Description

Clean late-1980s Radio Shack Realistic STA-125, a digital synthesized AM/FM stereo receiver sold in 1987–88 for $219.95. Brushed silver face, black display panel, and the usual mid-size bookshelf layout of the period. Made in Korea for Tandy/Radio Shack; it replaced the analog STA-115 at the same price point and was itself replaced by the STA-130 in 1989.

Front panel: power switch, headphone jack, speaker A/B selectors, bass and treble, mono, loudness, and FM mute. Display area is labeled color LCD with FM stereo indicator and a five-segment signal-strength meter. Tuning is PLL digital synthesized, so stations lock without the drift common on older analog tuners.

Published specs:

• 22 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 0.08% THD
• Frequency response 15 Hz–25 kHz
• Phono (MM) and line inputs; tape monitor
• S/N about 84 dB (phono) / 88 dB (line)
• About 16.5 × 4.5 × 12 in, roughly 10 lb
• 117 V AC

Enough clean power for efficient bookshelf or modest tower speakers in a small-to-medium room. Useful as a compact vintage system hub for a turntable, CD player, or streamer, or as a period-correct Radio Shack piece.