Realistic Optimus T-200 speakers - huge surprise

[Krosya]

Well, I just can't pass up a good deal. I happened to come across a pair of Realistic Optimus T-200 speakers. They were TOTL in their day. I just had to check them out.
Of course, surrounds were long gone but otherwise speakers were in superb condition. All original drivers, all working. Just one of the plastic rings that go around the woofers was missing.
They are 3 way speakers with 2 10 inch woofers, 5 inch mid and a cone tweeter that has horn-like mounting plate. They were more expensive than Mach One when they first came out. And I suppose not many was made as they are hard to come by. From my research, if you can find them, often they either have most drivers replaced or cabinets are all beat up. Mine are all original and cabinets are perfect and are very beautiful.
After the refoam, I have them playing now for a few hours. I tried different kinds of music - from classical to rock to jazz and all I can say is - they are pretty impressive. Bass doesnt go quite as low as it could with 2 10inch woofers, but it is very accurate. Kinda reminds me of my Klipsch Heresy 3s. What is really crazy - mids and tweeter are simply superb! Clean, clear and smooth. They do well with just about with any kind of music. But they are a bit sensative to the quality of recording - you can hear it right away.
Do they beat speakers that cost 2K? No. But they can for sure hold their own at prices below that.
I would say , if you can find them in good condition - they are for sure worth consideration.

 

[Krosya]

After listening to these speakers for a couple of days, I can say that they are very detailed. Vocals and strings are excellent.
Another thing, they seem to be more efficient than this ad claims:

Of 90db. While I don't have any way to measure this, they behave very similar to my klipsch heresy iii speakers that are 99db.

Another cool thing, they really disappear in a room. For their size, its really nice, you just have sound surrounding you rather than coming directly from them. And I am sure I don't have them placed in a best possible way.
Overall- much better speakers than I expected.

 

[Lavane]

I had a pair of the T-200's years ago. I liked them. I used them until the surrounds rotted out. I didn't know about speaker repair shops way back then.

 

[Krosya]

Just recapped these speakers with nice Dayton capacitors. Wow, what a difference. They already sounded good, but now, it's crazy. So clean and clear and low end improved too. Much better speakers than I ever expected.

 

[jocko_nc]

Those were just slightly ahead of my time and ability to pay for something like that. IMO, the best speakers RS ever put out. In the store, the Mach Ones caught your attention, but T-200 were way superior. RS used to run a 50% off sale on to-be-discontinued items. I could not swing it. Ended up with their replacements, T-300, when I saw in the weekly ad flyer that they went 50% off. Got a ride from Mom and took a pile of lawnmowing money to the store. $299.00 for the pair.