Realistic was Radio Shack’s own brand of audio and radio gear. Radio Shack, founded in Boston in 1921, launched the line in the mid-1950s, and Realistic gear was sold across Canada through Radio Shack stores. We carry Realistic stereo receivers, bookshelf speakers, turntables and equalizers. We’ve had more than 30 Realistic listings so far. Every used Realistic here is inspected, tested and serviced as required, then photographed in-house and covered by our Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty and Perpetual Trade-Back Program. Don’t see the model you want? Tell us on First Dibs and we’ll email you when one arrives.
The Realistic models we’ve sold most often include the Minimus-7 bookshelf speakers and the STA-720 and STA-2250 stereo receivers.
The Realistic story
Radio Shack began in Boston in 1921 as a store and mail-order business for radio amateurs. In 1954 Harman Kardon proposed a private-label audio line for it called Realist. The Realist camera company objected, so the line became Realistic, and Harman Kardon built its first FM tuner.
Tandy and the stereo years. Tandy Corporation took over Radio Shack in 1963 and grew it to thousands of stores across the US and Canada. Realistic covered everything from STA receivers and quadraphonic QTA receivers to LAB turntables, cassette decks and the little Minimus-7 speaker.
Who built it. Realistic products were built to Radio Shack’s specifications, some in Tandy’s own plants and many by outside suppliers in Asia, so the maker varies by model and year. Radio Shack phased out the Realistic name in the 1990s in favour of Optimus.
Which Realistic is which?
STA stereo receivers: from budget models such as the STA-16 and STA-21 to the 75-watt STA-2000 of 1977 and the STA-2270 of 1985.
Quadraphonic QTA receivers (mid-1970s): such as the QTA-770, with SQ, CD-4 and Radio Shack’s own Quatravox modes.
Amplifiers and tuners: such as the SA-1000A and SA-2000 amplifiers and the TM-1000 tuner of 1977.
Turntables: the belt-drive LAB-50 to LAB-300, the direct-drive LAB-400, and Realistic/Miracord automatics.
Speakers: the Minimus-7 and Minimus-5 bookshelf speakers and the Mach One.
Optimus era (1990s): models such as the Optimus STA-20 receiver.
Buying used Realistic: what to check
Who made it. Realistic gear came from many suppliers, so service information and parts depend on the actual maker. Check the label and the service manual.
Quadraphonic receivers. High Fidelity found the QTA-770’s distortion rose toward the frequency extremes, so test one in stereo at the volume you’ll use.
Minimus-7. It needs roughly 30 to 50 watts and has little bass on its own, so pair it with a subwoofer. Enthusiasts say a crossover capacitor upgrade can make a big difference.
Age. Test every input and switch, inspect speaker surrounds, and check turntable belts and automatic mechanisms.
Everything we list is inspected, tested and serviced as required here, and comes with our warranty.
Realistic Minimus-5 Speakers, Pair – Vintage, Real Wood Veneer
A vintage pair of Realistic Minimus-5 two-way bookshelf speakers from Radio Shack, in a warm brown real wood veneer, with horn tweeters, fully tested on our bench and in very good condition.
✔️ Very good condition — free of significant marks
✔️ Real wood veneer, with rigid grilles over the woofers
✔️ Two ways in: small binding posts and an RCA-type speaker-level jack
✔️ Covered by Radique Warranty
✔️ Includes Perpetual Trade-Back Program eligibility
✔️ Expertly packed for safe shipping
Realistic STA-20 Compact AM/FM Stereo Receiver – 5 WPC, Serviced
Radio Shack's smallest AM/FM stereo receiver of the 1990s, the Realistic STA-20: 5 watts per channel, a rear EQ switch made for mini-speakers, a phono input and a front jack for a phone.
✔️ Serviced on our bench to our Level 1 standard
✔️ Very good condition
✔️ Covered by Radique Warranty
✔️ Includes Perpetual Trade-Back Program eligibility
✔️ Expertly packed for safe shipping
Realistic Optimus-21 Speakers, Pair — Walnut, Serviced, Japan
A pair of Realistic Optimus-21s, fully gone through, in their original oiled walnut veneer.
✔️ Covered by Radique Warranty
✔️ Includes Perpetual Trade-Back Program eligibility
✔️ Expertly packed for safe shipping
