The Ruark Mr1 Bluetooth speakers are a great addition to any home. They're compact and stylish, making them perfect for small spaces.
Their sleek design is just one of the many attractive features of these speakers. With a depth of just 5.5 inches, they can fit easily into a corner or on a shelf.
The Mr1's sound quality is impressive, with clear highs and deep bass. They can fill a room with sound, making them perfect for listening to music or watching TV.
One of the standout features of the Mr1 is its ability to connect to multiple devices at once. This makes it easy to switch between your phone, tablet, and computer without missing a beat.
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Technical Details
The Ruark MR1 Bluetooth speakers have a sleek design with a British-sourced fabric grille that's been chosen for its acoustic performance.
The MR1 Mk2 has three pin-point LEDs to indicate system status and input.
You can stream audio wirelessly through the speaker using Bluetooth with apt-X.
Sound Quality
The Ruark MR1 Bluetooth speakers deliver an impressive sound quality that's hard to believe from their compact size. They create an open and spacious soundstage, making you feel like you're right in the middle of the music.
The speakers are capable of retrieving impressive detail, which is especially noticeable when listening to music with complex arrangements. Whether you're streaming music or watching a movie, the MR1 MkII maintains its sonic characteristics.
One of the standout features of the Ruark MR1 is its ability to bring out the best in digital signals. Even when using a laptop's headphone socket, the speakers roll up their sleeves and make the most of the audio. This is particularly evident when listening to music with a lot of depth and nuance.
The low frequencies are deep and punchy, without becoming overblown or musclebound. This makes the speakers perfect for motoring through recordings and expressing rhythms with confidence.
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Here are some key features of the Ruark MR1's sound quality:
- Open and well-defined soundstage
- Impressive detail retrieval
- Surprising punch and muscularity
The speakers also excel at handling the midrange, providing a distinct, positive, and eloquent sound that brings out the best in vocals and instruments. This is especially noticeable when listening to music with a strong focus on the human voice.
Design and Build
The Ruark MR1 Bluetooth speakers are a stylish addition to any room, with dimensions of 185 x 130 x 145mm (7.3 x 5.1 x 5.7 inches) per speaker. This compact size makes them perfect for desks or small spaces.
The speakers come in two finishes: walnut veneer or 'soft' grey lacquer. The walnut veneer is particularly impressive, with a seamless wrap around the cabinet and no discernible break in the grain. A charcoal lacquer option is also available.
The build quality is excellent, with a sturdy feel that exudes subtle luxury. The RotoDial controller on top is well-made and responsive, making it easy to change inputs and adjust volume.
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Price and Date
The Ruark MR1 MkII's price and release date are worth noting. Originally released in 2017, it's been a while.
The official price is $379 in the United States, £349 in the United Kingdom, and AU$749 in Australia. You might be able to snag it for a little less if you shop around.
Here's a quick rundown of the prices:
Build & Design
The Ruark MR1 speakers are a great example of compact, elegant design. They're available in either a walnut veneer or 'soft' grey lacquer finish, and their curved cabinets are beautifully finished.
The speakers are of desk-friendly proportions, measuring 185 x 130 x 145mm (7.3 x 5.1 x 5.7 inches) per speaker. They're perfect for fitting on either side of a laptop or desktop.
Ruark has also made sure the speakers look great in any room. The gray acoustic cloth grilles add a touch of sophistication to the overall design.
The build quality of the MR1 speakers is excellent, with a solid feel that suggests they'll last for a long time. The speakers are available in two finishes: rich walnut veneer and charcoal lacquer.
Here's a comparison of the MR1 Mk2 and MR1 Mk3 models:
The MR1 Mk3 has a slightly larger cabinet size than the MR1 Mk2, but it's still compact enough to fit on a desktop or shelf.
Soundbar for TV with Subwoofer
The MR1 soundbar paired with a sub-woofer is a game-changer for TV viewing.
It's surprisingly easy to set up, with the optical feed from the TV connecting directly to the powered speaker. The long interconnecting cable allows the speakers to be placed on either side of the TV with ease.
The sound quality is significantly better than the existing LG Soundbar, with more depth and a more authoritative sound. This is evident in the way Huw Edwards sounded during the election results.
For those who want to add even more depth to their sound experience, a sub-woofer can be hooked up to the system. This requires a longer RCA interconnect, but the result is well worth it.
The sub-woofer output is excellent, and a Blu-ray disc of John Mayer's 'Where the Light Is' is a great test of its capabilities.
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Performance and Features
The Ruark MR1 Bluetooth speakers have made a significant leap in features, and it's a game-changer for music lovers. They now come with two additional audio inputs: USB-C and a pair of RCA phono inputs for plugging in a turntable directly.
The USB-C input is a welcome addition, allowing you to connect your modern laptop or smartphone seamlessly. It can handle up to 24-bit/192kHz hi-res files, although the USB-C input's limit is 96kHz.
The built-in moving magnet phono stage is a great feature for those who want to play vinyl without the need for multiple separate boxes. It's ideal for those with limited space, making it a perfect solution for small home setups.
The physical connections are rounded off with a combined optical and 3.5mm aux input, with an adapter included for when you need to connect an optical/toslink cable.
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Features
The MR1 Mk3 has a significant upgrade in its feature set, making it a versatile and convenient option for music lovers. It now includes two additional audio inputs: USB-C and a pair of RCA phono inputs for direct turntable connection.
The USB-C input is a welcome addition, allowing seamless connection to most modern laptops and smartphones. It can handle up to 24-bit/192kHz hi-res files, although the USB-C input's limit is 96kHz.
The built-in moving magnet phono stage is a great feature for those who appreciate vinyl, allowing you to plug in any turntable without needing separate boxes. This is especially ideal for those with limited space.
The MR1 Mk3 also features a combined optical and 3.5mm aux input, with an adapter included for optical/toslink cables. This adds to the speaker's connectivity options.
The Bluetooth capabilities have also been improved, supporting the AAC and SBC codecs, as well as the higher-quality aptX HD codec for 24-bit streams. This means you can enjoy high-quality audio from compatible sources.
Listening Tests
The MR1 speakers delivered fantastic sound quality, presenting every detail of Bruce Conte's guitar work on "Squib Cakes" without burying David Garibaldi's drum work or Rocco Prestia's bass fingering.
Listening tests were conducted using a desktop PC running the Roon music server, with tracks from favorite CDs ripped and encoded in 16-bit/44.1kHz FLAC.
The speakers' powerful Class A-B amp and 75mm woofers delivered the beef, making them a great choice for music lovers who value bass response.
Moving up a few years to Steely Dan's "Jack of Speed", the MR1 knocked me out with its bass response, delivering more low-end at any volume level than many 2.1-channel systems I've heard.
The speakers sounded even better when connected to the Sound Blaster X7, which handled the digital-to-analog conversion completely outside the noisy environment of the PC's case.
Ruark uses 20mm silk dome tweeters, which contribute to the speakers' clear and detailed sound.
The MR1 supports the high-quality AptX audio codec, allowing for high-quality Bluetooth streaming with minimal quality loss.
Verdict and Recommendations
The Ruark MR1 MkII is a top-notch choice for anyone looking to upgrade their small space's sound system. It's a game-changer, transforming the sound of an office or small room like no other.
If you're considering buying the Ruark MR1 MkII, here are some key points to keep in mind:
Overall, the Ruark MR1 MkII is a solid investment, offering exceptional sound quality, a sleek design, and great value for its price.
Our Verdict
The Ruark MR1 MkII is a top-notch choice for anyone looking for a compact and affordable speaker system. It's small enough to fit on any desk or shelf, and its sleek design makes it a stylish addition to any room.
With its Class A/B amplification and high-quality audio tech, this speaker system delivers robust, detailed, and entertaining sound. It's perfect for music lovers who want a natural, rich, and clear listening experience.
The MR1 MkII has a range of input options, including Bluetooth 5.0, digital optical, and analogue inputs, making it easy to connect to multiple sources. However, it would be even better with the addition of USB or Wi-Fi connectivity.
In terms of value, the Ruark MR1 MkII is hard to beat, especially considering its small size and price. It's a great option for anyone looking for a compact speaker system that won't break the bank.
Here's a quick summary of the MR1 MkII's strengths and weaknesses:
Overall, the Ruark MR1 MkII is a great choice for anyone looking for a compact and affordable speaker system that delivers high-quality sound.
Also Consider
If you're looking for a similar stereo system, consider the Q Acoustics M20 HD. It offers competitive performance for not much more money than the Ruark MR1 MkII.
The Q Acoustics M20 HD is significantly larger than the Ruark MR1 MkII, so it won't suit the same kind of spaces.
Pros and Cons
The Ruark MR1 Bluetooth speakers have some amazing features that make them a great choice for music lovers. Here are some of the pros:
- The sound is powerful, punchy, and dynamic.
- It has excellent rhythmic drive and stereo imaging.
- The built-in phono stage is of good quality.
- The speakers have a stylish, compact design.
- They're also very easy to use.
One thing to note is that the speakers have a good balance of features, but let's look at some of the cons as well.
The speakers have a few limitations, including:
* The pros list doesn't mention any significant cons, so it seems like the speakers have a strong overall performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to connect to Ruark MR1?
To connect to the Ruark MR1, select the Source to "Selected" and your turntable music will play through the speaker. Adjust the volume as needed to balance phono and Bluetooth sound levels.
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