Realistic Optimus X-100 speaker, 1978, 'the Swan?'

The REALISTIC STA-2000 dates to 1976 in the USA with its first Cat No. 40-2024 Mach One speakers. In Europe it got the scaled down Optimus X-100 in 1978, after just one year of the Optimus X-30, when the Technics SU-Z2 amplifier appeared, shown here with the receiver tuner powering the Technics, that is driving the Optimus X-100. No tone boost or Loudness is applied. It is certain that all old audio needs some upgrading to get closer to its original sonic tonal quality. The distortions through age are a sum of the parts...

REALISTIC USA product line catalogs at:- http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalog_directory.html

Realistic Optimus X-100 Ebay guide:- http://reviews.ebay.com/REALISTIC-OPTIMUS-X-and-Mach-speakers-flirt-with-horn...

Guide to 1960s/ 70s Receivers:- http://rateyourmusic.com/list/PROGROCKASAURUS/rock_your_world_with_vintage_hi...

Other glossy Japanese receivers:- http://hifi-love.comxa.com/1_9_tuners-receivers.html

Best Realistic receivers:- http://reviews.ebay.com/Carver-MXR-150-or-REALISTIC-receivers-worth-consideri...

1970s Radio Shack 'spare part' speakers in a custom builder's den, including his treasured Estes rocket collection and don't miss 'the eight dollar woofer':- http://www.rocketroberts.com/stereo/stereo.htm

Concept 12.0D, 120 wpc:- http://www.audiofilek.pl/index.php/forum?func=view&id=1012&catid=15

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Technics SU-Z2 amplifier
• Audiophile
• Hi-Fi
• 'The Swan'
• Stereo
• receiver
• tuner amplifier
• FM stereo
• analog radio
• nostalgia

[kaylaone2008]

hi very nice set up, question i was woundering if you would know how i could get a set of those, iv been trying to get a set of x-100s for many years now. i recently own a set of mach ones the 4024a. if wanting to sell i would be very interested in both the receiver and the x-100s any coments please feel free to e-mail me a kaash3082@yahoo.com thank p.s. i dont care what other people say there is nothing out there like a realistic

[keplermission]

@kaylaone2008, you know it's hard to think of any audio set liked better than the STA-2000 and Optimus X-100, but in the catalog 'the Shack' only calls them 'Good'! To get 'Better' we hook up the X-200 and STA-2100 but X-200 are so rare, a few folks must be wondering if they ever will! The SONY ST5950SD tuner and TA-F7 V-FET amplifier give a similar amazing sound. With original Japanese speakers so essential for effects, unique looks of Realistic speakers make them relatively easy to find! ;)

[natskiman]

my first ,stereo,1978,sta-2000,pair of mach ones,$800 and free turntable,burnaby bc canada,most everyone poo poo radio shack yet,its the best bang 4 the buck at that time a reciever could run $800.If you just dont like the name,whatever.if you owned the speakers you understand,12 inch horn,ferro cooled tweeter,and the bass was most over the top,sound, so whats important ?,not the name.if you dont like the mach one you have never owned a pair,,it aint a chevy vs ford thing.its in the ear.

[keplermission]

@natskiman yea well just thought I'd say, all things considered, your channel and all profile comments ... Realistic Mach One never had a ferrofluid cooled tweeter in 1978, that came along in 1982 when they brought out a higher powered foam edge Mach One and both must've had nearer a 16 inch horn! As for 'best bang 4 the buck' in Burnaby BC, being a Realistic receiver we got to think 'multipath interference', all those trees sure suggest Bob Carver's MXR 150 Asymmetrical Detector has better FM!

[olds442hurst]

i had a set of 40-4029 second gen liquid cooled they were the best speakers i ever had i miss them so.

[keplermission]

@olds442hurst - yea, thanks, it was the workmanship, what a product they were! Today those who never knew what we saw back then, the experience of it all, can be forgiven for not giving a second glance, but the first Mach Ones were truly like disco speakers, in the power they made outside the store! Not heard a pair recently, could be the magnets have lost something, though ceramic are meant to stay new, not all of them do. 40-4029 were for the STA-2290 receiver, real nice piece at the time!

[MrMobsta55]

iv got a pair of these and the oroginal sta 2080 and a tapedec

[natskiman]

@keplermission , yes,thanks 4 wake up,you is right,wow, 16 inches, Canada had major mark up on electronics,home audio was expensive and not a lot of Audio stores,my time alignment was out ,maybe late 81,The Mach one has such major bass,n mids,Vancouver only had CKLG FM ,the only adult underground rock station,in STEREO ,ya needed cable to get the better Seattle stations.After 30 years i hope time is more forgiving of realistic audio products.

[olds442hurst]

oooohhh sweeet first gen 40-4024 mach ones!!!!!