A Simple Analysis of Ruark Products - Which One Should I Buy?
Ruark Audio have been in the hi-fi and home audio game for 40 years now, and are no stranger to creating a beautiful product in terms of appearance, functionality and performance.
They manufacture a range of products from compact radios to full stereo hi-fi systems, so if you're the kind of person that wants your music playback to blend in seamlessly with your stylish home, then Ruark could be the perfect place to look.
R1s - The Smart Radio (RRP £299)
If you're in the market for a really compact player that actually sounds like it belongs in the hi-fi family, then the R1s could be the perfect investment for you.
This gorgeously designed smart radio boasts a decievingly engaging sound and an impressive list of functionalities despite it's petite build. The R1s has FM, DAB/DAB+ and Internet Radio access which means you can enjoy your favourite live broadcasts from whichever radio plaftorm you desire. On top of that, it is also compatible with Spotify Connect and supports direct streaming from both Deezer and Amazon Music, so you can stream your favourite tracks directly without losing any quality. But if this isn't to your taste, it also has Bluetooth connectivity. This would come in handy if you were to utilise the R1s as a portable player to take out and about - and that is very much a viable scenario with the optional battery-pack add-on.
If your source is external, that's no problem for the R1s. There is a 3.5mm Jack input for this very reason - so you can even listen to a turntable or CD player through this player if you want to! Listening can be achieved either through the drive unit on the radio itself or via its handy headphone output.
Audio performance aside, the R1s can also function as a comprehensive dual alarm and can be controlled entirely via a remote control or the UNDOK app.
Top all that functionality off with a stunning grey lacquer finish, walnut grille and coloured LCD display, the Ruark R1s will forever be our favourite compact radio.
R2 - The High Fidelity Smart Music System (RRP £479)
Much like its younger sibling, the R1s, the R2 essentially functions as a glorified radio that sounds light years better than all other radios on the market - but to a larger extent.
The R2, thanks to it's added drive units and 3D enhanced stereo sound, is much more suited to a bigger environment than the R1s. The R2 would blossom in a large living space or kitchen and could behave as more of an actively engaging speaker than the R1s.
Other than this big jump in power and fidelity, the R2 possesses all the same handy functionalities as the R1s. However, this beauty comes in a couple of different finishes: Light Cream and Espresso.
R3S - The High-Fidelity All-In-One Music System (RRP £649)
If you're someone who isnt a fan of having multiple space-intrusive components to simply enjoy your music, then the R3S could very well be your solution.
This clever all-in-one player holds an impressive list of functionalities and performs so without compromising genuinely good sound quality. It boasts all the same features as the R1s and R2 but still introduces a significant list of new ones. Most notably, the R3S shows off a CD player insert on its front panel (now with OLED technology) which decodes multiple formats - CD, CD-ROM, CD-R/RW discs; MP3, WMA & AAC up to 320 Kbps.
The R3S also justifies it's more premium pricing via it's connectivity upgrades. It posesses a line output, meaning if you ever change to a more traditional seperate hi-fi system but love the look and interface of your R3S too much to say goodbye, you can still utilise it as a CD player without the built-in amp and speakers! It also has a subwoofer output if you find you would like superior bass control - and the Ruark RS1 subwoofer would be a lovely option here. Another neat feature first seen in the R3S is the optical input so you can also use this absolute workhorse of a music player as a soundbar for your television.
As far as physical changes go, the R3S is built with a stylish grey woven fabric grille and comes in two finishes: Walnut and Soft Grey.
R410 - The Integrated Music System (RRP £1299)
The R410 is where Ruark really took a massive step up. This stunning all-in-one player truly encapsulates the sweet spot between modern and retro design.
Much like it's predecessors, the R410 boasts a generous number of functionalities. It has FM/DAB/DAB+ and Internet Radio access as well as an industry-leading list of streaming capabilities. You can stream directly from practically any service, including Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz (currently via Chromecast), Deezer and Amazon Music to name a few. For any more generic platforms, the R410 has full Apple Airplay 2 and Google Cast integration; so the limits on wireless streaming are nearly endless. And as always, if you prefer a much simpler form of streaming, the R410 still supports standard Bluetooth Connectivity.
As far as physical connectivity goes, the R410 posesses an optical input, a line input, a HDMI eARC input, a USB input, a subwoofer output, but (arguably) most importantly, a phono input. So, you can enjoy your favourite records and connect your turntable directly to this beautiful player.
Even though the R410 is a one-box system, it still behaves as a two-way speaker system and it definitely sounds as such. Much like the R3S, there are two finishes available for this player - Soft Grey and Fused Walnut.
R810 - The High-Fidelity Radiogram (RRP £2999)
The R810 is essentially the R410 on steroids. It's length reaches almost twice that of its baby brother, allowing for a more spatial sound; but more importantly, it boasts a game-changing integrated subwoofer.
There is not much to add description-wise to this absolute beast that wouldn't simply be repeating the info regarding the R410, as it posesses all of the exact same features (minus a subwoofer output, of course), but that's certainly not to say that the R810 doesn't deserve a million words of praise.
The R810 can absolutely command a large room and will hold your music with such a tight grip. It shouldn't be possible for a single product to sound so much like a high-performing seperates hi-fi system. Enjoy this absolutely gorgeous unit in either the Soft Grey or Fused Walnut Finish.
R610 + Sabre R - The Stereo Hi-Fi System (RRP £1898)
Just last year, Ruark changed their game when they took a step away from all-in-one players to release a streaming integrated amp and a pair of bookshelf speakers. We had no doubts that this would be an awesome system when it was announced, and it certainly hasn't disappointed.
The R610 amplifier behaves very similarly to the R410 and R810, posessing the same interface and all the same streaming/radio capabilities. As well as having the same phsyical inputs and outputs as it's family (including a subwoofer output), it also has a preamp output if you already have a dedicated power amp and would like to utilise this very stylish unit as a processor only.
The Sabre-R speakers are the first passive speakers that Ruark have made in decades, and they truly kept in touch with their original philosophy when they first started making speakers back in the 80s. These compact and physically attractive speakers certainly sound a lot bigger than they look! The main characteristic that blew us away was the bass response - many bookshelf speakers can articulate beautiful detail with ease, but lack any kind of profile in the bottom end. The Sabre-R's not only have an audibly impressive bass response, but also handle it with such precision and control.
If you are in love with the Ruark aesthetic like we are, but need a traditional seperate hi-fi system, then you absolutely can't go wrong with the R610 + Sabre-R combo. This system comes in the trusty Fused Walnut finish or, the brand new Satin Charcoal Finish - definitely a new favourite of ours!
We have access to any Ruark product across our two shops in Glasgow and Aberdeen - so please don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like to hear anything from Ruark Audio!