The Realistic STA-77 AM/FM Stereo Receiver: Very Reliable!

[@fabriciocaldas5235]

Hello, I have a realistic receiver STA-84. I also like to use the record player so I keep it in the half basement where it doesn’t bounce when i dance and clean :) Unfortunately, the radio signal isn’t very good here, is there an amplifier or booster I can install . I can send pictures of the back Please help Thank you in advance wether or not you can help

[@AudioThrift]

Hi. I believe the most common solution to that would be to put an antenna somewhere above the ground, outside or upstairs, and just run a regular coaxial cable from antenna to the amp. A lot of the user manuals I see suggest that. Maybe someone else has a different solution? I pinned your comment to see if anyone else has an idea.

[@fabriciocaldas5235]

THANK YOU

[@Zimmy_1981]

@@AudioThrift correct. Just to add (newly subbed, loved the outro message, glad to see someone gets it): Ideally, an arial (sp?) antenna on he roof. I have had success with "rabbit ears" antennas before, very cheap and can be adjusted many ways for the best reception. I hope I helped. Happy listening!

[@brunoprimas1483]

I've had the 65C, 77A, 430, 82, 90, and 820. I've repaired a 2080. EVERY one of these receivers was excellent.

[@AudioThrift]

And they look good!

[@CivilDefenceCanada]

Thank you for the end bit on people who try to gatekeep retro audio. Not all of us can afford top shelf products and some of us don't want to use them. If you like it, collect and use it. Great video as always!

[@AudioThrift]

Thank you. I want everyone to feel included. :)

[@Zimmy_1981]

that got me to sub TBH (no saying the other content isn't sub worthy by any means)

[@peacearchwa5103]

In 1969, engineer David Hafler of Dynaco developed the synthesized four-channel playback system known as Dynaquad. In the industry, this was known as the Hafler circuit, and that's what Realistic used in this receiver as Quatravox (Q-Vox). A few other manufacturers offered Hafler-type synthesized surround sound in some receivers and all-in-one stereos: Sherwood, Superscope and Zenith come to mind.

[@AudioThrift]

Neat! Thanks for the info.

[@TheShackGuy]

Excellent low/medium powered receiver made by Radio Shack's Tandy Electronics in Japan (early) and their new plant in Massan, South Korea. They even OEM'd a more powerful version of this model called the Cambridge Audio CR2500 for Tech HiFi.

[@AudioThrift]

That's pretty cool looking. It's clear that it's the same company though with the buttons and knobs being the same. Neat!

[@Zimmy_1981]

nice receiver ,I didn't expect it to sound so good. That needle light thing is bad @$$! I love the little black bands around the one & balance dials

[@AudioThrift]

Thanks. Yeah, that little light is absolutely my favorite part!

[@Zimmy_1981]

@@AudioThrift lol mine too. You're welcome

[@TorontoJon]

Realistic made some gorgeous receivers like that STA-77 and I'm speculating that they will become more popular. Just as there has been renewed interest in CD's due to new pressings of vinyl records often being very expensive, especially for new collectors, I think vintage equipment by Realistic that have similar design cues to vintage amplifiers/receivers by Marantz, Yamaha, Pioneer, etc. will become more popular considering how Marantz receivers (like the 2270 unit I bought a few years ago) are becoming priced into the stratosphere.

[@AudioThrift]

What's weird to me is that most of the Realistic stuff I find is in more or less perfect shape except for some minor stuff, where as every Marantz thing I've ever bought (8 or 9 of them over the last couple years) have been completely ruined. It's weird... and upsetting because I want something from Marantz.

[@stephenmorrissey1254]

Best video to date. I appreciate you slowing down a bit and giving a bit more detail to this piece.

[@pervertedalchemist9944]

Despite their close association with Radio Shack, I rarely hear anything bad about Realistic receivers.

[@johnnytacokleinschmidt515]

Realistic and Radio Shack are synonymous. And that's not a bad thing. We Ratshack guys don't mind at all!

[@AudioThrift]

Yeah, I've had almost universally good luck with Realistic products in terms of them working when I buy them second hand. Same for Technics/Panasonic.

[@RobCamp-rmc_0]

Radio Shack was once a very good store/brand, before it turned into an outlet for cheap cell phones and batteries, then died altogether

[@DaveFormulaGTO]

This is a great video. First time finding your channel. Will be back. Came her via searching for this model as I am going to look at one today that is bundled with a bunch of other stuff rhat no one seems to be paying attention to.

[@AudioThrift]

Thank you!! Hopefully the other stuff is cool too!

[@douglashoff95]

Q-Vox was the same as Dynaco's Dynaquad (r) system which was included in the Dynaco SCA80Q and QD-1 Quadapter (r). I believe this receiver may have been made by Sherwood as they used the Dynaco system under license.

[@fabriciocaldas5235]

Will this work as an antenna Monster Just Hook It Up FM Dipole Antenna 1 pk.

[@GeirRssaak]

Have you ever listened to the Tandberg receivers from this period?

[@AudioThrift]

No... I'd love to though. Recently I've been seeing a lot of Pioneer stuff lately but not Tandberg. The thrift/estate sale market seems to favor single brands for a few months at a time around here. No idea why.

[@jameslaidler2152]

If you can, try to get your hands on some B&W loudspeakers. The DM-220 and DM-330 models are very interesting and not too unattainable, even for me way out here in Aus. Already got two sets of 220s here. The two 8 inch drivers are die-cast zinc frames, with a nice 1 inch dome tweeter with a MASSIVE magnet. Something to look out for.

[@AudioThrift]

That sounds really cool. Hopefully someone will have that at an estate sale down here… :)

[@jameslaidler2152]

@@AudioThrift Another model to look out for is the DM-110s. Ported, one midbass driver and one tweeter. Both use the BZ-200 driver, though the 220s use a 16 ohm version wired in parallel, and the 110s use the 8 ohm version.

[@12peterroy]

I have a pair of DM 570’s that sound pretty nice as well.

[@TorontoJon]

Ironically, I had my eye on a presumed-working Realistic STA-77 AM/FM stereo receiver being sold by a local online auction house with that auction ending today, but I'd had some recent bad experiences buying other presumed-working receivers, turntables, and 8-track players from the same auction house, so I didn't bother to bid for it. In the end, it sold for a final bid of $75 Canadian not including a 20% buyer's premium and 13% tax added to that ($101.70 in total). Hopefully, the new owner will have a perfectly working unit to enjoy. :)

[@GeirRssaak]

Which japanese amp was it based on?

[@AudioThrift]

I don't know if it was based on another amp. I haven't seen or read that indicated anywhere.

[@TheShackGuy]

It was designed and built by Tandy Electronics. Radio Shack had their own design team in Japan for these.

[@adrienneblazo6798]

My preamp doesn’t work. Where is it in the box.

[@AudioThrift]

I don't know... if anyone else reading this knows, please help.

[@RobCamp-rmc_0]

Well _someone_ has been studying his Silmarillion …I need to read it someday, if only to get into the rich meme culture

[@AudioThrift]

It's not the easiest read, I'll be honest... but it's satisfying if you're into that type of thing.

[@RobCamp-rmc_0]

@@AudioThrift Yeah, I’ve heard as much, and my head is filled with sawdust from literal decades of anxiety/depression that I’ve just now really got a handle on; but I just wanna soldier my way through it because damn there’s so much world-building, and it’s all just because this guy was _really_ into languages. Wild, I effin’ love it.

[@corywatch]

You look handsome without a hat

[@AudioThrift]

Yoo look handsome all the time. I'm trying to keep up.

[@corywatch]

Also, in the words of my friend Bart Simpson, eat my shorts man

[@robertdavis5714]

$250 in 1976 was quite a bit of cash back then, trust me I was there, Pioneer, Kenwood, Marantz were push $400. You could buy a brand new Chevrolet Camaro for about $3500.

[@AudioThrift]

Oh, I believe it. When I type those prices into an inflation calculator, it makes my head spin to imagine spending that much on a piece of stereo equipment... my mortgage is less than most of this stuff used to cost.