Ruark MR1 Mk2
FOR Stunningly musical sound; subtle dynamics AGAINST No hi-res support; no USB input
We loved the first Ruark Audio MR1 desktop speakers when they came out in 2013. The retro looks, the intuitive design, the superb wireless sound – it was a winning combination that earned two successive What Hi-fi? Awards.
But the MR1S were toppled from their perch by the KEF Eggs, which have won the two subsequent Awards. So it was only a matter of time before the Ruark Audio MR1S were back with a Mk2 – and these shoot straight to the top of our favourites. Wide-open sound We said the original Ruark MR1S were the closest that any desktop wireless speaker had come to sounding like proper hi-fi, and it’s even more so now, thanks to a clearer, more insightful and open sound than their predecessors. The new MR1S are wonderfully musical. The amount of subtlety conveyed is even greater than before, delivering rich detail and fluid dynamics on a whole new level.
There’s plenty of space between instruments in the airy soundstage, giving songs an expansive feel that makes the KEF Eggs sound rather congested. The dominant bassline in SBTRKT’S Wildfire is taut and you can hear its deep, squelchy textures. They time well, too; the pomp of David Bowie’s Magic Dance blares through the speakers with plenty of energy and sparkle.
Voices in particular sound beautiful. Bella Hardy’s The Driving Of The Deer is delivered with the kind of drive and insight that we’d expect from decent hi- speakers. There’s a solidity underpinning the rich, warm midrange, and the elegance with which her nimble vocals are delivered is gorgeous. Faithful renditions The MR1S sound lush and smooth while also being articulate. They convey the mood of songs faithfully, too – an impressive feat for wireless speakers. Elliott Smith’s soft, whispered singing on Angeles will pull at your heartstrings, every nuance of his voice and every touch of his guitar strumming laid bare through the MR1S.
The Ruark MR1S are lovely to listen to, but their stylish retro looks are a huge part of the charm, too. The wooden cabinets are beautifully made and they’re just the size to fit onto a bookshelf, TV stand or desk.
Ruark has been clever to keep its characteristic look, but the design has been streamlined. The most obvious update is the grey fabric covering the grilles – both for aesthetic and acoustic reasons. The cable connecting the left and right speakers is now slimmer and covered in braided fabric.
More useful is the addition of an optical input, so you can use these as TV speakers. The optical input joins a 3.5mm auxiliary input and a subwoofer output at the back of the unit (ie the right speaker, which houses all the amplification and connections). Sound is everything Ruark continues to apply hi-fi speaker principles. From tuned crossovers to the use of A/B amplification, everything is aimed at delivering the best possible sound quality. The handcrafted wooden cabinets (in rich walnut) each house a 20mm tweeter and a 75mm mid/bass, with small bass ports underneath.
The rotary dial that sits on top of the main unit has been further refined. It’s nicer to use, turns smoothly and allows you to switch between the inputs. You no longer have to press and hold to activate the Bluetooth pairing mode, either. The MR1S automatically start searching for a connection when switched to that source.
These little things make all the difference when using the MR1S. Even the LEDS for each source (blue for Bluetooth, orange for aux, green for optical) have been subdued so they’re not too piercing in dark rooms.
While you’re most probably going to be controlling playback and volume through your smartphone or laptop (or TV remote), you do get a tiny, slim remote in the box with basic functions such as switching inputs. We wish this were classier in feel.
Other features include a smarter auto standby mode, an optional battery pack to make them portable, and you can use the main right speaker as a single mono speaker.
The Ruarks still don’t support any hi-res tracks (whereas the rival KEF Eggs support up to 24-bit/96khz), but what we’d like most to see in future iterations is the inclusion of a USB input. Any negatives, however, are overshadowed by the impressive step up in performance.
The Ruark MR1 Mk2s manage to be even more appealing than their predecessors. Quite simply, these are superb speakers that deserve a place in your home.