the same system. I love the old RS stuff for their wood veneer cabinets like the 7Ws. Just one of the most handsome small speakers produced.
 
8xlaxx said:
I'm uncertain of the date on these, was thinking maybe 11/1990? 11/1980?
Any help on the date and if these are worthy would be great!
Click to expand...
November of 1990 is the correct date. 40-2030C were first made in Japan in late 1987. Production moved to Korea at the end of 1990, though there was a small overlap. I've encountered no Korean M-7s made prior to Nov. '90 but have found Japanese builds from that same month and a couple as late as Dec. of that year.

If it means anything, aluminium-cabinet Korean M-7s are the rarest of all. They were built there for one year only: late 1990 to late 1991, after which production moved to Malaysia for the remainder of Realistic Minimus 7's and the whole of Optimus (and RCA) variants. This doesn't apply to the wood M-7W. Those moved from Japan to Korea and remained there 'til their end in 1994. The only "Realistic Minimus-7" offered in the '94 catalog along side the new Optimus variants was 7W.
Also, can these speakers be modded to the PZ mod that @Pete B has done?
Click to expand...
Surely they can. Pete installed his PZ-2.2 version in his own pair of 40-2045 (white M-7s) built in Malaysia in '92 -- even later than yours. I would suggest this also speaks to the "worthiness" of your Minimus-7s.
 
I'm a sucker for these speakers when I see them. Somebody stop me, please.:whip:

Found two pair at the thrift again. One pair had the mounting brackets so,... what the heck!

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All made in Japan this time.

QC-1458 11A8
QC-0184 6A8
QC-1462 11A8
QC-0976 11A8
 
8xlaxx said:
I'm a sucker for these speakers when I see them. Somebody stop me, please.:whip:

Found two pair at the thrift again. One pair had the mounting brackets so,... what the heck!

View attachment 1082127

View attachment 1082128

All made in Japan this time.

QC-1458 11A8
QC-0184 6A8
QC-1462 11A8
QC-0976 11A8
Click to expand...
If you want to sell a pair let me know ;-)
So I bid on a pair of Walnut veneer Minimus 7's off eBay, they're Korean made so 1991? Are the Korean ones better or worse?
How does one take care of the Walnut veneer? Is there an oil or something I can use on them? I use Endust on my Thiel MCS1's at Thiels instruction... Is the Crossover mod still available for purchase?
 
BattleBrat said:
If you want to sell a pair let me know ;-)
So I bid on a pair of Walnut veneer Minimus 7's off eBay, they're Korean made so 1991? Are the Korean ones better or worse?
How does one take care of the Walnut veneer? Is there an oil or something I can use on them? I use Endust on my Thiel MCS1's at Thiels instruction... Is the Crossover mod still available for purchase?
Click to expand...

Yes the crossover is available on Ebay.....I have bought a few
 
My count on the Minimus 7's are now at 27....I have them stashed away in about 8 different places...Mostly all black...maybe 4 in silver...no whites! I'm rebuilding a shed and hopefully building another...in my back yard this year....which will hold my overflow of vintage audio. Hoping to retire soon!...and purge about 2/3rds of my treasures!!! Haven't seen Minimus 7's at any of the thrift stores here.... in the Pacific North West for quite a while....over a year!
 
djwhy60 said:
Yes the crossover is available on Ebay.....I have bought a few
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Dang it, I was outbid, I put in $75+12 shipping so I put up a fight. I think I'll go for a pair of later Japanese ones 1990 in black. I have a Sound Blaster X7 and it has an amp built into it and it has a peak output of 37wpc 8 ohms and I think these Minimus 7's would be perfect. Do any of you guys sell them or just collect? *laughs *
 
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