Teradacto58
Super Member
I had some other 8" RadioShack WOOFERS ....the magnets were exactly like the woofers from my Bose 601's....only difference was it was missing the name Bose cast in the gold anodized steel magnet backing plates.
Realistic Minimus 7 ID Thread
- Thread starter Grainger49
- Start date
I had some other 8" RadioShack WOOFERS ....the magnets were exactly like the woofers from my Bose 601's....only difference was it was missing the name Bose cast in the gold anodized steel magnet backing plates.
I have 5 modified minimus 7's with litekeys ebay kit with the 55-1856's - they are original 40-2030's from the 1970's that I use as 5.1 satellites and feel I should contribute here as not many people mention the original model serial numbers:
01937 date code 10a8 (oct 1978?) (obtained mismatched with a B model on the bay so it has no partner)
14914 date code 7a8 (jul 1978)?
14917 date code 7a8
15063 date code 10a8 (also oct 1978?)
15066 date code 10a8
I have several more minimus 7 C models and 1 B model but In my opinion the SD-13 tweeters in the original models sound significantly superior to the rest (I'm still unsure if the SD-50 sound is as good but SD-13 def trumps the C model SD-60's to my ears) so the others currently aren't getting any use. I'm curious how many of the originals were made. I'm also curious why a low serial number like 1937 would be given a date code behind a pair in the 14900's, anyone got any ideas?
01937 date code 10a8 (oct 1978?) (obtained mismatched with a B model on the bay so it has no partner)
14914 date code 7a8 (jul 1978)?
14917 date code 7a8
15063 date code 10a8 (also oct 1978?)
15066 date code 10a8
I have several more minimus 7 C models and 1 B model but In my opinion the SD-13 tweeters in the original models sound significantly superior to the rest (I'm still unsure if the SD-50 sound is as good but SD-13 def trumps the C model SD-60's to my ears) so the others currently aren't getting any use. I'm curious how many of the originals were made. I'm also curious why a low serial number like 1937 would be given a date code behind a pair in the 14900's, anyone got any ideas?
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It is rare to find data for first generation 40-2030 Minimus-7's. I've logged hundreds of examples from various models and iterations, but have only encountered a handful of 40-2030 where serial/date codes are legible or offered. Thanks for adding to the data record.
July and October of '78 are the correct dates for your samples. 40-2030 was introduced in the '78 catalog, continued into the '79 catalog and then replaced with 40-2030A in the '80 catalog. Manufacture would've started in '77 and continue into early '79. About mid '79 manufacture would switch over to 40-2030A in preparation for its launch in '80.
There are three elements to every model of Japan-built Minimus-7 that must be considered together to establish both its unique identifier and its chronology:
1. Model iteration (no suffix, A, B etc.)
2. Date code (month and year)
3. Serial number
Every suffix iteration of every model M-7 spans less than a decade. That conveniently allows use of a single-digit year designation without causing ambiguity.
Serial numbers were recycled; likely due to the vast numbers of M-7's being built. Data I've collected suggests serial number sequence was reset monthly.
So the serial number is only chronologically relevant within a specific month of manufacture.
The date code is only meaningful within the context of model iteration.
Model iteration is the broadest chronological division within a model line.
It's theoretically possible to have two Japan-built black Minimus-7's with identical serial numbers 15063 and date codes 10A8. But one would be 40-2030 from 1978 and the other 40-2030C from 1988.
Using all three elements, it's simple to determine chronological order when comparing any two or more M-7's from the same model line.
Serial numbers were dropped from Korean and Malaysian built Minimus-7. Though they retained date codes, they lost any uniquely individual identifier.
This thread might be dead given that the last post was 5/2018, but I thought I'd ask my question anyway. I own two pairs of Japanese made Minimus 7s: my original Black 40-2030B pair, with QC stickers of NO. 10828 A1 & NO. 10829 5 A1. One them just recently blew a tweeter and I replaced it with a Malaysian M7 driver, but obviously its not an exact match. The second pair I just recently picked up via eBay, and is the Silver 40-2034; QC stickers of NO. 00974 6 A0 and NO. 00978 6 A0. My question is which pair is older? Although my original pair seem to be in direct order by the S/N, the secondary number (A1 vs. 5 A1) seems to belie this. And my recently purchased set, even though they are off by 4 in their serial numbers, seem to be very close since they are both marked '6 A0'. I'm thinking that the Silver set is older as it has a logo of T over C in trapezoids.
Thanks much for any help!
Scoff
Thanks much for any help!
Scoff
Hey, you are welcome to reply to any thread you like. Welcome to AK!
swamppirate
Lunatic Member
I guess these Optimus are the slightly larger cousin to the Minimus series....not too awful bad....
Your 40-2030B with S/N 10828 has date code "A1" indicating it was built in 1981 but is missing the month character(s) that should precede the "A." This is not so unusual -- I've encountered several examples where the month code just didn't seem to get printed, for whatever reason. Assuming you acquired both 40-2030B together, it's very likely they originally arrived at a Tandy/Radio Shack retail outlet in the same batch and serendipitously sold together as sequential serial numbers.That happens often enough with Minimus-7 to not be unusual. I myself have a sequential pair of silver 40-2034, and yours are darned close.
But regardless of the month, both your 40-2030B were born in 1981, whereas your 40-2034 were brought to life in June of 1980. Thus your silver pair are senior to your black pair.
I guess the thread isn't dead after all!
Thanks for the welcome! I've actually perused the site a number of times over the years, but finally just got around to joining. 
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Thanks much for the info and the confirmation that my silver pair is older. My plan now is to pull the drivers from the 40-2030Bs to save as spares for them, and then use the empty cabinets with a pair of Dayton Audio ND105-8s (aluminum cone, neodymium magnet) & LaVoce TN100.70s (1" soft dome, and also neo magnets) with litekeys crossovers. I already have a white pair that I did this mod with that I really like and so am doing a second set to use on my computer sound system at work. I also own another original pair of 40-2030Cs (Malaysian) in black, so it looks like I've really joined the Minimus 7 collector & mod club too.
Catfish1
New Member
I have a pair I bought new I think in the 70's (maybe 80's) but memory grows hazy. Sealed cabs. The woofers now are kind of medium gray (maybe faded?) in color and I don't remember their original color being different, certainly don't think they were ever white. Black cabs. Cat #40-2030B. "Japan". No. 03997/03806 9A1. Recapped. Have them on my computer with small "T-amp". Sound pretty darn good especially near-field with a tone control bass boost..
Yours were manufactured in September of 1981. That's the first year of manufacture for 40-2030B and fairly early in Minimus-7 production overall.
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Catfish1
New Member
Thanks! Good info.
You are in the thread. But there is no chart to decode them.
Just ask here with the information on the back of them and you will get the information.
Just ask here with the information on the back of them and you will get the information.
BirdLives
Super Member
larrylarry
Active Member
A few pics of Minimus-7 & Optimus. I have 2 Optimus & 4 Minimus-7 I bought at an estate sale. There were 4 others that had a wood case around them that I didn’t buy. I bought all 6 for 25.00. At the time I knew that they were dam good small speakers but didn’t know there was a lot of interest in them. I use them for surround speakers.
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Consecutive serial numbers ... cool.
Yours were built in August of 1987; first year of manufacture for 40-2030C (and also the introduction of plastic tweeter faceplates on all models).
Your 40-2030C are made in Japan. Production of all models moved to Korea in late 1990. Those with cast aluminium cabinets remained there for one year only -- to late 1991 -- then moved to Malaysia through the end of "Realistic Minimus" branded 7s.
BirdLives
Super Member
Appreciate your detailed response VERY much... thank you for taking the time to share it with me.
I have them set up with an Optimus SA-155 amplifier, a Sony Blu Ray CD/SACD player and an Amazon Fire tablet (or sometimes iPod) in our bedroom upstairs. It sounds wonderful for having such a small footprint... the Minimus 7's legendary reputation is well-deserved. My bride, who has for years dubbed my audio obsession "The Sickness", is shocked I was able to set up such an amazing sounding, small system for a fraction of what my many previous audio components have cost. She loves it...
Thanks again for the information... let the Realistic hoarding begin!
MotherSauce1
Active Member
Anyone tried powering the M7s with a low what SET ? How many watts do these lil suckers need?
I've got a pair I use now with an HK770, but thats 70-ish watts. I often find myself using this system at night, it's always surprising how delightful these speakers sound. I'm planning to build a flea watt amp from a kit and thought maybe i'd build it for the M7s (at least for now)...
I've got a pair I use now with an HK770, but thats 70-ish watts. I often find myself using this system at night, it's always surprising how delightful these speakers sound. I'm planning to build a flea watt amp from a kit and thought maybe i'd build it for the M7s (at least for now)...