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Realistic Minimus 7
Metal Cabinet Speaker System (1979-93)
Description
The Minimus 7 is little only in size, not in performance - it's a real giant in concert hall sound.
The high compliance woofer element gives astounding bass and the dome tweeter produces crisp, clean highs.
Careful acoustic design matches the two dynamic elements with the enclosure and damping materials - resulting in amazingly smooth, broad frequency response.
Specifications
Type: 2 way, 2 driver loudspeaker system
Frequency Response: 50Hz to 22kHz
Power Handling: 40W
Impedance: 8Ω
Bass: 1 x 100mm high compliance
Tweeter: 1 x 25mm dome
Finish: die cast aluminium cabinet
Dimensions: 180 x 113 x 110mm
Weight: 2.03kg
Downloads
instruction/owners manual 
- frequentC
- Related Catalogues
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Realistic Loudspeakers
Reviews
Reviewed Jul 05th, 2024 by Huband
Best test bench speakers I have found.
Reviewed Jun 22nd, 2023 by taineasy
If you want to listen to the Minimus 7's at their best convert them to the Ziltch PZ 2.1 crossover. They become Twice the speaker with this conversion and frequency response is excellent. While the wood cabinet looks nice the metal cabinet (with a bit of Dynamat/Kilmat) is much less resonant and provides a cleaner sound. There are two tweeters available for the 7's. The metal frame tweeter has a somewhat harder dome with a tad more HF extension. It can however be sharp at the top at high volumes. The plastic dome (my favorite) is a softer dome material and smoother at the top.
Reviewed Jan 29th, 2022 by Legend-Collector81
I was skeptical at first considering their size but the Realistic Minimus 7s are exceptional little speakers . Good clarity & detail from the tweeters & bass is decent for 4 inch woofers . Add a sub & quality amplification to these and you'll rock the house . I really enjoy them as is but look forward to modifying them to sound even better . Overall a fun & entertaining speaker that takes up minimal space . Highly recommended !
Reviewed Jan 16th, 2022 by jimmyl_82104
Amazing little speakers. I have two pairs of the white ones, and two pairs of the brown (wooden) ones. Excellent build quality and great sound for such a little speaker. You can’t get 4” speakers to sound as good as these Realistic (RadioShack) Minimus 7s do. Woofer handles a decent amount of power before distortion, and the tweeter is also great. I’m probably just a sucker for 80s RadioShack speakers, but these seriously are great! If you can find a pair of them for cheap, get ‘em! You won’t be disappointed!
Reviewed Sep 02nd, 2021 by Darkwarrior75
Solid construction and clean sound. Great addition to your set up if you can get them for a good price. I found mine in a recycling bin bound for the dump so I got a really good price.
Reviewed Aug 06th, 2021 by Mike78kc
I have had at least 20 sets. Currently own 4 sets. In my opinion one of the best small speakers ever made for the money. I've had friends ask where the speakers are on my system. I point to the M7s and they are blown away that a speaker that size can actually put out the sound they do. I buy every set I come across and will continue to. There are 2 sets on my deck at the trailer and 2 sets at home on my system there.
Reviewed May 25th, 2020 by Mr.Transistor
These are excellent speakers. I highly recommend them. They were also sold under different brands: Memorex Series 10, Genexxa Pro 7AV.
Reviewed Sep 18th, 2019 by AudioGMan
One of the best products to ever come out of Radio Shack. I currently own two pair of the Japan made walnut veneer versions. One pair is mounted to my living room wall and used as my rear surround sound speakers. The other pair is hooked up in a bedroom to a Sansui G3500 receiver. I have also owned three pairs of the Japan made die cast aluminum versions. The 7s were a great value when sold new and even now that they are discontinued and have to be bought used. You will be hard pressed to find a similar sized 4” two way speaker that sounds just as good for the same dollar amount and with the same build quality. They’re not perfect though. The woofer runs wide open and the tweeter uses a simple coil and cap for a crossover. You can find countless crossover mods online but I don’t know why people bother with all that. In my opinion it isn’t worth the time, money, and effort to try and fix the shortcomings. Also because there just isn’t very much internal volume in the small cabinets and adding more crossover components just means using more of that volume and sacrificing the bass. Just use an equalizer instead. The wood versions have larger outer dimensions because they have to compensate for the fact that wood is not as dense as aluminum but they are very well built. The aluminum versions are very rigid, strong, and do not exhibit any ringing. Some say that the wood version sounds better but I hear no difference in the two. For what they are they are great little speakers. The spring terminals are not too bad. Although the 4” woofer does put out some impressive bass it’s still a 4” woofer so it can only do so much. At least it has a rubber surround so no foam rot to ever worry about. The soft dome tweeter sounds very smooth with good dispersion. Don’t expect to throw a party with just a pair of them or you’ll quickly blow them out. But in a bedroom or a small outdoor patio mounted under an eave they’re perfect. They will work even better as satellites crossed over at 100Hz or above and use a subwoofer to handle the bass.
Reviewed Jul 12th, 2019 by smpacheco
I have collected a few set of these over the years. A friend installed a set in a Chevy Nomad, and later in a '74 Mazda. I was always impressed with what the 4 inch drivers could pass in such a small package. So a set were put to test as back yard (under the eve) speakers. Surprisingly still good! Guess I'll keep 'em!
Reviewed Aug 25th, 2018 by Dkazoroski
I have a pair in continuous daily service since the late 70's.
Still going strong! One of the best background music speakers out there, but they can go to room filling levels and stay clean and non-fatiguing for hours on end.
It's a shame they are no longer made. Also sad that Radio Shack is gone now too. They had some pretty decent stuff back in the day.
Reviewed Jul 23rd, 2018 by Txt
The stock Minimus 7 is a decent speaker but it just cries out for a more sophisticated crossover. There are many plans and kits available online but I’ve found the easiest solution is the crossover upgrade for the Micca MB42. You’ll get an already assembled Zobel Network crossover design with a sharp 18db/octave alignment, and the job takes about a half hour. The results are stunning, low tones go to the woofer and highs go to the tweeter, and each speaker element does precisely what it was designed to do. I got a nice pair of M7s on Craigslist for $30, and with an additional thirty dollar investment in the crossover, I’ve got a pair of mini speakers that holds its own with anything made today.
Reviewed Mar 16th, 2018 by scootersage
These were rugged little guys. I used them in the late 70's as car speakers in Jeep Wagoneer's along with a little Realistic 40 watt booster. They came with a nice little bracket to hang them.
Reviewed Apr 27th, 2017 by TexasBigEars
One of the highest quality, truly high-fidelity, used speakers you can buy, especially since the advent (pun intended) of powered sub-woofers and sub-woofer outputs.
Why? Because they have high quality tweeters - what is missing from almost all sub 5-figure speaker systems.
Get a pair of these greats, hook them up to your receiver, and play them at a reasonable (not loud) for, at least, two weeks continuously to let the x-over caps and the driver suspensions rebreak-in; and then you'll have a quality speaker system that's almost impossible to beat... if you want a music reproductions system.
Add an 8-inch (so that it can keep up with the mid-range) powered sub-woofer, cross it over at 120 Hz, and then experience all of the music for the first time!
It ain't a Staged DRM, but it is heavenly good!
Reviewed Nov 27th, 2016 by Invictus50
I had to join HI FI just to post this review. I always loved these little speakers which I bought in the 70's or 80's can't remember. Anyway, I've been using Yorkville Sound YSM-1 cabinet speakers on my system and was very unhappy when I lost the woofer on one of them. I dusted off these tiny cast aluminium speakers and hooked them up - and - I was amazed! I live in a church with a 25 foot ceiling and the place is filled with clear uncolored sound. Amazing.
Reviewed Mar 10th, 2015 by vickiehifi
I'm surprised that this little iconic speaker has not been reviewed before... maybe it is like a little guilty pleasure? Like enjoying a reality show on tv (Honey Boo-Boo?) but afraid to admit that to your friends? I've always liked these for their size and minimalist design. These were used in many restaurants and stores, mounted high in the corners and I always thought they had a pleasant, open sound, especially when placed as described. I recently bought a late 70's pair of these, and I did mod them with new woofers and a redesigned crossover and low pass filter that is being sold on Ebay. The improvement over stock is significant. No speaker this size is going to have much bass presence, but from about 100 Hz upward, the lower registers come through quite clearly. The Realistic soft dome tweeters are surprisingly good, and sparkle through clearly after performing a crossover mod as I did. The stock circuit didn't do much, still in their stock form these speakers were pretty good for most people. Worth the upgrade for the enclosure design, size and decent tweeters. If you have an old pair or can pick a pair up cheap at a garage sale, they are worth the time and expense of upgrading.
re: Minimus 7
General misconceptions about Realistic Minimus-7 model chronology seem to suggest that Japanese made models are somewhat rare early versions, and that the majority are later versions made elsewhere (and of lesser quality). Ignoring perceived quality difference, let's at least address the chronology.
BLACK Minimus-7 debuted in the 1978 catalogue, began manufacture in 1977 and available for purchase at retail outlets in Sept. of that year. They were last listed in the 1993 catalogue -- nearly a seventeen year run. There are four versions: 40-2030, 40-2030A, 40-2030B & 40-2030C.
SILVER M-7 production began very early 1980, was available late that year before its 1981 catalogue debut, and last listed in the 1989 catalogue -- nearly a ten year run. There are two versions: 40-2034 and 40-2034A.
WALNUT Minimus-7W production began in 1982, was available late that year, debuted in the 1983 catalogue, and last listed in 1994 (even though metal M-7's were already replace by Optimus variants that year). 7W's nearly thirteen year run saw four versions: 40-2039, 40-2039A, 40-2039B & 40-2039C.
WHITE Minimus-7 production began in Nov. 1988, became available late 1989 and debuted in the 1990 catalogue. Last listed in 1993 for a five year run. There is just one version: 40-2045.
There were construction details and tweeter model changes during the course of both metal and walnut cabinet M-7's. The plastic faced tweeters accompanied a version change for all models in mid 1987. This was also the final version change for all models (with one exception). Yet no Minimus-7 was built outside of Japan until near the end of 1990. All production then moved to Korea, and a year later all metal cabinet models moved to Malaysia.
So the truth is, nearly all model versions and parts evolution occurred during the fourteen year span of Japanese production. The whole of Korean and Malaysian production spanning only four years saw just one change: Walnut Minimus-7W became model version 40-2039C in 1992.
re: Minimus 7
Well , i grew up while these Radio Shack stores were in business back in the days 70's -80's 90's . So, for Y'all out There, , Minimus 7 or any Minimus or Maximus stuff was in fact, just above « Crap » and bellow anything else out there.. I Just Can't believe what i'm reading ... We called the stores « Radio Scrap » in Canada .. and if you absolutely want something made of metal that is truly a hi-fi speaker and worth it, try the previous Technics sb-fi .. Also, anything from Mission in the 80's .. loll .. Nostalgia affects all of us .. but seriously .. i,M reading some $600 little bookshelf's that « could » measure up ??? ... Good luck with all that . i wouldn't pay more than $20 a pair n Mint Condition, and even then , i couldn't find a way to use 'em .. .. Radio Shack Stuff wasn't great y,all ! It was re-branded crap with a higher profit margin .. that's what it was . ;)
re: Minimus 7
Wow. Seriously? I have 4 sets. They sound better than almost every bookshelf speaker I've ever had. Sounds like you have some sort of issue with Radio shack lol. Most of their electronics were very very good.
re: Minimus 7
when did you last hear a pair?
re: Minimus 7
I've got three pairs of these things- one japanese, one korean & one malay, & I have to say I can't hear any difference, so there's an end to that snobbishness! :-)
they are astonishing. I have a pair of them sitting on top of some tannoy system-8 NFMs & I have to keep checking which speakers have the cables going to them. they produce more bass with more authority than they have any right to do. & this is with the stock drivers. see a pair, grab them.
[edit]
I'm up to seven pairs now, & some spare drivers. these things are really punching above their weight, & are great for late-night listening. my 'big' speakers are tannoy cheviots, but I also have DC200s, NFM8s & a pair of genelecs a bit bigger than the minimus 7s. the minimus are just so nice to listen to, & you never feel that there's anything missing. the staging & image are solid... again, even for a boxed new pair, you won't generally have to go much above £50, because they're sleepers. great nearfields, good all-rounders, perfect surrounds or car speakers, kitchen, bedroom... I have them in my main listening room, running off a bryston 2B as a b-circuit on my main system.
re: Minimus 7
I bought mine 1/2 century ago when I lived in Montreal. The Radio Shack store was downtown near where I worked. On a lunch break I popped in and heard them and thought they were terrific for their size and quality (back then). I think they cost $79 each (Canadian). Mine say Made in Japan, Catalog # 40-2030B, and have been in various configurations of systems I've had since then. Currently I use them as the rears in my 5.1 AV system. They are fed by a Sony Blu-ray player and a Denon receiver. The fronts are Mission 761i's with a Mission 760 center and Paradigm PS-1000 10" 100W sub. No complaints, no mods, and their original drivers work just fine.