Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Realistic STA-2700 from 1987. 100WPC. Made by Foster electronics for “classic” Radio Shack.
This is an incremental upgrade from the STA 2600 and features a feather touch volume control as well as a remote control, which I do not have. I prefer the look of the 2600 over this.
I acquired this a while back, maybe three years ago with the purchase of another Realistic receiver. Always had troubles with it turning on, and that usually involved unplugging and plugging the power cord in multiple times and eventually it would engage. Once turned on, it would perform just fine for hours.
Finally got around to recapping the power supply and also finding a bad diode right near the 12 V standby circuit. All the receivers from this era, overheated and have bad caps in the power supply.
Excellent bass, midrange, and treble gain. Also has high filter model switch, and low cut if you’re connected to a turntable.
Unfortunately this restoration did not get fully recorded, I started after replacing the capacitors.
So the initial demo here is of the unit working, if you hang tight, you can see the progression of the diode replacement.
Side note, I listen to a very very wide array of music and Connie Francis is in the spotlight as of May 2025. This particular song has gone viral all over social media and I’m really happy she’s having the recognition 63 years later with the younger generations. Very good to see the appreciation of what I grew up calling “oldies”.
Happy Memorial Day everyone!
Realistic STA-2700 from 1987. 100WPC. Made by Foster electronics for “classic” Radio Shack.
This is an incremental upgrade from the STA 2600 and features a feather touch volume control as well as a remote control, which I do not have. I prefer the look of the 2600 over this.
I acquired this a while back, maybe three years ago with the purchase of another Realistic receiver. Always had troubles with it turning on, and that usually involved unplugging and plugging the power cord in multiple times and eventually it would engage. Once turned on, it would perform just fine for hours.
Finally got around to recapping the power supply and also finding a bad diode right near the 12 V standby circuit. All the receivers from this era, overheated and have bad caps in the power supply.
Excellent bass, midrange, and treble gain. Also has high filter model switch, and low cut if you’re connected to a turntable.
Unfortunately this restoration did not get fully recorded, I started after replacing the capacitors.
So the initial demo here is of the unit working, if you hang tight, you can see the progression of the diode replacement.
Side note, I listen to a very very wide array of music and Connie Francis is in the spotlight as of May 2025. This particular song has gone viral all over social media and I’m really happy she’s having the recognition 63 years later with the younger generations. Very good to see the appreciation of what I grew up calling “oldies”.
Happy Memorial Day everyone!
