I remember from days gone by that Optimus (Realistic/Radio Shack) had a few good speaker offerings and also a bunch of duds. I don't know the model number of this one, but I'm hoping someone will recognize it by the picture and give their thoughts on if it's good, bad, or ugly. Worth $5, $50? Thanks.

103867

I remember from days gone by that Optimus (Realistic/Radio Shack) had a few good speaker offerings and also a bunch of duds. I don't know the model number of this one, but I'm hoping someone will recognize it by the picture and give their thoughts on if it's good, bad, or ugly. Worth $5, $50? Thanks.

103867

That looks like a piezo tweeter - not a good sign. It's certainly not one of the ever-desirable Mach Ones, Mach Twos, Minimus 7ps, or LX- series.

I don't recognize it but the model number is usually located on the terminal strip where you connect the speaker wires. Look for something that starts with 40-XXXX . The number can be a hint as to it's approximate age. If you post that number I can look through catalogs to see if I have a catalog page to post for you.

Is that not a horn? Very cool. That one has to predate my experience with Radio Shack. I can recognize anything from 5th grade on. Ha.

The mid looks interesting as does the woofer. Are those rubber surrounds?

Radio Shack had a speaker multiple-personality disorder back then. They copied successful design approaches of others. There are some real sleepers. Hard to see, but those look like a decent effort to me. Not junk.

Someone will recognize them soon...

Looks like the Optimus 660 from 1993.

If it's the 660 here are the specs:

http://support.radioshack.com/support_audio/doc33/33539.htm

Optimus-660 Speaker System
(400-1102) Specifications Faxback Doc. # 33539

Frequency Response:......................................... ..55-20,000 Hz
Power Handling Capacity:......................................... 100 Watts
Sensitivity:...................................... ......90 dB SPL at 1W/1M
Impedance:........................................ ..................8 Ohms
System Resonance:........................................ ............60 Hz
Speaker Components:...................10" (25.4 cm) High-Compliance Woofer
5" (12.7 cm) Midrange
2" (5.1 cm) x 5" (12.7 cm) Piezo Horn Tweeter
Enclosure:...................................Tuned Port/Bass Reflex Design
Removable Grille
Dimensions:................................25 5/8 x 12 1/4 x 9 5/8 " (HWD)
65.1 x 31.1 24.5 cm (HWD)
Weight:........................................... ........30 lbs (13.6 kg)




As a rule, the Realistic/Optimus brand usually sound better than their sale value.

So tell us how it sounds.

Ugh, I had a pair of Cannon speakers a long time ago, and I made the worst mistake of my life; I was in a listening room at the Sound Of Music (now Best Buy), and the Cannons sounded better that the a/d/s L710's, so I bought the Cannons. They sounded like crap, and guess what? They had a horn tweeter! I am not saying that a horn tweeter is an entirely bad thing, but the only time that you can enjoy a horn tweeter is when it is a a low volume-like a little bit above backround music. Anything louder than that, and you're ears will start to bleed (just kidding). I find that they are one of the most inaccurate tweeters ever. If you want a good pair of tweeters, look at a/d/s, Morel (if you're into just tweeters-that is all they make), later 70's to early 80's Infinity, the original Advents, Ohm Acoustics (Walsh Series), or Epicure. I have found that dome tweeters, including the inverted ones tend to have a fairly good, if not excellent, sound reproduction. I am also not a fan of Bose speakers, with their phenolic ring tweeters-turning them up causes them to get really brittle sounding (I replaced my tweets with Morel-custom design), and I utterly despise Pioneer speakers-the cabinets are WAY too small for the type of drivers that they use. Plus, why would you put the woofer in the middle of the speaker, and have the port near the bottom? What sense does that make?


All right, I think that it is time that I get off my soapbox and move down the line. Personally, if I had the money, I'd own a set of Magnepan speakers-the Maggies have always been my favorite!



Regards,
Jason

Hey, some great info - thanks gang. I can't tell you how they sound 'cuz they sold before I could get there.

I guess they came well AFTER 5th grade! Those looked older to me, the grille looked like wood or particle board. ???. No wonder I did not recognize.

but the only time that you can enjoy a horn tweeter is when it is a a low volume-like a little bit above backround music.

You might want to check out any band touring these days. They will all be using horn loaded tweeters. I'm pretty sure Van Halen plays well above background music level.

Badly designed/implemented horn tweeters can draw blood. Good ones can sound fantastic. Try out some Klipsch. They had/have a pretty good handle on the technology.

Ray

What he said. It's the piezo driver, not the shape of the outlet, that's the problem here.

Look for a pair of Optimus T-100's or their larger brothers if you want a good Radioshack floorstander.

I have a different experience with horns.

I have a pair of Cannon TLS 1232. They sounded great when I auditioned them and they did not all of sudden go Mr. Hyde on me when I brought them home.

Great for jazz and rock. Nice smooth highs and detail. And they rock with the West Coast sound. Guitars sound and ring like steel strings.

What sold me was Chuck Mangione's Land of Make Believe with Esther Satterfield vocals that sent a chill and smile on my face. I was looking for punchy and great clarity in highs, sassy vocals and cymbals.

But back to talking about Realistics.

Optimus was Radio Shacks "premium" line. Although, even so, it's hard to pin point a sound because they knocked-off so many different styles. Some sound warm, some sound brighter. But they are usually pleasing in some way. As evidenced by people who swear by what they have for cost expended even today.

But as far as cost, they have a tendency to be looked down on just because they don't have the cool factor of the more expensive spreads or some more advanced technologies. But their build quality has outlasted others. Coated or rubber-like surrounds, reinforced woofers, individual metal cups for tweeters, wood finishes, frequency switches, etc. -- give them credit for trying and still keep costs down..

So it is not unusual to see them sell between $5-50. Are there better? Sure but at a cost. The only ones that seem to command consistent prices are the Minimus 7s just because people know about them and they are so plentiful. And people can't criticize them as much because an army of Minimus owners will recognize when critics don't know what they are talking about.

My Radio Shack speakers: MC-2001 (got 'em free, I highly recommend! very musical), Nova 7B ($25 included in package with STA-77 receiver, brighter sound), Optimus 21 ($15 very warm sound not the most detailed in high end), Nova 8B (bought new regretfully gave away - similar to Optimus 5B great speakers), and of course 2 pair of Minimus 7W (2039C sounds a little warmer than my 2039B).

And a pair of Optimus 25 was going for $50 at Goodwill last week and were gone when I checked this weekend. On the outside, with the wood trim, they look like Advent Legacy knock-offs.

By the way, I'm listening to Steve Miller's Fly Like An Eagle on my Cannon TLS 1232s and vocals, instrumentals and special effects sound spectacular. And I also have a pair of Advent 5002s. And there is no comparison and no hesitation --- pound for pound, horn tweeter to dome tweeter -- the Advents would go. Just an alternative opinion and taste. My point: let your ears decide.

Pix of my Cannon TLS 1232 with passive radiator in back. Yellow sticker shows ESS 4. Cannon has been mentioned as an ESS subsidiary at one time, this might support that.

Hey, some great info - thanks gang. I can't tell you how they sound 'cuz they sold before I could get there.

Curious, how much did they sell for?