Back in the early 2000s, when I was living in the Dallas Fort-Worth (DFW) area, I was doing a lot of travelling for work. When I was coming home from a trip, I got a free upgrade to business class and sat next to a Japanese gentlemen. We struck up a conversation and it turned out that he worked for Pioneer (in Japan) and was visiting Radio Shack's HQ in DFW. He told me Pioneer made many of the audio products (amplifiers, receivers, cassette decks, CD players, etc.) that Radio Shack sold under thier house brands (Realistic, Optimus, etc.). I still have an Optimus linear tracking turntable that was made by Hitachi. I think Toshiba made some of the speakers that featured the lineauem tweeter. I know some "hi-fi" folks tended to look down on the Radio Shack branded products, but they were all made by for them by the major Japanese companies
A huge part of the fun for me is restoring and/or repairing vintage gear. Cleaning the parts, finding the fault with the schematics and a multimeter, soldering a few new components and finally watching it coming alive again is so rewarding. And it gives you this priceless feeling of connection because you revived it in a way :). Plus you gain understanding of the inner workings and lets you get a glimpse at the work of the engineers, which often deserves respect. For all of those reasons I am really happy with my vintage Sony TA-F 700 ES amp with the original wood panels, which I had to hunt down separately. It may not be the best amp out there, but it's mine :).
Hey Randy, love your vids sir. You’re right about vintage amplifiers. They do have a particular sound,especially the 70s ones. My brother used to have a Sansui receiver and a Audio Dynamic turn table with an infra-red eye for track finding. Those things sounded great. I loved it when the audio controls had all three, Bass, Midrange and treble. Man, I miss Radio Shack. We had that same Realistic receiver…that thing sounded great as well. I was impressed. See ‘ya in the next video.
Vintage receivers like this are so beautiful. My late father who passed way last month managed a neighborhood Montgomery Ward store for 30 years and as a kid I remember spending all my time in the electronics section of the store. Vintage stereo equipment like this will always hold a special place in my heart. ❤️
Awesome review! I own an original STA-700. It is the one the Radio Shack on Juan Tabo in Albuquerque played all the time while open when I worked there 1984-1987. Anyone who came in got to hear it running. We had everything put through it those years. The laser disc, first CD player(99 Red Balloons), the first Stereo VHS playing Star Wars endlessly. When it went obsolete the manager put it in the deal pile and I paid $17 for it. We had a service center in Albuquerque so I had them go through it and put a new amplifier IC in and I have been set since. Add a Bass Enhancer and you could make Mach 1's blast a room. This was also paired with the Minimus 7 Series speakers. The System EQ would wake up those little Minimus units. The A/C in the back was useful because a turntable was always going to be attached. Also, you can bridge the amp. The manual shows you how to run 4-5 ohm bridged across the A-B amplifier sections. It now lives in my basement and when I turn it on I immediately go back to those early 80s selling electronics and blasting all that awesome music. 40 years old and still works great and can lock on a station like no tomorrow. I understand your love of this little guy.
OMG! I got This receiver when it was new at RadioShack when I was a kid from saving up from my paper route. LOL wow what a blast from the past! I also bought the realistic Metal housed speakers that went with it…thanks for bringing up a great memory, I totally forgot about it when I went off to college when I inherited my mother’s Pioneer STA-780. Great vid!
I myself went on a vintage pilgrimage of sorts to rekindle an old love…Technics SA-GX130 receiver and Cerwin Vega VS120’s! Located the receiver on goodwill site in perfect shape for $20 and the speakers well…they still sell for new prices no matter the condition. Good news is I did find a pair 4hrs from me for $250 a pair in new condition as well. Been in absolute heaven ever since. It’s hard to fill the void when missing that sound on a great combination of equipment.
My journey started in the late seventies with a Realistic system as well. I had a beautiful set of veneered, bookshelf Realistic speakers a little bigger than my SSCS5's. I wish I still had them! I enjoyed this very much!
I love vintatge Realistic gear. I would readily subscribe to a RUclips channel dedicated solely to Realistic Hi-Fi. Who cares if it's not "audiophile" level. Many of us enjoyed our favorite music on Realistic and other Radio Shack products back in the day. Thanks for this short but wonderful post Randy!
Agreed my first boom box was a Realistic all in one set with speakers!...I still remember the excitement of unboxing and putting it together with my dad!...always loved Realistic good stuff built by Pioneer
I was addicted to Radio Shack catalogs throughout my teenage and young adult years. I had always wanted a pair of their Mach 1(?) 3-way speakers with 15" woofers, but they were too big for our NYC apartment..............Thanks Randy!
Every summer I would spend a month with my Dad. Every time I got there - Dad would have a different stereo set-up. So while he was at work, I would spend the 1st couple days playing with the new Gear. Absolutely loved it !!! I remember one time - he had a tube amp - grey or pale green in color. I cooked acouple finger tips - did NOT know ALL those parts got HOT !! Funny as I look back. Anyway - my Dad had lots of different gear - loved going to the Audio Shops back in the day. Mom had a Marantz receiver - 22?? - had 2 meters upper left corner. Can't remember the exact model. A Garrard turn table - JBL - 100 speakers - black grills. When we moved into a different house - mom would go out in the yard & walk around listening while I was inside SLOWLY turning up the volume. She would wave her arms when she could hear it. Then place a pencil mark on the volume dial. She would say - that it the - NO COPS - MARK !!! Just getting back into the Vintage stuff again myself. Thank you - great video.
I still have my 1st receiver . Got it in 1978 for my 18th Birthday. Still works great. Had to replace some power pack components a few times. Learned how to do it myself. Back in the 70's I played my Music loud and my Pioneer SX-780 45 watts per channel did that easily .Still does. I had some RTR 10" woofer 3 way speakers . So Rainbow and Sabbath sounded great. Crank it up! So I realize if you want the loudness effect , nowadays it's built in to the speakers like the Jamo S803's. I learned alot from your Channel . Keep up the good work .
Like many, I started out with a Realistic stereo. For me it was circa 1974, with an "all in one" console and two separate speakers. AM/FM stereo, 8-Track recorder, and a phono built in, and even had a 1/4" (6.3mm) headphone jack. Probably put out 5W/channel on a good day into some very lightweight speakers. Yeah, not "audiophile" for sure, but it sounded better than our old AM/FM table top radio, and we could play records! Loved it. Sold it when I was in college (1978) to upgrade to "real" separates and a cassette deck. To me that was a huge upgrade. 8-Tracks were cool, but they were a pain in the arse to record on and try timing songs so they didn't go through the godawful "Ka-THUNK!" when it switched tracks. Anyway, good memories and a start on this crazy journey to loving good sound and music. 43 years later, I'm STILL using cassettes at least once a week.
You hit the nail on the head. i thought you were talking about me for a while. I remember going to Radio Shack (when it was good before it became a phone store). Do you remember every year they had a half price speaker sale. I have a STA-16, STA-21, STA-64, STA-65D, and a STA-2100D. Realistic speakers include minimus 18,mc-1000,Nova 10, and mach ones. Only 1 turntable so far, Lab440. I love every one of them and had a lot of fun finding them over the past 5 years or so. I got the addiction. I suppose there's a lot worse things to get addicted to.
Even as a younger guy getting into hifi, the vintage stuff speaks to me. I'm not sure what it is, but the designs have such a charm to them. Researched a CD player for such a long time and landed on an older Sony unit. Nice, big buttons with sensible placement, a clean display with a nice layout, just makes me happy to look at and is a joy to use! Well until the tray goes rouge on me and I start hearing whirring noises but I can always fix it lol
My old Sony CD player still works great. Only issues were that the door gets stuck open sometimes until I cycle the power switch and it skips when the bass is strong. Ended up putting it on some small 2" X 2" HVAC isolation pads (cheap but very effective). Considering I was tempted to trash it, I'm loving getting more use out of it now. The door issues isn't that bad to put up with. Only happens a few times when changing CDs. Good luck!
Just pick one of these up along with two Realistic Minimus-7 speakers at a yard sale for $5. Every in perfect condition and I am blown away how well this small system works and sounds. It’s going in my garage. Also with the inputs in the back I can plug my phone and listen to Spotify. You right about the vintage audio sound. It takes me back to my younger days. Thanks for the great video.
Awesome video Randy! I started with a Realistic STA-2100D. With Mach- ones (rubber surrounds) and a pair of optimus t-200 speakers, and some super tweeters. Realistic made some fun gear way back then! My daughter has the realistic setup and still uses it!
Running a Realistic STA-12 with JBL 2500s on the living room TV. It's a mini "Personal" receiver. The only -sound- tone adjustment is a Loudness button and is also made in Korea. Sounds great. I found the receiver with a pair of Realistic small, square, real wood veneer speakers. Just one driver. Sounds remarkably good for voice and not so much anything else, so a good talk radio speaker. Found both items in the same vintage Radio Shack catalog when I got them....
I'm still have my first receiver, a Kenwood from the early 90s, so probably not what's considered "quality vintage", but it still makes me happy to have it.
Kenwood stuff in the 70s and 80s was some of the best, but by the 90s, they had slipped a little, as had most other Japanese makers. They all still made some great stuff, but also made some cheap plastic crap. I have a 100w/channel Kenwood amp from the 80s that I got on Ebay fpr $60, and it sounds as good as any amp I've ever owned at any price
I went with vintage audio components in my home office, it is quite a journey and can be very frustrating at times but if you stick with it and learn what to buy it can also be very rewarding! I have an Optimus STA-795 receiver that is driving an old Design Acoustics speaker set with a passive subwoofer (I've had this speaker system since I was a teenager back in the mid 80s!). I also have a late 70s Kenwood KA-3500 Integrated amp with a matching KT-5300 tuner driving a vintage pair of Advent speakers. I also have a modern U-Turn Audio turntable, a late 80s Pioneer CD Player and an early 80s Technics M205 tape deck. All this stuff is solid build and sounds great! I did have to have the Kenwood amp recapped last year but it only cost me a little over $200. So yeah, that's the other drawback with vintage gear, you have the up front risk but then you never know how long it will last before it needs service that can potentially be a lot more than you paid for the gear to begin with, so you really have to like vintage gear and prepare for some heartache to go down this path.
We never forget our first love. Mine was a 1966 Juliette AM/FM Multiplex with the two speakers hanging off the left and right sides. I bought it from money saved at my summer job. I could have written "I like to dream...yes, yes, right between the sound machine" Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf. I laid on the floor with my head in the middle. After 6 years, it got fried by a lightning strike on the antenna. I just found a replacement on the Goodwill auction site this year. My life is good.
Great video Randy! Brought back some memories for me of when I was a kid in the 70s and early 80s. A couple of pieces of "memorable" gear I won't be seeking out however... The damn confounding 8-track tape player I had for one. It seemed like you could sit there all night pushing the damn one button on it and never get to hear the song you wanted LOL. And the clunky janky radio shack headphones I had with the overly long, permanently attached coiled cord. 😂😂
Just this evening I was cleaning out file cabinets and found my original owners manual for the STA-700 featured here. I bought it brand new in 1983 with the Minimus 7 speakers. (Radio Shack?) Rocked it with my turntable & later tape deck. I can't remember when or how I disposed of the STA-700. But Boston & Foreigner sure sounded good! Your video brought back great memories.
Randy, I was already a big fan, but your reference to electronics shopping at Montgomery Ward hit me right in the feels. In the spirit of the CheapAudioMan ethos, I had a number of really high value Signature 2000 products back in the day; they were basically Sharp products for $100 cheaper.
I owned that receiver too,and also got it second hand.It was made specifically with it's low profile,to pair with the mini,mighty,Minimus 7 speakers.The EQ button was made to give those little speakers a fuller sound.That was a great combo.
I just went from a mid 70s JVC receiver to a late 80s marantz. Doesn't have the classic vintage look we all love, but it's 60 watts and kicks hard. I love your videos on vintage stuff and hope to see more of them in the future!!!!
Love this video. I starting working for Radio Shack back in 1992 still had a great audio line up even then. my first Dolby Digital 5.1 surround receiver was one from the Optimus line 100 watts per channel and an Optimus 8" 100 watt powered sub. and that was almost 30 years ago. Currently don't have a surround or even a decent stereo setup needing a new receiver and a decent turntable just haven't decided on one yet. Still have a 100 watt powered sub and a set of 3 way 100 watt 8" floor speakers as well as a pair of Realistic Nova 40 over the ear headphones just longing for some classic HIFI. Thanks for videos.
Much of my present system is vintage gear from my wishlists of yesteryear. There is just a special place in my heart for the sound and the nostalgia of vintage gear! Thanks for keeping the dream alive!
I’m seven vintage receivers in this hifi wormhole. Not to mention all the vintage speakers and tape decks. Quite a journey and have met some cool people along the way! Enjoy your vids Cheapaudioman! 🤘
Nice topic Randers. I love the old vintage receivers and other AV gear myself. I have the Realistic STA-111. Built during the same year as your STA-700 (1982-1983). The STA-111 is rated at 30 watts per channel, but it still sounds excellent and easily pushes a pair of Klipsch bookshelf speakers and a Polk subwoofer. I still have my Carver Receiver from 1984 as well as 2 other Realistic’s and a 100 watt Teac receiver. Looking forward to you doing more shows on vintage gear!
My first real receiver was the Technics SA-190. I sold it to a friend when I upgraded to a Kenwood. This one did not have knobs, but rather sliders for bass, treble and volume. The radio frequency readout had this cool blue glow to it. I really want to get one again.. The Kenwood, while having higher wattage wasn’t all that great. I’m sure I drooled over that Realistic receiver when I was visiting the Radio Shack. Which I did EVERY time I went to the mall. My only Realistic gear were my speakers which I used for nearly 15 years.
I was having my cup of coffee when I saw this video. I started with an Akai A-1020. I regret selling it and just like you, I am out in a hunt for the same AKAI RECEIVER. I started with that receiver just like you as a college graduation gift 1987 from my mom when she found out I have finished all my requirements and the next morning while I was having my breakfast she seems happy giving the Akai Console Pro-2LD or its because she's done with making me finish my college education. Anyway, greetings from my humble country the Philippines. I love this country, I am not sure I am proud of it. Cheers my RUclips friend. 🇵🇭🇺🇲☕☕
I recently got interested into vinyl and remembered my dad had a stereo system he built back in the early 80's when he worked part-time at Radio Shack. Tracked it down at my brothers sitting in the basement. It is the Realistic SA2000 integrated amp with a LAB 400 direct drive record player and a TM1000 receiver. All I had to do is clean all the controls real good to clean up the sound. This equipment is what had me find you and others on youtube and start my journey. I also picked up some Vandersteen 2Ce speakers for the system which I'm looking forward to trying once I get everything out of storage (moving currently).
I bought a “broken” Panasonic receiver from the 1970s last year as a quarantine hobby. “Broken” meaning…I replaced the fuses on the back…and it’s been 1977 in my basement for the past 18 months! It was a low-end department store stereo when it was new, but I think it sounds great and it looks really cool too.
I started with Realistic too CAM. The tuning knob would literally “lock” when you hit the strongest frequency. I used to pore over the radio shack catalogue. I forget who made most of their receivers but it was a pretty good company. Good memories.EDIT: I think Fostex made a lot of their stuff and I too graduated to Yamaha. I love you (cheap audio) man.
For me the entry point was the (pre-Radio Shack) Allied Radio catalog that had stereo components and speakers. It was like the Wards or Sears Christmas catalog for a geeky teen who was just getting into records.
... I'm Very happy with my Realistic sta 200 "Black Face" w/remote control,from '74 !! My father in law bought it that year,and when he passed away in 2001,my Mother gave it to me,and it's my main amp in our living Room,and it Work fine ... .. RS did Very good stuff back in the good 'Ol Dayz !!..
I had a similar one in late 70s ! My first stereo receiver from the Lakemore Ohio RadioShack ! Loved the matching Minus7 speakers ! Simple but it worked for me !
I still have my Kenwood KR9400 receiver, Frazier model seven speakers and Kenwod turntable I purchased new in 1975. It is still hooked up and I listen to it occasionally as a second system. It still sounds pretty good. Great channel, keep it up.
Awesome, looking forward to more vintage stuff. I have a Realistic STA-730 receiver that was my father's, made about the same time period. It's my main amp for now, still sounds really good. Rock on.
The EQ button on the STA-700 was a unique curve made for the Optimus 7 speakers. Radio Shack used to bundle them together as an entry system. For a budget, compact receiver the unit sounds exceptional and the specs are impressive. Love your channel👍🏼✨
thanks for sharing, my beginnings were also quite humble, Kenwood & Akai all in one systems, finally got to spend time with Technics separates when I was 14 & fell in love, still keep a collection of those units that I grew up with, mostly used in rotation for my laptop headphone amp
I am a bit vintage audio addict, what helps for me is that I used to repair HiFi when I was a high school student. So I often even look for broken equipment but I look for cosmetic 8/10 or better. The warning, to be weary of problems goes specially for turntables. Ten out of ten turntables I bought ranging from $10,-- to $700,-- for what I paid had one or more problems with it. Ironically the $10,-- TT sold as parts only is now my permanent TT where as the $700,-- unit is waiting for repair because it will be both pricy and complex to fix it and it was sold as fully overhauled BTW. But it is a Belt Idler Wheel drive, the holy grail for driving a platter so I have no regrets and it is Oh so pretty.
I’m fortunate enough to have a vintage shop in my town. The owner is also the tech and repairs the rigs…so the risk is smaller. I purchased my Kenwood KR-7050 receiver there and it’s amazing. I routinely switch back and forth between my new Cambridge AXR-100 receiver and the kenwood…while the WPC are similar they both have their signature sound. Good to have options.
Bought a Integrated power amp from ALLIED RADIO,before it was called Radio Shack. The year was around 65, 66, took it home and shorted it out. The bad part was my dad yelling at me all they way back to the store,to get it fixed. I loved that piece of equipment, like you said, old gear has a cool vibe.
Awesome as always. I guess looking back I was the same. Always needed to tweak the bass n treble on the home pioneer hifi in it’s own cabinet ( the sound of that magnetic door catch🥺 ) loudness always on 😃
Nice! stuff! I recently got a Marantz 2216B-16 watts but is awesome sounding. Had a Sansui back in high school a college, don't remember the model but had around 12watts. Upgraded to a NAD in the late 80s and a Harmon Kardon with 30 watts in the 90s. When that died I got the Marantz.
Totally agree on vintage!!!! My stable consists of Yamaha CA-2010, Yamaha CA-1000, Pioneer SX-450, Pioneer SX-780 and a Dual 1219!!!!. More vintage audio please!!!
Great video, I really enjoyed it. Something to be said about vintage gear, different sound, gorgeous looks and the time and energy spent for the hunt as opposed to buying from Amazon.Tricky and risky? Of course, but a lot of fun.That is how I restarted my "vinyl corner" a year and half ago with a Pioneer SX550, from eBay, and bringing back to life my old Technics DLS2. Awaiting for the "new piece", a Luxman L-215, also from eBay, it should be here next week, wish me luck! More of these videos, please!!!
I was a generation ahead of you with the "System Seven" STA 7. People will complain about how "bad" Radio Shack audio equipment was, but let the specs speak to you: Power output: 10 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo), Frequency response: 15Hz to 30kHz, Total harmonic distortion: 0.5%.
Listening to Once Upon a Time in The West by Dire Straits on my vintage (1989ish) Technics rack unit with the 3+’ tall speakers and the satellite JBL Stage 130s…and this vintage system KICKS ASS! You can feel the thump without a sub-bass and the JBLs add extra zing to the steel guitar. Powerful Magic…and I paid almost 2x for the JBLs than the CraigsList rack unit. Brilliant, if I may say so myself. So cheap, it could make CAM blush.
I started with a silver face Realistic receiver and 2 Fischer white coned woofers all bought at different yard sales. I was 10yrs old. Wish i could find that setup for nostalgic purpose.
Being 65 our generation is different. In my day, Crown & KLH electrostatics were my dream. But Magnapan became my standard for both listening and performing with CD's. Now, B&W Nautilus are my standard for every style of music there is.
Very cool! Count me in as a fan of Realistic gear too. My first "monster" receiver was an STA-2100D. I got it dead on arrival for a song and dance. Took me a few months to sort the issues and get the necessary boards recapped but it is still going strong and sounds fantastic. Plan on keeping it forever.
Congrats on the find! Pretty cool to own your original gear! I started on a Sony 2 channel receiver. I think it was 40Wx2. No clue the model, should look it up. Wish I still had all my old gear. Would be really cool to listen to it today.
My vintage receiver collection includes: Sansui 881: Harmon Kardon 930 : Yamaha 2020: Marantz 2245 and 2252b: Fisher 400 tube receiver. Plus a few integrated from the same manufacturers. Most are rebuilt. Forgot the Sony 7065A. What do you think?
Very cool you found the amp you had as a kid. Filled my soul with happiness to hear the story. I had a realistic boom box that was the start of my journey. Had LED VU meters so of course I loved it.
Oh the irony. Had just finished watching another video that had a Technics 5070, Sansui 5000, and a Pioneer SA 9100 which I have had (still have the Pioneer) and then THIS video pops up right after. Cleaning out my Mother's house after she moved and found this exact Realistic model in the closet powering their bedroom ceiling speakers! Its is now in my garage with an Airport Express and some Dayton Audio B652 Air speakers. Later found her old receiver packed away, Yamaha CR 600. It gets rotated occasionally in my vintage rack along with the Pioneer SA 9100, a Sansui G-3500, pair of Jenson X-45 bookshelf speakers. Also have a Sansui SD-7000 R2R, plus Technics SL-2200 and Elac Miracord 10H turntables (all need of refresh). My NAD/SVS TV/surround system or my NAD/Peachtree Audio/KEF systems will eventually go but I plan to always keep my vintage stock!
Excellent video Randy! A lot of us are the same as to how we started the audiophile journey. Good stuff buddy! My first receiver was a Realistic as well, and it was a nice piece, but unfortunately it died on me. When it died I believe that I moved on to Yamaha and then Nad.
The two competing receivers for my 1976 dollars were a Sansui 5050 and a Marantz 2235. Found and bought both of those this year for the vintage collection. :-)
I bought a Harman Kardon 330b at a record store, around 2005. I was hooked on Audio from that day forward! I have found some cool stuff at thrift stores, but pretty rare in my neck of the woods. I like new audio also!!
Who remembers the Realistic Mach series home speakers??!! The biggest baddest speakers of the time!!! Those things could be heard down 2 city blocks!!! I knew a guy in Texas who had a pair in his car!!!!
Also my first real receiver. However, I bought mine on SPIF, when a model is discontinued or being replaced with a new model and has not sold at the first or second reduced price. $34 out the door. She's down in the basement as she's pooed one day while while enjoying a very spirited YES listening session, primarily during The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus). Paired with Optimus 30's and MC1800's (Radio Shack brands for those that don't know), it was a seriously rocking system. I do miss it, but found that it was actually a thin sound compared to what has come after. But yes, Loudness and Bass Boost would make the 10" Op30's shake the walls. I see a time coming soon where I will dig in to fix it.
If you open the unit up, you probably see the AC outlet is just a parallel out. It can probably be modified by adding MOV and actually make it a little surge resistant. The caps and the diode after the transformer rectify and smooth out the current. So a big cap and higher spec diode will help a lot. Have to mention that I resurrected an Marantz SR-1000 for a whole lot less than the 22 series, recapped and also have brought spare IC amp so I assure that unit can run for another 40 yrs ?maybe? It still have the original IC amp and it sounds good so I refrain from swapping it out at the moment. The power diodes are next. May not be a total collector item but vintage Marantz sound is there for sure and the puppy has plenty of head room to push big speakers.
I just started my HiFi Audio addiction. I just bought A Sony TA-333ESX II receiver. Its from the late 1980s. Its got that beautiful blackface and veneer side panels. I'll make a video about it in a few days. I bought it to go with my Sony CDP-591. I live in Japan, so I have access to some great Yahoo Auction stuff. Ultimately, I want to find a Toshiba SA-500 that I grew up with. Something about those machined control knobs, switches, and blue lights I want to see again.
The most underrated vintage receivers are HITACHI . Most models are high current and have great sound signature . They were the poor man's Harman Kardon .
I just bought an entry level vintage 1980 AKAI 2X20W integrated amp. it beats e.g. my 2013 6x160W ONKYO AV receiver by miles in the stereo arena. Back in the days AKAI was the equivalent of Realistic imo, but now, I come to really appreciate the brand (at least for the old stuff).
Marantz 2270 receiver, purchased new in early 1970s and sitting on a lower shelf. Horizontal AM/FM tuning dial (which I dislike), weighs a ton, and glows like a runaway atomic pile in the dark (which I do like)!
After Many multi combo unit stereos -- my First *Second hand* was The Pioneer SX-450 -- the 1st real one, I had owned in the Early 1980's . I went through about a dozen or more various units over the years and still have not settled on any one Brand or Set up. Currently using a Sony STR-D615 and Aiwa Bookshelf Speakers for Background musics....
I'm happy tonight because my Radio Shack (Koss) LV20 headphones that I thought we're blown have miraculously come back to life. Don't know how, but I'm happy.
I just love the old realistic stuff. They have made crappy stuff too but i love them. I've went vintage with my power and preamp. Yes vintage accuphase. Got a heck of a deal with both (bought them separately). Poweramp was like new and barely unused. The preamp got recently serviced for about 200$ . My turntable is also a vintage Technics sl 1410. Just love the combination of vintage and modern gear. For the sound and because it's the only way for me to get the accuphase amps.
Pioneer SX 6 and a pair of JBL knocks offs started my journey. Moved to a Proton D940 and a pair of B&W DM 110's and have been spending money ever since, lol.
I visited my local thrift store a few weeks ago and came across a Realistic receiver. I thought about bringing it home, but left it for someone else to appreciate it.
I started with a Optonica Receiver and a Realistic Tape Deck. Didn't have enough money for speakers, just headphones. One of my first tapes was "Cars Candy-O" ,boy this review brought back some memories, around 1979/80.😎
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Back in the early 2000s, when I was living in the Dallas Fort-Worth (DFW) area, I was doing a lot of travelling for work. When I was coming home from a trip, I got a free upgrade to business class and sat next to a Japanese gentlemen. We struck up a conversation and it turned out that he worked for Pioneer (in Japan) and was visiting Radio Shack's HQ in DFW. He told me Pioneer made many of the audio products (amplifiers, receivers, cassette decks, CD players, etc.) that Radio Shack sold under thier house brands (Realistic, Optimus, etc.). I still have an Optimus linear tracking turntable that was made by Hitachi. I think Toshiba made some of the speakers that featured the lineauem tweeter. I know some "hi-fi" folks tended to look down on the Radio Shack branded products, but they were all made by for them by the major Japanese companies
A huge part of the fun for me is restoring and/or repairing vintage gear. Cleaning the parts, finding the fault with the schematics and a multimeter, soldering a few new components and finally watching it coming alive again is so rewarding. And it gives you this priceless feeling of connection because you revived it in a way :). Plus you gain understanding of the inner workings and lets you get a glimpse at the work of the engineers, which often deserves respect. For all of those reasons I am really happy with my vintage Sony TA-F 700 ES amp with the original wood panels, which I had to hunt down separately. It may not be the best amp out there, but it's mine :).
Hey Randy, love your vids sir. You’re right about vintage amplifiers. They do have a particular sound,especially the 70s ones. My brother used to have a Sansui receiver and a Audio Dynamic turn table with an infra-red eye for track finding. Those things sounded great. I loved it when the audio controls had all three, Bass, Midrange and treble. Man, I miss Radio Shack. We had that same Realistic receiver…that thing sounded great as well. I was impressed. See ‘ya in the next video.
I Soo love these "Vintage Vault" episodes! :)
Keep'em comin' Randy!
"Long live the Cheap Audioman!!" :)
Vintage receivers like this are so beautiful. My late father who passed way last month managed a neighborhood Montgomery Ward store for 30 years and as a kid I remember spending all my time in the electronics section of the store. Vintage stereo equipment like this will always hold a special place in my heart. ❤️
Awesome review! I own an original STA-700. It is the one the Radio Shack on Juan Tabo in Albuquerque played all the time while open when I worked there 1984-1987. Anyone who came in got to hear it running. We had everything put through it those years. The laser disc, first CD player(99 Red Balloons), the first Stereo VHS playing Star Wars endlessly. When it went obsolete the manager put it in the deal pile and I paid $17 for it. We had a service center in Albuquerque so I had them go through it and put a new amplifier IC in and I have been set since. Add a Bass Enhancer and you could make Mach 1's blast a room. This was also paired with the Minimus 7 Series speakers. The System EQ would wake up those little Minimus units.
The A/C in the back was useful because a turntable was always going to be attached.
Also, you can bridge the amp. The manual shows you how to run 4-5 ohm bridged across the A-B amplifier sections. It now lives in my basement and when I turn it on I immediately go back to those early 80s selling electronics and blasting all that awesome music.
40 years old and still works great and can lock on a station like no tomorrow.
I understand your love of this little guy.
OMG! I got This receiver when it was new at RadioShack when I was a kid from saving up from my paper route. LOL wow what a blast from the past! I also bought the realistic Metal housed speakers that went with it…thanks for bringing up a great memory, I totally forgot about it when I went off to college when I inherited my mother’s Pioneer STA-780. Great vid!
I myself went on a vintage pilgrimage of sorts to rekindle an old love…Technics SA-GX130 receiver and Cerwin Vega VS120’s! Located the receiver on goodwill site in perfect shape for $20 and the speakers well…they still sell for new prices no matter the condition. Good news is I did find a pair 4hrs from me for $250 a pair in new condition as well. Been in absolute heaven ever since. It’s hard to fill the void when missing that sound on a great combination of equipment.
My journey started in the late seventies with a Realistic system as well. I had a beautiful set of veneered, bookshelf Realistic speakers a little bigger than my SSCS5's.
I wish I still had them! I enjoyed this very much!
I love vintatge Realistic gear. I would readily subscribe to a RUclips channel dedicated solely to Realistic Hi-Fi. Who cares if it's not "audiophile" level. Many of us enjoyed our favorite music on Realistic and other Radio Shack products back in the day. Thanks for this short but wonderful post Randy!
Agreed my first boom box was a Realistic all in one set with speakers!...I still remember the excitement of unboxing and putting it together with my dad!...always loved Realistic good stuff built by Pioneer
I like Radio Shack Realistic gear, too. Top quality at at good price. These days you get junk.
I was addicted to Radio Shack catalogs throughout my teenage and young adult years. I had always wanted a pair of their Mach 1(?) 3-way speakers with 15" woofers, but they were too big for our NYC apartment..............Thanks Randy!
Still rocking my Mach Three monsters...nothing like them !
Every summer I would spend a month with my Dad.
Every time I got there - Dad would have a different stereo set-up.
So while he was at work, I would spend the 1st couple days playing with the new Gear. Absolutely loved it !!!
I remember one time - he had a tube amp - grey or pale green in color. I cooked acouple finger tips - did NOT know ALL those parts got HOT !!
Funny as I look back.
Anyway - my Dad had lots of different gear - loved going to the Audio Shops back in the day.
Mom had a Marantz receiver - 22?? - had 2 meters upper left corner. Can't remember the exact model. A Garrard turn table - JBL - 100 speakers - black grills. When we moved into a different house - mom would go out in the yard & walk around listening while I was inside SLOWLY turning up the volume. She would wave her arms when she could hear it. Then place a pencil mark on the volume dial. She would say - that it the - NO COPS - MARK !!!
Just getting back into the Vintage stuff again myself.
Thank you - great video.
You’re in for a treat tomorrow then.
I still have my 1st receiver . Got it in 1978 for my 18th Birthday. Still works great. Had to replace some power pack components a few times. Learned how to do it myself. Back in the 70's I played my Music loud and my Pioneer SX-780 45 watts per channel did that easily .Still does. I had some RTR 10" woofer 3 way speakers . So Rainbow and Sabbath sounded great. Crank it up!
So I realize if you want the loudness effect , nowadays it's built in to the speakers like the Jamo S803's. I learned alot from your Channel . Keep up the good work .
Like many, I started out with a Realistic stereo. For me it was circa 1974, with an "all in one" console and two separate speakers. AM/FM stereo, 8-Track recorder, and a phono built in, and even had a 1/4" (6.3mm) headphone jack. Probably put out 5W/channel on a good day into some very lightweight speakers. Yeah, not "audiophile" for sure, but it sounded better than our old AM/FM table top radio, and we could play records! Loved it. Sold it when I was in college (1978) to upgrade to "real" separates and a cassette deck. To me that was a huge upgrade.
8-Tracks were cool, but they were a pain in the arse to record on and try timing songs so they didn't go through the godawful "Ka-THUNK!" when it switched tracks. Anyway, good memories and a start on this crazy journey to loving good sound and music. 43 years later, I'm STILL using cassettes at least once a week.
You hit the nail on the head. i thought you were talking about me for a while. I remember going to Radio Shack (when it was good before it became a phone store). Do you remember every year they had a half price speaker sale. I have a STA-16, STA-21, STA-64, STA-65D, and a STA-2100D. Realistic speakers include minimus 18,mc-1000,Nova 10, and mach ones. Only 1 turntable so far, Lab440. I love every one of them and had a lot of fun finding them over the past 5 years or so. I got the addiction. I suppose there's a lot worse things to get addicted to.
Even as a younger guy getting into hifi, the vintage stuff speaks to me. I'm not sure what it is, but the designs have such a charm to them. Researched a CD player for such a long time and landed on an older Sony unit. Nice, big buttons with sensible placement, a clean display with a nice layout, just makes me happy to look at and is a joy to use! Well until the tray goes rouge on me and I start hearing whirring noises but I can always fix it lol
My old Sony CD player still works great. Only issues were that the door gets stuck open sometimes until I cycle the power switch and it skips when the bass is strong. Ended up putting it on some small 2" X 2" HVAC isolation pads (cheap but very effective). Considering I was tempted to trash it, I'm loving getting more use out of it now. The door issues isn't that bad to put up with. Only happens a few times when changing CDs. Good luck!
Just pick one of these up along with two Realistic Minimus-7 speakers at a yard sale for $5. Every in perfect condition and I am blown away how well this small system works and sounds. It’s going in my garage. Also with the inputs in the back I can plug my phone and listen to Spotify. You right about the vintage audio sound. It takes me back to my younger days. Thanks for the great video.
Awesome video Randy!
I started with a Realistic STA-2100D. With Mach- ones (rubber surrounds) and a pair of optimus t-200 speakers, and some super tweeters. Realistic made some fun gear way back then!
My daughter has the realistic setup and still uses it!
I love see the Tape In and Tape Out RCA plugs on it from the days you would record songs on a cassette for your playlist.
and if you had a 3-head deck, you could hear the tape as it records
Running a Realistic STA-12 with JBL 2500s on the living room TV. It's a mini "Personal" receiver. The only -sound- tone adjustment is a Loudness button and is also made in Korea. Sounds great.
I found the receiver with a pair of Realistic small, square, real wood veneer speakers. Just one driver. Sounds remarkably good for voice and not so much anything else, so a good talk radio speaker.
Found both items in the same vintage Radio Shack catalog when I got them....
I'm still have my first receiver, a Kenwood from the early 90s, so probably not what's considered "quality vintage", but it still makes me happy to have it.
Kenwood stuff in the 70s and 80s was some of the best, but by the 90s, they had slipped a little, as had most other Japanese makers. They all still made some great stuff, but also made some cheap plastic crap. I have a 100w/channel Kenwood amp from the 80s that I got on Ebay fpr $60, and it sounds as good as any amp I've ever owned at any price
@@Jack-Shat Circuit City in '92.
Did that one have that “rocker button” up and down volume control? Mine broke after a few years.
I went with vintage audio components in my home office, it is quite a journey and can be very frustrating at times but if you stick with it and learn what to buy it can also be very rewarding! I have an Optimus STA-795 receiver that is driving an old Design Acoustics speaker set with a passive subwoofer (I've had this speaker system since I was a teenager back in the mid 80s!). I also have a late 70s Kenwood KA-3500 Integrated amp with a matching KT-5300 tuner driving a vintage pair of Advent speakers. I also have a modern U-Turn Audio turntable, a late 80s Pioneer CD Player and an early 80s Technics M205 tape deck. All this stuff is solid build and sounds great! I did have to have the Kenwood amp recapped last year but it only cost me a little over $200. So yeah, that's the other drawback with vintage gear, you have the up front risk but then you never know how long it will last before it needs service that can potentially be a lot more than you paid for the gear to begin with, so you really have to like vintage gear and prepare for some heartache to go down this path.
We never forget our first love. Mine was a 1966 Juliette AM/FM Multiplex with the two speakers hanging off the left and right sides. I bought it from money saved at my summer job. I could have written "I like to dream...yes, yes, right between the sound machine" Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf. I laid on the floor with my head in the middle. After 6 years, it got fried by a lightning strike on the antenna. I just found a replacement on the Goodwill auction site this year. My life is good.
Great video Randy! Brought back some memories for me of when I was a kid in the 70s and early 80s. A couple of pieces of "memorable" gear I won't be seeking out however... The damn confounding 8-track tape player I had for one. It seemed like you could sit there all night pushing the damn one button on it and never get to hear the song you wanted LOL. And the clunky janky radio shack headphones I had with the overly long, permanently attached coiled cord. 😂😂
Ah, the old coiled headphone cords...memories.
That was a truly beautiful and touching video, Randy! More vintage vids, pleeeease!!!
Thanks, Randy. Great that you do vintage gear review. Fantastic and nostalgic review!
Just this evening I was cleaning out file cabinets and found my original owners manual for the STA-700 featured here. I bought it brand new in 1983 with the Minimus 7 speakers. (Radio Shack?) Rocked it with my turntable & later tape deck. I can't remember when or how I disposed of the STA-700. But Boston & Foreigner sure sounded good! Your video brought back great memories.
Randy, I was already a big fan, but your reference to electronics shopping at Montgomery Ward hit me right in the feels. In the spirit of the CheapAudioMan ethos, I had a number of really high value Signature 2000 products back in the day; they were basically Sharp products for $100 cheaper.
@Fisher Man A lot of people I know did as well.
@Fisher Man I did too. I worked there for a few months . I knew more about stereos than most sales people . I was a young cashier there then .
I owned that receiver too,and also got it second hand.It was made specifically with it's low profile,to pair with the mini,mighty,Minimus 7 speakers.The EQ button was made to give those little speakers a fuller sound.That was a great combo.
I just went from a mid 70s JVC receiver to a late 80s marantz. Doesn't have the classic vintage look we all love, but it's 60 watts and kicks hard. I love your videos on vintage stuff and hope to see more of them in the future!!!!
I’m a new subscriber, I love what you do and the way you do it. It brings a smile to my face and does away with all the hype. Keep the videos coming
Love your vintage audio segments!
Love this video. I starting working for Radio Shack back in 1992 still had a great audio line up even then. my first Dolby Digital 5.1 surround receiver was one from the Optimus line 100 watts per channel and an Optimus 8" 100 watt powered sub. and that was almost 30 years ago. Currently don't have a surround or even a decent stereo setup needing a new receiver and a decent turntable just haven't decided on one yet. Still have a 100 watt powered sub and a set of 3 way 100 watt 8" floor speakers as well as a pair of Realistic Nova 40 over the ear headphones just longing for some classic HIFI. Thanks for videos.
Much of my present system is vintage gear from my wishlists of yesteryear. There is just a special place in my heart for the sound and the nostalgia of vintage gear! Thanks for keeping the dream alive!
I’m seven vintage receivers in this hifi wormhole. Not to mention all the vintage speakers and tape decks. Quite a journey and have met some cool people along the way! Enjoy your vids Cheapaudioman! 🤘
Awesome show.
Shorter, seriously informative.
Well fleshed out.
Please carry on!
Nice topic Randers. I love the old vintage receivers and other AV gear myself. I have the Realistic STA-111. Built during the same year as your STA-700 (1982-1983). The STA-111 is rated at 30 watts per channel, but it still sounds excellent and easily pushes a pair of Klipsch bookshelf speakers and a Polk subwoofer. I still have my Carver Receiver from 1984 as well as 2 other Realistic’s and a 100 watt Teac receiver. Looking forward to you doing more shows on vintage gear!
My first real receiver was the Technics SA-190. I sold it to a friend when I upgraded to a Kenwood. This one did not have knobs, but rather sliders for bass, treble and volume. The radio frequency readout had this cool blue glow to it. I really want to get one again.. The Kenwood, while having higher wattage wasn’t all that great. I’m sure I drooled over that Realistic receiver when I was visiting the Radio Shack. Which I did EVERY time I went to the mall. My only Realistic gear were my speakers which I used for nearly 15 years.
My first receiver was a Yamaha CR-240. I bought it new in 1981 for about $200. It is still in use at my friend's lake house and still works great.
I love seeing this old stuff, remember it well - getting very nostalgic!
I was having my cup of coffee when I saw this video. I started with an Akai A-1020. I regret selling it and just like you, I am out in a hunt for the same AKAI RECEIVER. I started with that receiver just like you as a college graduation gift 1987 from my mom when she found out I have finished all my requirements and the next morning while I was having my breakfast she seems happy giving the Akai Console Pro-2LD or its because she's done with making me finish my college education. Anyway, greetings from my humble country the Philippines. I love this country, I am not sure I am proud of it. Cheers my RUclips friend. 🇵🇭🇺🇲☕☕
I recently got interested into vinyl and remembered my dad had a stereo system he built back in the early 80's when he worked part-time at Radio Shack. Tracked it down at my brothers sitting in the basement. It is the Realistic SA2000 integrated amp with a LAB 400 direct drive record player and a TM1000 receiver. All I had to do is clean all the controls real good to clean up the sound.
This equipment is what had me find you and others on youtube and start my journey. I also picked up some Vandersteen 2Ce speakers for the system which I'm looking forward to trying once I get everything out of storage (moving currently).
I bought a “broken” Panasonic receiver from the 1970s last year as a quarantine hobby. “Broken” meaning…I replaced the fuses on the back…and it’s been 1977 in my basement for the past 18 months! It was a low-end department store stereo when it was new, but I think it sounds great and it looks really cool too.
Really outstanding Randy!
I started audiophile life with a STA-78 reciever and MC-2000 speakers. Loved that system.....
I started with Realistic too CAM. The tuning knob would literally “lock” when you hit the strongest frequency. I used to pore over the radio shack catalogue. I forget who made most of their receivers but it was a pretty good company. Good memories.EDIT: I think Fostex made a lot of their stuff and I too graduated to Yamaha. I love you (cheap audio) man.
For me the entry point was the (pre-Radio Shack) Allied Radio catalog that had stereo components and speakers. It was like the Wards or Sears Christmas catalog for a geeky teen who was just getting into records.
I have an older rs receiver that is all pioneer inside but more power than the similar pioneer.
Hitachi made some of their receivers in the 70s.
@@koprcord5338 Pioneer made no older (Realistic branded) audio. You might be thinking of the BPC stuff from the 90s.
@@TheShackGuy your 100 percent correct. It's an optimus branded receiver from the 90s.
... I'm Very happy with my Realistic sta 200 "Black Face" w/remote control,from '74 !!
My father in law bought it that year,and when he passed away in 2001,my Mother gave it to me,and it's my main amp in our living Room,and it Work fine ...
.. RS did Very good stuff back in the good 'Ol Dayz !!..
Man…this sends me WAY back! ❤️🙏🏼
I had a similar one in late 70s ! My first stereo receiver from the Lakemore Ohio RadioShack ! Loved the matching Minus7 speakers ! Simple but it worked for me !
I still have my Kenwood KR9400 receiver, Frazier model seven speakers and Kenwod turntable I purchased new in 1975. It is still hooked up and I listen to it occasionally as a second system. It still sounds pretty good. Great channel, keep it up.
Awesome, looking forward to more vintage stuff. I have a Realistic STA-730 receiver that was my father's, made about the same time period. It's my main amp for now, still sounds really good. Rock on.
The EQ button on the STA-700 was a unique curve made for the Optimus 7 speakers. Radio Shack used to bundle them together as an entry system. For a budget, compact receiver the unit sounds exceptional and the specs are impressive. Love your channel👍🏼✨
thanks for sharing, my beginnings were also quite humble, Kenwood & Akai all in one systems, finally got to spend time with Technics separates when I was 14 & fell in love, still keep a collection of those units that I grew up with, mostly used in rotation for my laptop headphone amp
“… I was cheap then and I am cheap now” LoL love you man 😁
My first receiver was a Pioneer SX-636 purchased new circa 1976. Still have it. Completely restored it many years ago.
My first was a Realistic STA-82 receiver. Rated at 22 watts per channel RMS, but often tested out at around 40W. Great fun!
Amazing you get big sound with little wattage. Saves electricity, too.
I am a bit vintage audio addict, what helps for me is that I used to repair HiFi when I was a high school student. So I often even look for broken equipment but I look for cosmetic 8/10 or better.
The warning, to be weary of problems goes specially for turntables. Ten out of ten turntables I bought ranging from $10,-- to $700,-- for what I paid had one or more problems with it. Ironically the $10,-- TT sold as parts only is now my permanent TT where as the $700,-- unit is waiting for repair because it will be both pricy and complex to fix it and it was sold as fully overhauled BTW. But it is a Belt Idler Wheel drive, the holy grail for driving a platter so I have no regrets and it is Oh so pretty.
I’m fortunate enough to have a vintage shop in my town. The owner is also the tech and repairs the rigs…so the risk is smaller. I purchased my Kenwood KR-7050 receiver there and it’s amazing. I routinely switch back and forth between my new Cambridge AXR-100 receiver and the kenwood…while the WPC are similar they both have their signature sound. Good to have options.
Bought a Integrated power amp from ALLIED RADIO,before it was called Radio Shack. The year was around 65, 66, took it home and shorted it out. The bad part was my dad yelling at me all they way back to the store,to get it fixed. I loved that piece of equipment, like you said, old gear has a cool vibe.
Awesome as always. I guess looking back I was the same. Always needed to tweak the bass n treble on the home pioneer hifi in it’s own cabinet ( the sound of that magnetic door catch🥺 ) loudness always on 😃
Nice! stuff! I recently got a Marantz 2216B-16 watts but is awesome sounding. Had a Sansui back in high school a college, don't remember the model but had around 12watts. Upgraded to a NAD in the late 80s and a Harmon Kardon with 30 watts in the 90s. When that died I got the Marantz.
Totally agree on vintage!!!! My stable consists of Yamaha CA-2010, Yamaha CA-1000, Pioneer SX-450, Pioneer SX-780 and a Dual 1219!!!!. More vintage audio please!!!
I bought mine new in 1984. Still in use and loving it.
All I have is vintage equipment and wouldn’t change a thing, looking forward to your videos.
Remember to ALWAYS check for DC at the speaker terminals BEFORE hooking up unknown vintage gear to your speakers! DC will fry speakers in a second!
Great video, I really enjoyed it. Something to be said about vintage gear, different sound, gorgeous looks and the time and energy spent for the hunt as opposed to buying from Amazon.Tricky and risky? Of course, but a lot of fun.That is how I restarted my "vinyl corner" a year and half ago with a Pioneer SX550, from eBay, and bringing back to life my old Technics DLS2. Awaiting for the "new piece", a Luxman L-215, also from eBay, it should be here next week, wish me luck! More of these videos, please!!!
I was a generation ahead of you with the "System Seven" STA 7. People will complain about how "bad" Radio Shack audio equipment was, but let the specs speak to you: Power output: 10 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo), Frequency response: 15Hz to 30kHz, Total harmonic distortion: 0.5%.
The STA-700 was also my first of many. Great little Stereo, also had the 10 band EQ from realistic looped through tape in/out.😉
Listening to Once Upon a Time in The West by Dire Straits on my vintage (1989ish) Technics rack unit with the 3+’ tall speakers and the satellite JBL Stage 130s…and this vintage system KICKS ASS!
You can feel the thump without a sub-bass and the JBLs add extra zing to the steel guitar. Powerful Magic…and I paid almost 2x for the JBLs than the CraigsList rack unit.
Brilliant, if I may say so myself. So cheap, it could make CAM blush.
I started with a silver face Realistic receiver and 2 Fischer white coned woofers all bought at different yard sales. I was 10yrs old. Wish i could find that setup for nostalgic purpose.
Being 65 our generation is different. In my day, Crown & KLH electrostatics were my dream. But Magnapan became my standard for both listening and performing with CD's. Now, B&W Nautilus are my standard for every style of music there is.
Very cool! Count me in as a fan of Realistic gear too. My first "monster" receiver was an STA-2100D. I got it dead on arrival for a song and dance. Took me a few months to sort the issues and get the necessary boards recapped but it is still going strong and sounds fantastic. Plan on keeping it forever.
Congrats on the find! Pretty cool to own your original gear! I started on a Sony 2 channel receiver. I think it was 40Wx2. No clue the model, should look it up. Wish I still had all my old gear. Would be really cool to listen to it today.
My vintage receiver collection includes: Sansui 881: Harmon Kardon 930 : Yamaha 2020: Marantz 2245 and 2252b: Fisher 400 tube receiver. Plus a few integrated from the same manufacturers. Most are rebuilt. Forgot the Sony 7065A. What do you think?
Vintage Audio just sounds so... smooooooooth love my STR-DB1080 from good ole Sony
Very cool you found the amp you had as a kid. Filled my soul with happiness to hear the story. I had a realistic boom box that was the start of my journey. Had LED VU meters so of course I loved it.
Oh the irony. Had just finished watching another video that had a Technics 5070, Sansui 5000, and a Pioneer SA 9100 which I have had (still have the Pioneer) and then THIS video pops up right after.
Cleaning out my Mother's house after she moved and found this exact Realistic model in the closet powering their bedroom ceiling speakers! Its is now in my garage with an Airport Express and some Dayton Audio B652 Air speakers.
Later found her old receiver packed away, Yamaha CR 600. It gets rotated occasionally in my vintage rack along with the Pioneer SA 9100, a Sansui G-3500, pair of Jenson X-45 bookshelf speakers. Also have a Sansui SD-7000 R2R, plus Technics SL-2200 and Elac Miracord 10H turntables (all need of refresh).
My NAD/SVS TV/surround system or my NAD/Peachtree Audio/KEF systems will eventually go but I plan to always keep my vintage stock!
Excellent video Randy! A lot of us are the same as to how we started the audiophile journey. Good stuff buddy! My first receiver was a Realistic as well, and it was a nice piece, but unfortunately it died on me. When it died I believe that I moved on to Yamaha and then Nad.
The two competing receivers for my 1976 dollars were a Sansui 5050 and a Marantz 2235. Found and bought both of those this year for the vintage collection. :-)
I bought a Harman Kardon 330b at a record store, around 2005. I was hooked on Audio from that day forward! I have found some cool stuff at thrift stores, but pretty rare in my neck of the woods. I like new audio also!!
Who remembers the Realistic Mach series home speakers??!! The biggest baddest speakers of the time!!! Those things could be heard down 2 city blocks!!! I knew a guy in Texas who had a pair in his car!!!!
Also my first real receiver. However, I bought mine on SPIF, when a model is discontinued or being replaced with a new model and has not sold at the first or second reduced price. $34 out the door. She's down in the basement as she's pooed one day while while enjoying a very spirited YES listening session, primarily during The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus). Paired with Optimus 30's and MC1800's (Radio Shack brands for those that don't know), it was a seriously rocking system. I do miss it, but found that it was actually a thin sound compared to what has come after. But yes, Loudness and Bass Boost would make the 10" Op30's shake the walls. I see a time coming soon where I will dig in to fix it.
If you open the unit up, you probably see the AC outlet is just a parallel out. It can probably be modified by adding MOV and actually make it a little surge resistant. The caps and the diode after the transformer rectify and smooth out the current. So a big cap and higher spec diode will help a lot. Have to mention that I resurrected an Marantz SR-1000 for a whole lot less than the 22 series, recapped and also have brought spare IC amp so I assure that unit can run for another 40 yrs ?maybe? It still have the original IC amp and it sounds good so I refrain from swapping it out at the moment. The power diodes are next. May not be a total collector item but vintage Marantz sound is there for sure and the puppy has plenty of head room to push big speakers.
That's a nifty little receiver! I always liked Realistic stuff.
Yes I have the Realistic STA-720 with Optimus Pro LX-4 I still use as a bedroom system. Great stuff!👍
I just started my HiFi Audio addiction. I just bought A Sony TA-333ESX II receiver. Its from the late 1980s. Its got that beautiful blackface and veneer side panels. I'll make a video about it in a few days. I bought it to go with my Sony CDP-591. I live in Japan, so I have access to some great Yahoo Auction stuff. Ultimately, I want to find a Toshiba SA-500 that I grew up with. Something about those machined control knobs, switches, and blue lights I want to see again.
Thanks to this receiver now we have the most entertaining audiophile channel on RUclips.
Awesome vid! Being vintage, I loved this.
The most underrated vintage receivers are HITACHI . Most models are high current and have great sound signature . They were the poor man's Harman Kardon .
I just bought an entry level vintage 1980 AKAI 2X20W integrated amp. it beats e.g. my 2013 6x160W ONKYO AV receiver by miles in the stereo arena. Back in the days AKAI was the equivalent of Realistic imo, but now, I come to really appreciate the brand (at least for the old stuff).
Marantz 2270 receiver, purchased new in early 1970s and sitting on a lower shelf. Horizontal AM/FM tuning dial (which I dislike), weighs a ton, and glows like a runaway atomic pile in the dark (which I do like)!
After Many multi combo unit stereos -- my First *Second hand* was The Pioneer SX-450 -- the 1st real one, I had owned in the Early 1980's . I went through about a dozen or more various units over the years and still have not settled on any one Brand or Set up. Currently using a Sony STR-D615 and Aiwa Bookshelf Speakers for Background musics....
I'm happy tonight because my Radio Shack (Koss) LV20 headphones that I thought we're blown have miraculously come back to life. Don't know how, but I'm happy.
I just love the old realistic stuff. They have made crappy stuff too but i love them. I've went vintage with my power and preamp. Yes vintage accuphase. Got a heck of a deal with both (bought them separately). Poweramp was like new and barely unused. The preamp got recently serviced for about 200$ . My turntable is also a vintage Technics sl 1410. Just love the combination of vintage and modern gear. For the sound and because it's the only way for me to get the accuphase amps.
Pioneer SX 6 and a pair of JBL knocks offs started my journey. Moved to a Proton D940 and a pair of B&W DM 110's and have been spending money ever since, lol.
My new to me vintage reciever arrived yesterday. A Yamaha RX-797.It has the cd direct function like my Yamaha RX-330 that I've owned since new.
I visited my local thrift store a few weeks ago and came across a Realistic receiver. I thought about bringing it home, but left it for someone else to appreciate it.
I started with a Optonica Receiver and a Realistic Tape Deck. Didn't have enough money for speakers, just headphones. One of my first tapes was "Cars Candy-O" ,boy this review brought back some memories, around 1979/80.😎
That Yamaha looks sweet. My brother had a similar pioneer with the weighted tuning knob. I had a technics tt.