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Realistic SA-10: Just for fun

aabottom

aabottom

Swing
Today, I bought a Realistic SA-10 (MODEL 31-1982) at the Thrift Shop for $1.06 including tax. It seems to work fine. The volume pots are a little scratchy, but only when I turn them. The SA-10 sounds pretty smooth on my Optimum 2B speakers, but beyond 12 o’clock on the volume, they start to distort. The speaker outs are RCA phono plugs. For a full test, I need to rig up some RCA speaker cables.

The SA-10 is listed as “New for ‘75” in the 1975 Realistic catalog for $29.95 [1]. Joes Roberts [2] has a great description of it online. Roberts states, “I measured the power output of this amp and it can put out about 0.75 watt per channel with very low distortion”. He goes on to say that, "Radio Shack actually published specs for this small amp (they are listed in the owner's manual). Here are the published specs:

Power Output: 1.2 Watts per channel (at 1000 Hz with 10% distortion)
Inputs: Tape/Tuner and Phono
Tone Control
Volume Control for each channel
Stereo/Mono Switch
AC Power Consumption: 12 Watts max. "

Audiokarma member dinglebeer bought a SA-10 in 2006 [3]. A 29 post thread ensued. Also on Audiokarma, it was nominated for "Smallest integrated amplifier in 2007 [4] and suggested as the "Perfect amp for those Minimus 7's that everyone loves" in 2006 [5].

Does anybody else play with one?

[1] http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalogs/1975/, page 14, 1975.

[2] Joes Roberts, "The Realistic SA-10 Stereo Amplifier", http://www.rocketroberts.com/techart/sa10.htm, 2008 Dec 13.

[3] 20061221, I saw a Realistic Amp with 12 watts power consumption today
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93563

[4] 20070119, Smallest integrated amplifier?
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=97352
post #s 20, 32, 34.

[5] 20061015, Perfect amp for those Minimus 7's that everyone loves??
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=85218
post #s 8, 10, 23.
 
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I got another audio WOW last night. I hook up the SA-10 in stereo with my Realistic Optimus-2B speakers. I used the TAPE out of my Yamaha RX-797 as a source selector into the TAPE/TUNER RCA jacks of the SA-10. I used RCA phono cables to connect the SA-10 speaker outputs (RCA jacks) to the RCA jack inputs to the two 2Bs. I put the 2Bs on opposite ends of my desk about 44 inches apart and ear high when I sit in my chair. I sat about 24 to 36 back from the speakers which were toed in about 5 to 10 degrees.

I put Santana Borboletta in the Yamaha DVD-SD2700 and sat in the prime spot described above. I couldn't move- because the system sounded fantastic, great clarity and stereo separation. On the title track, Borboletta, I could hear the singer and the percussions walk all over the room. The SA-10 was sufficiently loud at about 11 o'clock on the volume pots. The 12 o'clock position was about the maximum volume I need for most applications.

The tone control on the SA-10 increased the treble slightly at its maximum position, but I preferred the neutral “straight-up” sound. The Optimus-2Bs have a 3 position “HF COMPENSATION” switch, NORMAL-LOW-HIGH. In stark contrast to the SA-10 tone control, I seemed to like the enhanced high frequencies of the “HIGH” position. I should diddle with the TONE and HF COMPENSATION controls some more to find my sweet spot.

For a buck & 6 cents, I’m quite happy with the SA-10. It’s a tiny little amp that really sings in the right application. It’s nice to see that my Realistic Optimus-2B speakers, which I bought new circa 1974, still have some life in them. I might look into recapping the 2Bs. Someday, I gotta get some DeoxIT to clean a boatload of pots, switches and connectors.

I think I’ll set up the SA-10/ Optimus-2B system as my desk computer sound system.
 
I have one of these that someone gave to me. I've modified it to include "push 'n pinch" style speaker outputs for regular speaker wire (leaving the RCA outputs intact) and a 1/4" headphone jack. Now if I only had a good use for it . . .

If only they had built this with the standard volume and balance controls, this would be a better unit. I just don't care for the L & R volume controls. Otherwise, a decent enough little amp.
 
markallen said:
I have one of these that someone gave to me. I've modified it to include "push 'n pinch" style speaker outputs for regular speaker wire (leaving the RCA outputs intact) and a 1/4" headphone jack. Now if I only had a good use for it . . .

If only they had built this with the standard volume and balance controls, this would be a better unit. I just don't care for the L & R volume controls. Otherwise, a decent enough little amp.
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It shouldn't be too hard to replace the L & R volume controls with a stereo pot and a balance pot. Joes Roberts has schematic of the SA-10 on his site [Ref, 2 of post #1]. A headphone jack would be nice too. The SA-101 listed below the SA-10 in 1975 RadioShack catalog is a beefier unit with our desired features and a matching tuner.

The SA-101 also has a magnetic phono input as opposed to ceramic only for the SA-10. The SA-101 has a real wood "Walnut-grain wood case" as opposed to a plastic simuluated "walnut-grain enclosure" for the SA-10.
 
The 1979 cosmetic version: http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalogs/1979/ page 15

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For a fleapowered amp, a single-ended 45 is a better way to go :-)
 
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As I remember they built those units for quite a few years. The later versions had one output IC for both channels. I believe they built them into the 90's
 
Realistic SA-10 Volume pots

Hi. Can anyone help me with replacing the volume pots on the SA-10? They appear to have 4 pins and I've not seen anything like this before. Can't find anything like it on the internet either. Maybe there's a way of using ordinary 3 pin variable 100K pots to replace them but how would I wire them up?

Thanks in advance John

aabottom said:
It shouldn't be too hard to replace the L & R volume controls with a stereo pot and a balance pot. Joes Roberts has schematic of the SA-10 on his site [Ref, 2 of post #1]. A headphone jack would be nice too. The SA-101 listed below the SA-10 in 1975 RadioShack catalog is a beefier unit with our desired features and a matching tuner.
Click to expand...
 
Well, I hooked up the SA-10 with the Optimum-2B speakers as a bedroom system. I'm using the sound output of a laptop with digital music storage and Spotify via internet hooked directly into the TAPE/TUNER RCA inputs of the SA-10. I made some speaker cables using 16 AWG copper with RCA phono jacks on one end to hook into the SA-10 and tinned bare wire on the other end for the speakers.

Damn it sounds pretty smooth. Listening to Led Zepplin I now.
 
You don't always need a large amplifier it depends on the use and location. Since I started to collect vintage gear I will buy a small amp or receiver. Sometime its nice to have a small setup, and they can sound very nice.

Like tools, I don't have one screwdriver I have several. They range from a 3 foot long Snapon to a jewelers set of screwdrivers. If I could only have one amp, yes I would get a powerful one.

This JVC quad amp isn't that powerful but it has dual power supplies and I think it sounds good. I also like the Joy stick, the design reminds me of a car dash from the sixties. You just can't vibra
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te the walls.
 
I have mine connected (believe it or not) to my Klipsch Heresy MKI speakers in the front room. It is a big lively sounding room, which in my opinion, helps with the sound of this set-up. The Heresy speakers put out a bit of hiss with this amp when you get close to them. The high efficiency with the low power go together here. I only play light music or jazz in this system and I think it sounds pretty good.
 
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