REALISTIC SCR-8 BOOMBOX - 1982
Specifications:
- AM/FM
- Loudness
- Play/Record Type I & II tapes
- No Dolby NR
- Soft touch operation
- Oscillator switch (in the back). See explanation at the bottom of this listing
- Made in Taiwan. Realistic (RadioShack's in-house brand).
- Manufacturer (OEM): Sampo (in Taiwan), or Funai Electric Co.
- Weight: Approx. 6.8 Kg
Note 1: Realistic SCR-8:
(a) This Boombox, is playing and recording about flawlessly, if not perfectly. Green LED lights were added above the Tuner scale and also inside the cassette well. This can be undone quite easily if you prefer it like it was originally. Pictures and the video also do not do much justice to this LED work. It comes through much "harsher" than it actually is.
(b) The antenna is original and it's in great condition.
(c) Battery Compartment is clean and it has a slot for the power cord for it, which it looks to me to also be original.
(d) Blemishes: The unit has the odd scuffing here and there and it also has some white paint spots. You may be able to see this on one of the pics. It shows on the top side (left) of the radio. These can be removed with patience without damaging anything. The power cord also has traces of paint spots on it.
Comment: This one is a hard one to let go of as it is performing and sounding so well.
I will be featuring this one (and a few others on eBay, as it seems to sell well there for higher prices than I've got them here... the first one to the punch, gets it). Thank you for your support. There are more coming.
Service: This unit was serviced on September 14, 2022, and has had very little play time. It was serviced by Absolute Electronic Service, located at 2904 Dufferin Street, in Toronto, Canada. Technician's name is Konstantin (Shop Owner). Telephone number: 416-782-3448
Shipping: I will ship the Radio to most places in the world. If you feel the shipping charges you are seeing are too high, send me an email and ask for a quote. I really dislike high shipping costs, so I'll look for the best options for you.
About the Oscillator switch: (Explained by Gemini AI)
That "oscillator switch" on the back of the Realistic SCR-8 is almost certainly the Beat Cut Switch (sometimes labelled Beat Eliminator). The "oscillator" part of the name refers to the component in the tape deck that causes the interference.
What is the Beat Cut Switch?
The Beat Cut switch is a feature designed to eliminate an annoying whistling or whining sound that can occur when you are recording something from the AM (Medium Wave) radio band onto a cassette tape.
1. What is the "Oscillator"?
2. The Problem: The "Beat"
The frequency of the tape deck's bias oscillator (tens of thousands of Hertz) can sometimes interfere with the AM radio tuner's Intermediate Frequency (IF) or another high-frequency component in the radio circuitry.
3. The Solution: The Switch
The Beat Cut Switch (Oscillator Switch) simply shifts the operating frequency of the tape deck's bias oscillator by a small, fixed amount (Switch 1 to Switch 2).
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By slightly changing the oscillator's frequency, the "clash" is avoided, and the audible whistling/beating sound is eliminated (or at least moved out of the audible range).
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The switch only affects the bias oscillator and is therefore only necessary when simultaneously using the cassette recorder's recording circuit and the AM radio tuner. It has no effect on FM radio, tape playback, or use with the Auxiliary input. When these two high frequencies clash, they create a beat frequency—a third, audible frequency that manifests as a high-pitched whistle, whine, or buzzing noise over the AM radio broadcast.
REALISTIC SCR-8 BOOMBOX - 1982 - Made in Taiwan