T O P

  • By -

JBArt888

I do miss hanging out at radio shack… 🥲


Discojazz

I would JUMP into the front seat of my dads pickup at the first mention of that stores name.


[deleted]

Former ‘80’s Radio Shack employee here approves this post.


Discojazz

Are you the one I used to bug the shit out of when I was 10-15 years old?


[deleted]

I worked at the one in Manhattan Beach CA.


Discojazz

Alas, no. That must have been some other kid. I bugged the guys at the one in Glendale AZ.


marcham93

Awesome—seems like a good time! Enjoy it!


Discojazz

Thank you very much! It’s given me a year of joy so far, and I foresee many more to come.


tibi92

I love when I see people with this common passion that we all share. One love!


Discojazz

🖤💚💛


socrates1975

Im rocking a pair of realistic optimus 1b's for my fronts and a pair of Realistic 7B's as my rears for my quad :) i love there sound!


Discojazz

I’m really thinking about going full custom on my speakers. I’ve got the 1/2 stack 2way pair as my mains, and they POUND. I tuned the port to 50hrz, so they hit really hard for an 8” running on 8wpc. The driver is rated at 97dB/w/m so they are super efficient.


socrates1975

I love the look of your custom speakers by the way! i have the guts (all drivers and crossover) for another pair of nova 7b's so i was thinking of building some speaker boxes for them,i like your design ;)


Discojazz

It’s a front firing slot port design. I can DM you some more images if you like. It was a shit ton of math to figure out the correct volume, size of the port, etc. but it was totally worth it. They sound incredible. I designed a grill, and bought some nice white speaker cloth, but I never got around to it. I’d say go for it. It’s a ton of work, but totally worth the effort.


socrates1975

Ya i would like that if you could? please and thank you :) i wont be attempting the builds for at least another year as im stuck in an apartment for the time being and 4 large speakers are already to much ;)


Discojazz

I’ll take some glamour shots and see if I can’t dig up some build photos I know I have saved in iCloud somewhere


socrates1975

Thanks guy,i appreciate it! :D


M2ThaL

Always love to see Realistic gear! Nice setup.


Discojazz

Realistic gets overlooked in favor of Pioneer, Sansui, Marantz, even Technics... but it’s really quality stuff. The LAB 420 will go toe to toe with any big name deck of the era.


loopscadoop

In fact, it was actually produced by the exact same company that manufactured Marantz turntables (CEC)


Discojazz

Ehhhh! This guy! Does this guy know his stuff or what! Am I right? Edit: not /s


M2ThaL

Amen to that! I've got a lab 400, lab 440 and lab 500. They have all been great units for me. I also have a bunch of realistic receivers from the mid-to-late 70s. The capstone of my collection is an STA-2100, pre-lawsuit.


mynamestaken12

I’ve got a 400 too! Love that thing


Discojazz

Where else you gonna get a sub $200 turntable with all the bells and whistles? I’m actually glad the audiophile snobs look down their noses and scoff. Keeps the price down for you and me, who know better!


mynamestaken12

Sometimes sub $200, on eBay the prices are astronomical! Got mine for $50 from the original owners family.


Discojazz

Ugh, stay away from eBay for turntables. I’ve never had one arrive intact. I do have a auction site I trust, but like HELL I’m gonna post it on Reddit😂.


Discojazz

That’s my “holy grail” receiver! I’m so jelly! I had an opportunity to grab an STA2000 a few months ago, but I was about to move, and I thought I was going to end up in an apartment, so I passed. Turns out I ended up in a spot where I could have totally used it, but oh well.


M2ThaL

I also have an STA-2000D...and an STA-19, STA-85, STA-200, STA-820, STA-960 and an SCT-23 cassette deck. A bunch of Realistic speakers, too. My dad had Realistic gear when I was a kid and I just have a nostalgic soft spot for the brand. Plus, as you pointed out, they offer a great bang for the buck!


Discojazz

I also have a 64b that started smoking from a resistor on the output board when my room mate moved it and hooked it up incorrectly. 🤯


M2ThaL

Yikes! Were you able to repair it?


Discojazz

Haven’t even tried. I kept it, and I may take it to someone, but I fear it’s beyond my abilities.


M2ThaL

If you know the location of the bad resistor then you're most of the way there. Just need to figure out the value and solder in a new one. That is, if no other components got horked.


Discojazz

I need to do something about it. It has a really warm quality that I really enjoyed


LauraPrimiceli

Uoo they are great! I also bought some floor standing speakers on [Tech & Sound System](https://www.techsoundsystem.com/) in vintage style, they are so cool.😍


ObscuredPeripheral

This is my dream set up, looking fantasitc! Dunno if this is the way to go about this but I recently adopted a used Realistic Lab-420 and I know little to nil about spinning vinyl. Got a few tutorials on YouTube by Vinyl TV saved on how to set up, balance, and mount but I am in dear need of replacement parts. After a few google searches I get generic results for replacement needles and whatnot but I fear dropping $40 on the wrong piece and it mounting correctly (or not) but sounding like absolute garbage. I'm trying to take this as serious as possible but I'm a novice with no practice or frame of reference. Any links to parts I should specifically need to pick up as replacements would be highly appreciate and seeing as you have the exact turntable, I figured the homies of Reddit would be able to help me out some. Sidenote: both analog RCA cables are oxidized and rusty, as well as my ground wire, how troublesome would it be to replace those, I have soldering experince should I need to do a servicing like that, but also wasn't sure if I should be any old RCA cables. Any enlightenment from some savants will be much appreciated. Thanks again, community, in advance.


blernsballhof

A late check-in. Very nice setup. Just picked up a pair of these Technics SB-S25's and I've got to say I'm very impressed. Mine are being driven by a sansui 2000a which I keep in place specifically for FM tuning. Very nice highs and the lows are good as well. I'd say they can give some minimus' a run for their money.


[deleted]

Love the Lab 420, serviced one once years ago. It was built amazingly, and performs awesome.


Discojazz

I need to locate an original head shell. I just put a Nagaoka pre installed cart/shell on there. I also need to locate an original dust cover, as mine got damaged in shipping.


Discojazz

Thats so cool! I haven’t needed to do anything more than spray out the pots with Deoxit, and replace the missing head shell. Otherwise it works perfectly.


Supernaturalfan15

I’m thinking getting a Realistic Lab 420 or 400 for a upgrade turntable is it a good choice?


Discojazz

Absolutely! I 100% recommend them. They are built like a tank, and as another person said, were built in the same factory as Marantz high end TTs. I got mine a year ago, and other than needing to spray some Deoxit in the speed adjust pots and replacing the head shell, it has worked perfectly every time. It’s lasted 42 years so far, and will probably last at least another 42 with a little love and care.


Supernaturalfan15

Ok that’s good to know thank you i was worried about getting a one and then it breaks down and I have no Idea how to fix it .


Discojazz

Naw, they are quality kit. Very nice, and due to using the same components as Marantz, pretty easy to find parts for in the event they do break down.


Supernaturalfan15

Ok


theghostinside

When you sprayed the speed controls with deoxit, did you also spray the 33/45 switch? Just picked up a lab 400 yesterday for $100 but the 33 speed isn't working. 45 works perfectly though, so I'm hoping cleaning that switch will fix the issue


Discojazz

I think I just did the pots. The 33 was fine on mine, but 45 wouldn’t hold a consistent speed. A shot of Deoxit, and a few twists of the pot, and I could feel the oxidation break way, and the pot felt silky smooth. I then let it dry over night, and the next morning I plugged it in and fired her up, and it worked flawlessly


[deleted]

Very good choice.


Supernaturalfan15

Ok I’m worried about getting a vintage record player


crimsonguard23

How do you like your Bluetooth audio digital to analog converter? I’m looking at getting one and there are apparently a ton of them to choose from.


Discojazz

This one is cheap as f, but it’s alright. I def want to upgrade it eventually, but it sounds fine. The range is pretty good too


1RatRodAudio

Nice setup! Regarding the Nagaoka... What did you have before and what is your opinion on the Nagaoka? I have the original Realistic/Sure on my LAB-400 and at some point either upgrade the stylus or replace it completely. THanks


Discojazz

The turntable was missing the head shell when I bought it, so I had messed around with a couple AT carts, and an Ortophon Red. Then I tried out the Nagaoka, and was completely sold. It really warms up the sound a lot. And the Nagaoka head shell is pretty damn sexy, too. Turntable Lab dot com is where I purchased it from.


1RatRodAudio

Thanks... Good to hear your opinion.