Realistic SCT 23 (1980–1982)

A compact cassette deck built in Japan for Radio Shack's Realistic brand. It has Dolby B noise reduction and was used to record early music demos.

Overview

The Realistic SCT-23 is a stereo cassette deck that Radio Shack sold under its Realistic brand in the early 1980s. Alpine built it in Japan for Tandy Corporation. It has a low-profile case and plays Type I, FeCr, CrO₂, and Metal tapes. It has Dolby B noise reduction and a built-in limiter, plus MIC inputs for recording straight from a microphone. One owner said it was used to record demos for early Swallow the Sun albums. Documentation is thin, but user reports say it still worked after years in storage, and some people called it a "legend in its time."

Specifications

Type	2-head, single compact cassette deck
Tape compatibility	type I, FeCr, CrO2, Metal
Noise Reduction	B
Frequency Response	30Hz to 19kHz (Metal tape)
Signal to Noise Ratio	67dB
Features	Built In Limiter
Inputs	MIC Inputs

Design

Alpine built the SCT-23 in Japan for Tandy Corporation. Its low-profile styling fits early 1980s audio design.

Context

One owner reported that demos for the first Swallow the Sun albums were recorded on this deck, which points to use in early home recording setups. Users called it an "Old School 'Gem'" and "absolutely beautiful." Units have turned up in working condition despite years of disuse.

Market

Used units have sold recently for $44.95 and $47. Some owners picked up working models for as little as $5 to $25. One known issue, reported on tapeheads.net, is that the level meters may peg. No service manual has been located publicly.

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