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This lightly used direct drive turntable is fully functional and includes TWO cartridges: the original R1000-E plus an UNUSED R9000-E. (These are essentially Shure M91ED and M95ED cartridges.). The R1000 has a nearly new Shure stylus installed, and the original (used) stylus in the case. The R9000 has TWO new Shure styli (never used). You can see from the photos that the turntable maintains proper speed on the strobe, and the dust cover is in great shape.
At US$595, this Realistic LAB-400 is aggressively overpriced compared to the typical used market, which reliably sits between US$150 and US$250 for units in good condition. Even the single premium listing with the original box and wood veneer tops out at roughly US$399, making this asking price nearly double the 75th percentile and well outside fair value territory.
The LAB-400 is a respected 1978 direct-drive automatic that RadioShack marketed as their finest offering, prized for its solid build and reliable performance when serviced. However, at US$595, you are paying a steep premium for a budget vintage table that rarely commands more than US$250; unless this listing includes rare provenance, a full professional restoration, or a pristine original box, it represents a poor buying opportunity compared to the many US$150–US$200 options available to enthusiasts.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Realistic emerged as the house brand of Radio Shack, founded in Boston in 1921 by two brothers to serve ham radio enthusiasts and ship radio operators. The company entered the high-fidelity market in 1947 with the nation's first audio showroom for comparing amplifiers, speakers, and turntables. In 1954, Harman Kardon proposed private-label gear under the name "Realist," but a lawsuit from the Realist Camera Company prompted a swift rebrand to Realistic, which Radio Shack used until 2000 after Tandy Corporation's acquisition.
Realistic spanned a broad array of consumer audio categories, including amplifiers like the "Little Jewel" series, speakers manufactured initially by Tandy in Texas and later by Japan's Sun, turntables, reel-to-reel and 8-track tape recorders, plus CB radios and accessories. The lineup emphasized accessible hi-fi components, often sourced from reputable OEMs, alongside entry-level hobbyist gear that filled Radio Shack catalogs and stores.
Positioned as a mid-tier, budget-friendly option, Realistic earned a devoted following among 1970s audiophiles for reliable performance at mass-market prices, though it never rivaled high-end marques like Dynaco or McIntosh, which Radio Shack also stocked. Today, it holds strong vintage-collector appeal for its nostalgic role in democratizing hi-fi, with survivors prized for modifiable circuits and sturdy builds despite the brand's discontinuation.
See all Realistic listings on RADAR.
