Last week I wrote about the new Kanto TUK, an all-in-one wireless speaker that can handle almost any music source you care to think of. I mentioned that the TUK is a sign of how the audio industry is moving towards complete audio systems in a single package. Increasingly, people want neat all-in-one systems that don’t take up a lot of room and which can work with a variety of music sources. In some ways, we’re coming “full circle” and returning to the early 1970s when something called a “music center” was the smart person’s choice for home entertainment.
A music center was perfect solution for listening to records, tuning into radio stations, and even making recordings using the built-in stereo cassette deck. Consumers loved their music centers because they were convenient, easy to use and didn’t take up a lot of space. Towards the end of the 1970s, audio separates grew increasingly popular and soon people were listening to monster sound systems that took up much more space and certainly looked impressive.
In this age of smaller living spaces and more itinerant lifestyles, consumers want smaller sound systems that can still pack a decent punch but without taking up too much room or needing wires trailing everywhere. It’s why high-end audio manufacturers like Naim, Technics, and Ruark are turning increasingly to all-in-one audio units that can play music streaming services, connect to internet radio stations, or even spin CDs. These all-in-ones offer plenty of inputs for adding extra audio sources such as computers or good old-fashioned vinyl turntables.
The latest all-in-one comes from Ruark, a British audio manufacturer that started out making speakers but has since carved out a niche for itself making luxury audio players that not only look good but sound great, too. The latest model from Ruark is the R5 and it has just about everything on board… except for the proverbial kitchen sink.
At this point I must confess to having bought myself a Ruark R4 Mk3 about five years ago. I liked the sound and it had a CD player, digital and FM tuners, Bluetooth streaming, optical and analog inputs, plus a headphone socket and built-in speakers with an integrated subwoofer for extra bass. It was ideal for my dining room where meals are eaten. In the mornings I use it to listen to the news on the radio, and in the evenings, I may put on a CD or stream some tunes from my iPhone. However, it can’t connect to any music streaming services or Internet radio. Also, there’s no multi-room capability and, in many ways, it’s starting to look a little bit outdated. So, when I got the chance to review the new Ruark 5, for a couple of weeks, I jumped at the chance.
Ruark has addressed every shortcoming of the Ruark 4 and has produced an all-in-one unit that has almost every feature you could want. First off, the Ruark 5 shares similar styling to the rest of the Ruark line-up and measures a just over half a meter wide and around 300 mm deep. The R5 weighs in at 9.5 kg and the review sample I used had a smart walnut veneer made from real wood and finished to an incredibly high standard. The overall look of the Ruark R5 is like a slick piece of audio kit that you might see in a 1960s film. It looks timeless in many ways and has a smart cloth grille on its front which hides the two main speakers.
The front of the R5 also has a small OLED display and an opening for a slot-loading CD drive plus a push-button power switch. The CD drive slot is set “off-center”, which could irritate some OCD sufferers as the design isn’t symmetrical. On the top of the R5, there’s the classic Ruark control consisting of a rotary dial and a fan of buttons for doing things like selecting the source, as well as adjusting volume or selecting menu items. It’s a multi-function control that’s intuitive to use and reeks of quality. The remote control is perfect a duplicate of the main controller and resembles a hockey puck. I love the remote as it feels so substantial and I only have to learn one layout to master all the controls.
At the rear of the R5 there’s a good choice of inputs. First up is a USB port that can charge or power smartphones, as well as being able to playback digital music files in a variety of formats. Beneath the USB port there is an optical TOS-Link input and an Ethernet port for those not wishing to use the Ruark R5’s built-in Wi-Fi networking capability.
Alongside those three inputs are a trio of stereo RCA phono sockets for attaching a vinyl turntable, an analog device – such as a cassette recorder – plus an Analog Out pair of phonos for hooking the R5 up to a power amplifier or an analog recording device. It’s so rare to see analog out on this type of device. The only other items around the back are a detachable telescopic antenna, a large aluminum heatsink, plus a rocker switch for isolating the power completely.
On the underside of the R5, there’s a 125 mm long-throw subwoofer that has been beefed up to deliver a lot more bass than the R4 can. It’s incredibly effective and elevates the sound of the R5 beyond most all-in-one audio devices.
To get the most from the R5, I’d recommend downloading the Ruark app. It’s available for iOS and Android devices and despite being quite minimalist, it works well and is stable. The app enables the R5 to become part of a multi-room set-up using up to seven other compatible Ruark devices such as the MRx, R2 Mk3, and R7 Mk3.
This multi-room capability enables users to play the same music all around the home or to have each device work as standalone devices. To use the app the R5 first needs to be connected to a Wi-Fi network. It’s an easy process and only needs to be done once. Once connected to the internet, the R5 can steam Spotify, Tidal, Amazon and Deezer, if you have a subscription. There’s also TuneIn internet radio built-in for access to thousands of radio stations for free.
All those streaming services are native to the R5 and that means you don’t need a smartphone to access them. It’s possible to navigate through the streaming services using the small OLED screen on the front of the unit and the rotary selector or remote. The display is a little small so reading glasses may be called for or else use the Ruark app instead.
In addition to the streaming services, the CD player, the auxiliary inputs and the Bluetooth streaming, with its support for AAC and aptX HD, the Ruark R5 also has built-in DAB/DAB+ and FM tuners for receiving conventional radio broadcasts. Users in the USA won’t have access to DAB radio since that’s largely a European and Asian standard that has no place in the land of FM and Sirius. Besides, with TuneIn, you already have access to many thousands of radio stations from all over the world.
On firing up the R5 I was instantly struck by what a huge upgrade this model is over the Ruark R4. The sound is bigger, wider, warmer and more detailed than its predecessor. At the heart of the R5 is a Class AB amplifier, which is unusual in an age that’s increasingly moving to Class D digital amplifiers. The R5 has a bass that’s impressive thanks to the A-B amplifier and the built-in subwoofer. There are EQ settings on board that enable the tone to be changed and the subwoofer to be dialed back until the sound is just to your tastes. There are also presets for storing 10 favorite radio stations that make operating the R5 a real breeze. I also noticed that the Bluetooth reception is much more stable than my R4. I found I could move some distance away from the unit without the signal breaking up.
The CD player has a slick slot-loading mechanism and it’s good to have the ability to play CDs, although I have to admit that it’s something I’m doing less and less these days. We’re all falling prey to “shuffle-itis” – the inability to listen to an entire album of music in one sitting. Perhaps we are so used to the variety offered by the Shuffle or Random function we’ve fallen out of love with listening to entire albums.
Verdict: The Ruark R5 ticks about every box has the possibility to play just about any music source you could ever wish for. There’s a huge choice of music sources, including all the major streaming services, plus you can play music via Bluetooth, listen to Internet and broadcast radio, CDs, plus there are inputs for good old-fashioned vinyl and other analog and digital devices. The new multi-room function is also welcome and easy to use thanks to the Ruark app. I can’t think of anything that’s missing from this stylish-looking and great-sounding device. I love the R5’s big sound with its beefy bass. The “hockey puck” remote control is a piece of sheer design brilliance. Although the R5 is quite an expensive piece of kit, it will prove to be a capable workhorse for the kitchen or living room and last for years. It’s even great for a bedroom, thanks to a range of alarm and sleep functions. The Ruark R5 would be at the top of my wishlist alongside the likes of the Naim Mu-so Qb. I’ll be sad to go back to my old R4. I’d better get saving.
Pricing: £999 / $999 / €999
More info: www.ruarkaudio.com
Specifications:
Sound
- 2 × 75mm full-range driver with neodymium magnet system
- Integrated active subwoofer with 125mm long-throw driver
- Linear Class A-B Amplifier, 90 Watts nominal output
- Adjustable treble and bass settings
- Enhanced 3D sound processing
- Audio grade components throughout
- Loudness function provides enhanced sound at low volume levels
CD player
- Slot loading CD player plays CD-Audio, MP3, AAC and WMA music disks
- Text support for CD and USB playback when available
Wireless
- Wireless DLNA audio streaming from network-attached storage devices and PCs
Multi-Room Ready
- Multi-Room mode allows R5 to be wirelessly connected and synchronized with up to seven other Ruark connected models. These include MRx, R2 Mk3, and R7 Mk3
Tuner
- DAB, DAB+ and FM Tuner with RDS for a local and national reception
- Internet Receiver for world-wide radio reception
- 30 station presets (10 DAB, 10 FM, 10 Internet)
Bluetooth
- Built-in aptX HD Bluetooth receiver provides 24-bit high-resolution playback from compatible devices
Spotify Connect
- Spotify Connect provides seamless integration with Spotify App and access to 20+ million tracks
Streaming Services
- Amazon Music, Deezer, and Tidal
Display
- A high contrast OLED display with large format clock
- Adjustable brightness to suit requirements
Connectivity
- 1 × RIAA gain stage input for turntable (RCA connectors)
- 1 × stereo analog inputs (RCA connectors)
- 1 × digital optical TOSLINK input
- 1 × stereo analog output (RCA connectors)
- USB port: charging for 5V 1.0A devices and playback for WAV, WMA, AAC, FLAC, and MP3
- Ethernet: Yes
- Headphones: Front-mounted stereo headphone output
Other
- Alarm: dual alarm with once, daily, weekday and weekend settings, adjustable alarm volume, adjustable snooze and sleep timers
- Controls: Intuitive ‘click to select’ RotoDial control system and matching RotoDial radio remote
- App: Ruark Link app provides control of R5 from iOS and Android devices
- Finishes: Walnut and Soft Grey
- Power: 100-120/200-240VAC, 50-60Hz
- Dimensions: H142 × W520 × D300mm
- Weight: 9.5 kg
