What are the good Realistic Optimus speakers to look out for?
- Thread starter jeff spicoli
- Start date
Copa1934
My ears are bleeding
Of all my RS speakers I have to say the ones that have impressed me most is my 7b speakers. They don't exactly excel in any thing in particular, but straight up, no mods, upgrades, changes, etc. and they have never let me down. They're mostly background, but when I can go about my business (8-10 hrs day) and NOT be distracted by my background music, that's a good thing. Surprising amount of bass, good mids and highs. Compared to other speakers I'd say they are on the warmer side and definitely NOT fatiguing like so many other speakers that will go nameless (and I own presently).
HTHMAN
Super Member
I have to agree with you. I have 2 pair of the Optimus 1's which are the Optimus version of the Nova 7's. I have never heard them side by side with the "b" version but what you say holds true with mine. I have speakers that are "better" speakers than these, but I just can not get rid of them. Non-fatiguing is a term I have often used to describe them. They may not wow you when you first turn them on, but you can still enjoy them hours later.
amante
Active Member
Optimus Pro 4000 15" with horns
Hi Jeff,
I just saw your post about a month later now and will chime in a bit.
The Mach Ones are definitely gold standard especially with Videolady mods as mentioned earlier. This summer I was just given a pair of Optimus Pro 4000 speakers in pretty good shape. All I did was replace one LF capacitor from a 33uF to a 14uF per someones suggestion on Audiokarma and now they are my daily speakers alongside the Mach Ones...in other words, they knocked my Cizeks and Timewindow 1 speakers to other rooms. I don't know much about Realistic speakers and definitely very little about the 1990s and their turn to the dark side but I do believe these sound very much like the original Mach One if not slightly brighter. That said, I do wish the Optimus 4000 came with tweeter/midrange controls. That is why I keep them closer to floor per my avatar.
Good luck!
Hi Jeff,
I just saw your post about a month later now and will chime in a bit.
The Mach Ones are definitely gold standard especially with Videolady mods as mentioned earlier. This summer I was just given a pair of Optimus Pro 4000 speakers in pretty good shape. All I did was replace one LF capacitor from a 33uF to a 14uF per someones suggestion on Audiokarma and now they are my daily speakers alongside the Mach Ones...in other words, they knocked my Cizeks and Timewindow 1 speakers to other rooms. I don't know much about Realistic speakers and definitely very little about the 1990s and their turn to the dark side but I do believe these sound very much like the original Mach One if not slightly brighter. That said, I do wish the Optimus 4000 came with tweeter/midrange controls. That is why I keep them closer to floor per my avatar.
Good luck!
Last edited:
Audiokingman
Active Member
I have owned the T-120, Mach One, Mach Two, and T-100.
The T-120's were the best sounding to me.
The T-120's were the best sounding to me.
Gnesen
Super Member
Nice. I agree with a lot of what was written in previous posts in this thread. Yes, I have better speakers, but I’d never turn down a nice pair of Nova-7s or Optimus-1s (or their B successors). Others models I really like include Nova-8s, Optimus-5s, and Optimus-7s, Mach Ones can also sound very nice after modifications, but the Mach Twos I had didn’t sound all that good. I still haven’t owned a pair of Realistic tower speakers (T-100/120/200/300), but hope to someday.
Oh, I almost forgot about the Linaeum series. The LX-4 is an outstanding little speaker and the tweeter on the LX-5 is wonderful. Both benefit from help with a subwoofer.
S. Pupp
Active Member
Nova 15 is surprisingly good.
The imaging is realistic (ha! Pun not intended). There is a somewhat hollow sound to them, but that’s likely due to the fact that padding consists of a small piece stapled to the cabinet. I never tried to fill them.
I gave mine to my parents, and upgraded over time to Apogee Slant 6.
I listened to the same Nova 15 a couple decades later, and was impressed by what I heard.
The imaging is realistic (ha! Pun not intended). There is a somewhat hollow sound to them, but that’s likely due to the fact that padding consists of a small piece stapled to the cabinet. I never tried to fill them.
I gave mine to my parents, and upgraded over time to Apogee Slant 6.
I listened to the same Nova 15 a couple decades later, and was impressed by what I heard.
bkmont
New Member
Haven't had the chance to hook the T-110s up and give a listen. They do look nice. Cabinets in good shape and still sporting the original hardware. Wondering how they would sound compared to the 7b? And, what would be the result of pairing the T-110 with the 7bs or 16s? Running through a AKAI 1010 receiver.
Has anyone here had experience with the big Optimus 9 speakers? I know someone who has some that is interested in selling, but I'm not sure what they are like. They are 3-way but have an open baffle chamber for 3 mid cones. Limited reviews online are mixed. I'd be comparing them to Nova 7Bs because those are my go-to everyday speaker.
Pyrrho
Super Member
I realize this is from a long time ago, but since someone else has revived the thread, I thought I would reply to this.
I agree with you about the woofers. In my opinion, of the Radio Shack speakers with the Linaeum tweeters, the best was the Optimus Pro LX8, which can be seen on page 93 of the 1997 Radio Shack catalog:
1997 Radio Shack Catalog
Flip through the 1997 Radio Shack electronics catalog containing: vintage hi-fi stereos, radios, recording devices, headphones, computers, CBs, electronic components, test equipment, electronic kits & more!
www.radioshackcatalogs.com
The reason I think they are the best is because of the woofer. If my memory is correct, it is a Peerless woofer with a rubber compliance (surround), which should last indefinitely.
I think the reasons why they are not thought of as often is because they were not available for as many years (they seem to only be in the 1997 & 1998 catalogs), the speaker cabinet is very ordinary, and it cost a little more than the Optimus Pro LX5. But having a decent woofer in them, they sound better.
As for the Mach One speakers, in the 1979 catalog, the top of the line was the Optimus T-200, which can be seen on page 14:
1979 Radio Shack Catalog
Flip through the 1979 Radio Shack catalog containing vintage: radios, stereo systems, tape players, CB radios, walkie-talkies, scanners, headphones, telephones, electronics, test equipment & more!
www.radioshackcatalogs.com
The Mach One is on page 15. (The Optimus T-200 was the top of the line through 1982, and was replaced with the Optimus T-300 in 1983).
Some time from 1979-1982 (and probably several times), I listened to both the Mach One and the Optimus T-200 in Radio Shack stores. The Mach One did produce more bass (as one would expect from the specifications), but the Optimus T-200 was a more refined speaker, and, in my opinion, sounded better than the Mach One. Evidently, I am not the only person to think so, or they would not have had them for several years at a higher price than the Mach One speakers.
Today, though, people want the Mach One. What people desire and what sells best, is not always what sounds best. I do think the Mach One looks more impressive than the Optimus T-200, and suspect that that, along with the ability to produce more bass, is why it is valued by so many.
1979 Radio Shack Catalog
Flip through the 1979 Radio Shack catalog containing vintage: radios, stereo systems, tape players, CB radios, walkie-talkies, scanners, headphones, telephones, electronics, test equipment & more! www.radioshackcatalogs.com
The time I spent as a penniless kid drooling over the goodies in the Rat Shak catalogs.............................
If I could have seen what I have today, I think I'd have been pretty impressed.... but, kids impress easily.
Regardless, I recall being wowed by the TOTL receivers.
gbroot
Super Member
I picked these up a few days ago on Marketplace. Optimus 3's. Listed in the 1971 Catalog. I did not know they existed. Absolutely nothing on the "interwebs". 12" woofers with cloth surrounds and alnico magnets. Tweets on left and right side of the cabinet and one tweet in front. There's a switch on the back to select right or left tweet. Shipping weight was 75lbs ea. Got the ol stiff cloth surrounds loosened up and working well. All tweets work but will at some point do a recap. Gonna keep these cause I'd say they're pretty close to being a one off. Sound surprisingly good! Sorry having problems uploading a pic.
Pyrrho
Super Member
It was the same for me. When I was a kid and young adult, I would have been very happy with what could be purchased at Radio Shack, but I did not have the money for anything close to their best. I collected their catalogs and would spend hours looking at them. It wasn't until I got my Pioneer SX-1250 and owned the Optimus T-200 (their top of the line from 1979-1982) speakers (both purchased used in the 1980's) that the Radio Shack catalog lost most of its appeal. And lost a bit more when I upgraded to better speakers. And by then, their equipment also did not seem like it was quite as good as its equipment in the years before (I think 1981 was the peak year for Radio Shack branded audio equipment overall, though not for every type of component).
katana1100
Well-Known Member
The best RS speaker was the Optimus t-300.
It was also their most expensive , $259 each, offered only one year (84?) . A friend got them at the end of year bogo sale.
Solid wood with real walnut veneer, passive radiator , they really sounded great, I’ve been looking for a pair for over a decade.
It was also their most expensive , $259 each, offered only one year (84?) . A friend got them at the end of year bogo sale.
Solid wood with real walnut veneer, passive radiator , they really sounded great, I’ve been looking for a pair for over a decade.
My new favorite Realistic speaker is the Optimus-7. I picked up a pair about a year ago and they are outstanding.
Very, very nice!!!
