Is the Realistic SCR-6 better than SCR-8?

[MasterBlaster84]

I just found a scan of the 1983 Radio Shack Catalog and found that the SCR-6 cost $20 more than the SCR-8, I always thought the SCR-8 was their top dog. Has anybody ever directly compared the two? My guess by looking at both was the SCR-6 (GE 3-5286A) had more features and the SCR-8 (GE Blockbuster) was the bigger and better performer.

 

[teamstress]

I have the Zenith R-99 (SCR-6) and the SCR-8, and the 8 sounds much better. The 6 has manual record levels but has a mechanical deck instead of "soft touch". I don't think the SCR-6 is in the same league as the Panasonic 5500 even though they look similar.
Possibly the difference in price could be a cheaper manufacturing process, since the SCR-8 is much less cluttered inside.

 

[MasterBlaster84]

My bad, the SCR-6 is a rebadge of another GE box (3-5286A) and not the Panasonic RX-5500.
Original post corrected.

 

[Classof1985]

These are both unique boxes. I'd like to have one of both !

 

[Reli]

Yeah, the SCR-6 is weaksauce. Radio Shack's Marketing Dept. must not have known WTF they were doing.

 

[Matrixambience]

I remember that Radio Shack ad in '83 or so! Very cool! Now that I have seen a Blockbuster GE by comparison, the woofer chrome caps in that SCR-8 in the ad look much larger in diameter than all SCR-8's I have seen on ebay or for real. I also thought Radio Shack was bats nutz crazy for the asking prices of their "Tandy" products. I bought my new Panasonic RX-5085 in late '82 for $189, and along side the 5085 was the 5080 for $179 or so, then the newly released RX-5050 for $179, then the GE Blockbuster was $159! All these great boomers were offered for sale at the local Jewelcor Dept. Store in Lancaster,PA. Thanks for the cool ad scan!

 

[baddboybill]

I've seen an ad for the SCR8 when it sold for $349

 

[k2j]

Only thing I can figure out is the SCR-6 has Dolby noise reduction circuitry, where as the SCR-8 doesn't. Could have been expensive to license and add it?

 

[baddboybill]

It may have been a hype sale for Christmas since SCR8 was new I've seen that before

 

[Reli]

It may have been a hype sale for Christmas since SCR8 was new I've seen that before

But it came out in 83, and that $349 was in 86

 

[baddboybill]

It may have been a hype sale for Christmas since SCR8 was new I've seen that before

But it came out in 83, and that $349 was in 86

Yes but the ad for the $249 was when it 1st came out in November of 82 just before Christmas so they hyped it up with a lower price for holidays

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

I have always wondered the same thing. My friends dad had the GE version of the 6 and that was the first time I had seen a full feature stereo boombox in person. Blew my mind. But I always thought the marketing department had it backwards, that the 8 was was bigger and badder than the 6.

I want the GE. That is on my MUST HAVE list!

 

[baddboybill]

I have always wondered the same thing. My friends dad had the GE version of the 6 and that was the first time I had seen a full feature stereo boombox in person. Blew my mind. But I always thought the marketing department had it backwards, that the 8 was was bigger and badder than the 6.

I want the GE. That is on my MUST HAVE list!

Just sold one a few months ago.. It was a real nice box plus I had a strap for it that I got from Joe

 

[monchito]

i belive it was mostly the dolby as it was widely used on expensive equipment that is what made the price for the scr-6 higher

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

I have always wondered the same thing. My friends dad had the GE version of the 6 and that was the first time I had seen a full feature stereo boombox in person. Blew my mind. But I always thought the marketing department had it backwards, that the 8 was was bigger and badder than the 6.

I want the GE. That is on my MUST HAVE list!

Just sold one a few months ago.. It was a real nice box plus I had a strap for it that I got from Joe
[ Image ]

I saw that, just didn't have the money at the time

That was a sweet box!

 

[Classof1985]

How much do those repro straps run ? I have an SCR-6 on the way and could use one. Were the original straps gray or black ?

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

How much do those repro straps run ? I have an SCR-6 on the way and could use one. Were the original straps gray or black ?

You want to contact member Blu_Fuz, he will hook you up. I got my SCR-8 strap from him. As well as 4 other straps!

 

[Reli]

So the SCR6 is actually a half inch longer than the 8? Wierd