Description: A unique offering from 1983 : A great sounding mini-system at a very low price. Radio Shack broke new ground with this tiny "personal" receiver" (10.3" x 2.625" x 6.75") that still delivered a respectable 5 watts per channel RMS at less than 1% distortion. Not quite high-fidelity but definitely a very listenable mid-fi product with the needed inputs and outputs and a surprisingly good tuner. The simplified control layout lacks a tone control but it does feature an EQ switch that shapes its low end response to match the Minimus 7 speakers.. The renowned Realistic Minimus 7 mini-speaker mates perfectly with the Personal Receiver to offer a surprisingly appealing, decent sounding miniature system. A reviewer noted: “Little only in size, not in performance”, was how Realistic described its Minimus-7 "Metal Cabinet Speaker System” back in 1978. In 2021, it’s still surprisingly capable and relevant. The quality is evident. It’s a very well finished product . Sonically, it is what it is. There’s no doubt you’re listening to a tiny, bandwidth-limited transducer, . But it has strengths, and these are mighty. First is its blistering transient speed . You really find yourself listening to the rhythms of the music and enjoying these very acutely, rather than mourning any particular lack of bass extension. This speaker’s other talent is soundstaging; it sounds far bigger than it really is. There’s a really good sense of depth too... the overall result is a fun listen. .. there’s a lot to like about this classic micro monitor that delivers a big sound in a small space – just as its manufacturer claimed, all those years ago…" In 1983, the STA-12/Minimus 7 combination retailed for $ 199. Nothing quite like it before, or since.... A bit of history: The early 1980's began a sea change in consumer audio as the widespread use of integrated circuits and manufacturing outside of Japan led to products with more and more features and, sadly, less and less build quality.Radio Shack's offerings after 1983 clearly reflected this downward trend but from 1980-1983 the Radio Shack/Realistic catalogs were still offering some exceptional products and interesting new approaches to both product designs and styling. Among other things, they followed lead of a some Japanese manufacturers who were experimenting with low profile (under 3" height) components and also other manufacturers who abandoned the "silver era" styling in favor of a new jet-black hi-tech look. The previous success of the low profile Realistic STA-7 and STA-11 receivers and their Minimus 7 metal- enclosed speakers led to Realistic's daring decision to cut the size of the receiver in half, minimize features and create a component new category --- the "personal receiver", offered only in black. Buyers East of Mississippi and North of Florida may receive a refund of excess shipping charges Fully tested by Bedford Vintage Hi-Fi.
Price: 144 USD
Location: Nazareth, Pennsylvania
End Time: 2024-08-25T16:06:14.000Z
Shipping Cost: 26 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money back or replacement (buyer's choice)
Brand: Realistic
Type: AM/FM Personal Receiver / Matched Speakers
Audio Inputs: Aux Input L/R RCA, Magnetic Phono
Color: Black
Model: Realistic STA-12 and Minimus 7
Band: AM/FM
Year Manufactured: 1983
MPN: 31-1965 andf 40-2030C
RMS Power: 5 wpc into 8 ohm
Audio Outputs: Headphone Jack, Raw Cable Speaker Jacks, Tape Output (RCA)