I attend auctions all the time where there are boxes. I ran across one I had never seen and wanted to know if it is worth anything to collectors - it's the Realistic Modulaire 1000. I couldn't find a thing on it on the net but did find a little stuff about the Modulaire 2250. It is a really loud box with a beautiful clear sound.

welcome alien.

here you go:
actually there appeared two versions on the market
realistic-modulaire1000 14-773 IBBN 7-04378


a.k.a.:


quite neat average box,nontheless--
not bad...


modulaire/modulette series:
modulaire100
modulaire1000 mkI
modulaire1000 mkII
modulaire2200
modulaire2250
modulaire400
modulaire800
modulaire850
modulette500
modulette600
modulette602

Hey thanks for posting this ad. So is the Modulaire line(particularly this box) a hard to find unit that collectors would have any interest in?

Hi there, and welcome to the site. Modulaire was a model name for Radio Shack portable units. The 1000 was the first top of the line 3 piece unit that they put out. They show up from time to time, so not rare but not commonplace either.


Which 1000 do you have from the pictures above? What kind of working/cosmetic condition is it in?

I have the one that is pictured in the actual ad. It sounds great but the speakers(maybe just the right) have a little bit of a rumble/pop when playing a bass heavy song and volume turned up half way. I don't know how to judge if the speakers are damaged because it it a very loud and powerful box for it's size even at just 2/3 way turned up. Should these or any decent box have speaker distortion at that level? It doesn't seem to do it on very song so it's hard to tell if there is a real problem. The sound is so clear and great when up to a certain point.

The only other issue is that the door closes fine when no tape is in, but I can't insert a tape and close the door. It's hard to tell what the tape i hitting against. What are typical problems when the door is doing this? Thanks.

Oh, also I don't see the meters lighting up when the radio is playing so I am not sure if they just light up when the tape is playing or not. There is a button for the meters and I get no reaction when I push it, but I did notice when I was trying to force the door closed with tape in, I sometimes got a reaction from the meters and they flickers a little.

A popping sound could be a speaker being blown. Usually you will hear this to some extent whenever the driver is being pushed (louder as you turn the volume up, but present most/all of the time). The speakers should be rated to something like 10 watts. If you have the ability to do so, I would hook up another pair of known good speakers with the same Ohm rating and similar power handling to see if the problem duplicates itself.

The other possibility is that you're just hitting the limitations of those speakers. Another pair of speakers could also reveal this issue.


The LED switch should have a label for each position. Usually the switch is to toggle between the output level of the source being played, and the level of battery life remaining. Sometimes the other position is just to turn off the LED's. Not sure, I played with this model back when it was new in the store but cannot recall what it is now.


Not sure about the door thing you describe. Perhaps someone here who owns the unit has seen this and can relate their experiences.

quote:

Originally posted by AlienKrill:
I was trying to force the door closed with tape in, I sometimes got a reaction from the meters and they flickers a little.

Long shot but perhaps the heads are stuck in the up position and stopping the tape door from closing, the LED flicker might be when you're whacking the head or bending its mountings by forcing the door to try and close. ????

That was my first ghetto. Got it for christmas of 1982. I can't believe my parents spent that much money on me! What a rotten kid...

Very nice find!!!
The LED's only work when recording or during cassette playback. They can be turned on and off in either of these modes but they were not made to operate in radio mode (kinda sux but its not uncommon) The unit is a little underspeakered in my opinion. It is a fantastic sounding box at moderate volume. When trying to crank it loud the speakers cant take it. Mine does the same thing. I dont think there is anything wrong with the speakers on your unit. Some boxes are just not made to run full tilt especially with the bass cranked up. Hope this helps.

Thanks for all the great info on this box everybody. It's good to know about the lighting of the LEDs and YES INDEED - this box is definitely underspeakered for it's power. This box would sound incredible with proper speakers.

I thought I was the only one around here with a Realistic Box!!! Mine is from the late 70's, did this one come out during the early 80's?

'NUFF SAID

well i have a 2250 and its a great box

i have the 2250 and am selling a 2200