REalistic RD-8100

[71Challenger]

Just picked up a nice little Realistic table to finish off my all Realistic System.
Solid and heavy, with a strong Direct Drive semi automatic transport.

Built by CEC for Tandy ( note the resemblance to the Marantz 6000 series) and only available in Canada in late 70s/early 80s.

The tonearm is stock. Came with a Shure R1000E cartridge w/ good stylus, I think it was original stock on this table but not 100% on that.

Initial listening tests show an open, transparent sound maybe lacking slightly on the bottom end and a distinct roll-off on the highs (very Shure like). I will try a few newer carts on this arm, I'm thinking Ortofon 2M Red might do nicely.

This table will replace the Lab 260 on my Realistic system which consists of a Realistic STA2000 receiver and a pair of T200 towers. I expect to find some nice synergy on that system.

 

[ETI_5000]

Very nice – they made some nice turntables at CEC back then. The Realistic R1000E cartridge is equivalent to a Shure M75ED Type 2, according to Shure’s and Radioshack’s stylus charts. That’s quite a decent 70’s cartridge, with a nude elliptical stylus - it probably was standard on the turntable.

Initial listening tests show an open, transparent sound maybe lacking slightly on the bottom end and a distinct roll-off on the highs (very Shure like).

Actually, Shure aren't noted for a distinct roll off of highs at all - most of the ones I've seen graphs for (I've got most of the late-70's to mid-80's Stereo Buyer's Guides for turntables) were quite flat and extended out to 20kHz, which is higher than we can hear (except when we're babies). In fact, I have a review of a Realistic turntable, fitted with the R9000E (Shure M95ED), and it shows a less than 1dB dip between 4-12kHz, followed by a rise to be about +4dB at 20kHz. In other words, it shows the trademark MM peak at high frequencies, caused by the cartridge resonance. A review of your cartridge (well, the Shure M75 Type 2) available on the web also shows that Gramaphone got a similar response for that cartridge - it was ±2dB right through the range to 20kHz, rising at frequencies above 10kHz. Definitely not rolled off. Mind you, that was with Shure's original stylus, which is no longer available.

 

[71Challenger]

I have listened to many Shure carts and all have exhibited a roll off, well except for the V15 IV. I have always considered it a good thing as I like a warm sound in my systems. We all hear differently I suppose.

 

[ETI_5000]

You probably need to get your ears' frequency response checked out.

 

[71Challenger]

What?

You may be right on that. I have abused my ears badly over the years.

Interestingly though, I have an ADC cart that sounds way too bright to me.

Regardless, I am looking forward to hours of happy listening with this new to me table.

 

[Parsec]

Greetings from Montreal, Canada.
Reviving a very old thread about this Realistic Cart.
mine is a rebadged Shure M75 (R1000E), stock on my RD-8100. I put a Shure stylus in this cart.
i like the classy look of this Realistic TT. But today, I have to choose beetween all my beloved TTs, which one to get rid of: Dual 1219, Elac Miracord 750 II, Pioneer PL-A45D, Hitachi PS-48, Dual 601, and this Realistic RD-8100.
The sound of the Realistic is lighter on bottom end than all the others. The Dual 601 has a genuine M75 cart mounted on it, but I also take the head of the Realistic and put it on the Hitachi and the Pioneer: the sound from the Realistic, with the same cart and stylus, really lacks bottom end.
It makes things easier for me this time.
Next time I'll have to let go another one, it surely will be the Dual 601, but with certainly a lot more suffrance.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

This Realistic is a very nice turntable and as correctly stated earlier on, made by CEC in Japan. It is a dead ringer for the Marantz 6200. And excellent performance wise, and yes the R1000e is aka the Shure M95ED. A nice combination.

 

[slick5066]

This Realistic is a very nice turntable and as correctly stated earlier on, made by CEC in Japan. It is a dead ringer for the Marantz 6200. And excellent performance wise, and yes the R1000e is aka the Shure M95ED. A nice combination.[/

Just picked up a nice little Realistic table to finish off my all Realistic System.
Solid and heavy, with a strong Direct Drive semi automatic transport.

Built by CEC for Tandy ( note the resemblance to the Marantz 6000 series) and only available in Canada in late 70s/early 80s.

The tonearm is stock. Came with a Shure R1000E cartridge w/ good stylus, I think it was original stock on this table but not 100% on that.

Initial listening tests show an open, transparent sound maybe lacking slightly on the bottom end and a distinct roll-off on the highs (very Shure like). I will try a few newer carts on this arm, I'm thinking Ortofon 2M Red might do nicely.

This table will replace the Lab 260 on my Realistic system which consists of a Realistic STA2000 receiver and a pair of T200 towers. I expect to find some nice synergy on that system.

Thank you so much for this post! I have the same model and yes that's a stock head shell on the tone arm! I lost the info I had on mine and have been looking everywhere for info so I can eventually get a better stylus and hopefully a dust cover to fit it.