Realistic STA 90

[@stevewallace7397]

Great review! If the STA-90 didn't win any awards, it should have.😎 I have a 1976 model, and you're correct, the "Perfect Loudness" circuitry can be overwhelming at volume although I use it often at low volume to fatten up the end result. I've come to really appreciate this feature. All in all, one of the best bang for your buck recievers out there. Made in Japan by Foster Electronics (later Fostex). A true "sleeper".

[@TheShackGuy]

Perfect Loudness was a variable loudness circuit found on Realistic integrated amps SA-2000 and 2001. It didn't appear in any receivers. The STA-90 was made by Foster Electric. Fostex was a brand name of Foster's, unrelated to stereo receivers.

[@richardkeyes5844]

Q-VOX is "QUATRAVOX". The gimmicky name Radio Shack called that feature when they built the STA-90. It was also featured in some of their other models in that era. I owned a Realistic STA-1000 amp with that same feature back then.

[@pathfinderdiscovery9395]

I just got one Thursday 5/16/2024 , 100 bucks an it’s mint to my eyes , all component connections work great , put a new fm antenna on it an with in few hours all fm stations I picked up were great sounding , I live in a valley like area an trees all round thick wood an sometimes I have some stations not being picked up , but for what is is an era from , I’ve got a great piece , an it goes along with it set of period correct 3 way 8”woofer relistic mid size speakers an they have a low normal an high switch at area of speaker connections , an they work perfect .

[@mjg263]

I had one of these and I always thought it was such a nicely designed receiver (especially liked that it didn’t have those goofy volume slider controls). Unfortunately the FM section on mine had a problem and even when connected to my roof antenna it would only pick up a couple of strong stations. I ended up selling it to someone who didn’t care about FM, they just wanted a good amp that looked nice so they were happy with it. Never did figure out what was wrong with it but I bet they have a great tuner when working properly.

[@mikewater1958]

I got mine in 1976. I think I got it on sale for $259

[@johnbeckham1483]

Radio Shack, Division of the Tandy Corporation, made quality AM/FM STEREO RECEIVERS! THIS STA-90 is indeed a GOOD LOOKER!

[@jeppoification]

What are the rca outputs in between the front and rear speaker outputs? I assume it's for QVOX as shown but how do you set up your speakers? Do you setup front speakers as normal and rear speakers with rca connections to get QVOX sound or how does it work???

[@MyAudiostuff]

The rca outputs are simply an alternative speaker hookup for the main speakers. The Quadravox is available through the regular speaker hookups and will be noticeable on the rear speakers when the circuit is engaged.

[@TheVintageNewbie]

How can you tell what year it’s from?

[@TheVintageNewbie]

Gotcha, I was trying to figure out if I had Perfect Loudness or just regular Loudness. My system doesn’t seem to be “unlistenable” but I keep the volume fairly low, on 1 or 2 is pretty loud and it sounds really good (connected to a pair of JBL S26ii bookshelf speakers). And at high volume I probably wouldn’t have the Loudness button pushed in anyway. I just wasn’t sure if there was a serial number or some kind of marking either internally or externally to tell if I have a 76-77 model or a 78-79 model. Great video. I love my STA-90 and listen to it almost daily!

[@gurutimes2]

because he looked in the catalog lol lol

[@TheShackGuy]

There is a date code on the bottom, month, the letter A, then the year. So 6A7 would be June of 1977. Since these were made by Foster Electric, they used a date code in the serial number that was the reverse of the Radio Shack mandated date code. So if the serial number started with 603, the unit was manufactured in March of 1976. It looks like the receiver in the video was manufactured in August of 1977 based on the serial # beginning with 708.

[@TheVintageNewbie]

@@TheShackGuy cool, thanks! Looks like mine was made in May of 1976 then. Hopefully that was a good time at the factory!

[@MichaelMichele-kq9ov]

Sta95 even better look. 45wpc good enuff.

[@gurutimes2]

quatravox

[@quickturn66]

For having an audio channel your audio is terrible, low volume and bad range. Just saying.