Ruark MR1 Mk2
FOR Stunningly musical sound; subtle dynamics; stylish design; streamlined features 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 original MR1S were toppled from their perch by the KEF Eggs (see right), which have won the two subsequent Best desktop speaker Awards. So it was only a matter of time before Ruark Audio unveiled a Mk2 version. And sure enough, the Ruark Audio MR1S came back with a vengeance.
Gorgeous looks, streamlined design and features, and sound quality that was been improved in every way – the Ruark MR1 Mk2s shot straight to the top of our favourites list – and they’re still there.
Reaching a new level
We said the original Ruark MR1S were the closest that any desktop wireless speaker had come to sounding like proper hi-fi, and that’s more true than ever with the Mk2s, thanks to a clearer, more insightful and open sound than their predecessors. The MR1S are wonderfully musical. They convey an even more subtle sound, delivering rich detail and fluid dynamics in a way that makes the KEF Eggs sound rather congested in comparison. The dominant bassline in SBTRKT’S
Wildfire is taut, packs a punch and you can hear its deep, squelchy textures. The MR1S are agile and authoritative. They time well, too; the magnificent pomp of David Bowie’s Magic Dance blares through the speakers with plenty of energy and sparkle. Voices in particular sound beautiful; Elliott Smith’s soft, whispered singing on Angeles will pull at your heartstrings, every nuance of his voice and the tactility of his guitar strumming laid bare through the MR1S. Handcrafted charm
The Ruark MR1S are lovely to listen to, but their stylish retro looks are a huge part of the charm, too. The handcrafted wooden cabinets are beautifully made, the speakers are good to use, 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 it doesn’t rest on its laurels. Where possible, the design was streamlined on the Mk2s. Among the tweaks was the addition of an optical input so you can use the MR1S as TV speakers and refinements to the rotary dial on top of the main unit. This last improvement has been particularly effective, making operation of the dial smoother and input selection easier.
Ruark continues to apply hi-fi speaker principles when designing the MR1S. From tuned crossovers to the use of an A/B amplifier, 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 unit, with small bass ports underneath.
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. We wish this were classier in feel.
Other features include a smarter auto standby mode, an optional battery pack to make the MR1S portable, and you can even use the main right speaker as a single mono speaker. The Ruarks still don’t support any hi-res tracks (the 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.
That said, any negatives we've found are overshadowed by the impressive design and performance of these excellent speakers. Quite simply, the MR1 Mk2s are superb speakers that deserve a place in your home.
“Gorgeous looks and great sound quality – the Ruark MR1 Mk2s shot straight to the top of our favourites list – and they’re still there”