I bought this, not because of the strong Realistic legacy of producing high-quality audio gear, or because I can't wait to brag to my friends about my new Radio Shack receiver, but because it looked cool. An impulse buy, if you will. I'm a bit disappointed in the FM section of this. It is nearly 30 years old, so perhaps it just needs a tune-up.Looks nice though, and will look even better after a shine-up. Real walnut veneer side panels - perhaps one of the last years for wood on receivers until Onkyo used it in the mid-80s in its Integra line.
How does it sound? Okay. Didn't blow me away, but I also didn't put much time into critical listening in my garage. On par with a lower-end Pioneer, I'd say. Not too much punch, but 50 watts of fairly clean power should be fine for a small space and a pair of bookshelf speakers.
Not impressed by the speaker terminals though - flat head screw-tight - they're SO 1969! Unless you're McIntosh and can simply get away with user-hostile terminals like that because you're. . .McIntosh (geesh!), you've got to get with the program. C'mon, folks. I suppose they had to make cuts somewhere to afford the wood.
Have any experiences with the Realistic STA-2250? I'd like to hear your story.
