Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
OK. What’s it like listening to an unrestored receiver from the year I was born?
Well, here’s the Realistic STA120B 40WPC receiver from 1973. This was an improvement over the STA-120 (without the “B”) which was 30WPC.
Ground rules: Fight me all you want but Radio Shack did it right. You can disagree, that’s fine, but I’m right. Fight with facts please!
Quite impressed how well this old guy works. Bought on eBay during covid for a good deal as I recall.
All original. Rather clean and all lamps still work. Service manual does not have bias or DC offset settings so the amp is likely off spec.
FM is sensitive and tunes in stereo - stations are dead on as the meters show.
It’s going to be my powerhouse tonight. It might not be shaking the walls too much but my wife has not come down to turn it down so might be a good thing.
In all seriousness, it’s quite powerful for its age and it sounds great.
OK. What’s it like listening to an unrestored receiver from the year I was born?
Well, here’s the Realistic STA120B 40WPC receiver from 1973. This was an improvement over the STA-120 (without the “B”) which was 30WPC.
Ground rules: Fight me all you want but Radio Shack did it right. You can disagree, that’s fine, but I’m right. Fight with facts please!
Quite impressed how well this old guy works. Bought on eBay during covid for a good deal as I recall.
All original. Rather clean and all lamps still work. Service manual does not have bias or DC offset settings so the amp is likely off spec.
FM is sensitive and tunes in stereo - stations are dead on as the meters show.
It’s going to be my powerhouse tonight. It might not be shaking the walls too much but my wife has not come down to turn it down so might be a good thing.
In all seriousness, it’s quite powerful for its age and it sounds great.
