Ruark MR1 mk3

It goes without saying that eight years can be an eternity in audio technology terms. So it’s an indication of just how right Ruark got its MR1 mk2 powered stereo speaker system when it launched back at the start of 2017 that it’s taken until now for the company to think perhaps a refresh might be in order.

At first glance, it might seem Ruark has been basking in the universal acclaim the MR1 mk2 received rather than getting down to business. But once you get beyond just how very, very similar to the model it replaces the mk3 appears to be, it quickly becomes apparent that there have been plenty of changes.

The speaker cabinets themselves, for instance, have grown. Not by much, admittedly, but the new 185 x 135 x 155mm (HxWxD) dimensions liberate a little more internal volume (it’s now 2 litres) compared to the 175 x 130 x 140mm of the old model, without becoming any less desktop-friendly than before. They’re still made of handcrafted wood, too, and have gained a pleasant little bevel around the grille. 

On the inside, the changes are more obviously significant. Class A/B amplification is replaced by a Class D alternative that’s derived from the company’s award-winning R410 integrated music system - it turns out 25 watts of power per channel. Each speaker’s driver array (20mm silk dome tweeter and ‘NS+’ 85mm treated natural fibre mid/bass driver) is augmented by a downward-firing bass reflex port that’s been extensively retuned, as has the crossover network - Rural reckons this arrangement is good for an in-room frequency response of 50Hz - 22kHz. 

The selection of inputs has stepped on, too. Bluetooth 5.1 wireless connectivity is compatible with the aptX HD codec, and there’s now a USB-C input that’s good for resolutions of up to 24bit/96kHz. The hybrid 3.5mm analogue/digital input can deal with 24bit/192kHz resolution (in optical mode, obviously) - the same as the native resolution of the onboard DAC. And there’s now a moving magnet phono stage, accessible via a pair of RCA connections. The subwoofer pre-out continues, naturally, as does the socket to connect the primary speaker (the one with all the amplification and connections) to its partner using a (supplied) 3m length of braided cable. 

These all look like changes for the better. Even the price - £399 - looks competitive when you consider the MR1 mk2 cost £349 when it launched in The Before Times. So has Ruark MR1 lightning struck for a third time? 

sound quality

Some of the specifics may have changed, but what hasn’t altered in the slightest between the MR1 mk2 and the MR1 mk3 is Ruark’s sonic attitude. Like the product it replaces, the MR1 mk3 is a robust and entertaining listen, with a fistful of audio talents that make it a straightforward pleasure to live with.

There’s energy and positivity to the mk3’s sound, and the greater cabinet volume and reworked reflex port arrangement mean it’s capable of almost unlikely low-frequency extension. The fact the port faces a fixed boundary means the speakers are fairly forgiving of their position on your desk or shelf - and if they’re positioned with any kind of care they can create a fairly large soundstage and a convincing stereo image.

They’re a controlled and organised listen, able to extract an impressive amount of detail from a recording and give it the correct sort of emphasis within the overall presentation. They have ample dynamic headroom, and thanks to the reworked crossover network there’s a unity to the frequency response that’s not necessarily easy to come by. The tonal balance is fractionally towards the ‘warmer than neutral’ side of the scale, but in the context of both the type and price of the product and the low-end presence it’s capable of generating, this is probably fair enough. And besides, there’s more than enough bite at the top end, as well as direct eloquence to the midrange, to offer some balance.

The combination of punch and precision is available through any of the system’s inputs, too. There are qualitative differences between a 320kbps Spotify file streaming via Bluetooth and a disproportionately expensive turntable connected to the integrated phono stage, of course, but the fundamentals of the Ruark’s attitude never change. It’s forward, but not aggressively so. It’s weighty, but it doesn’t drone - its rhythmic expression is impressive. It’s detailed, but it doesn’t get caught up in the minutiae.

And as well as consistency across its inputs, the MR1 mk3 is able to maintain its character at any volume level. Sometimes you want your desktop system to play quietly, of course - and when you dial back the Ruark’s volume it simply gets quieter. No part of the frequency range goes astray, and the emphasis of the presentation doesn’t tilt.

Ultimately, the improvements in performance over the older model are not exactly radical, but they are obvious and worthwhile. Ruark was starting from a very high base with the MR1 mk2, but with the MR1 mk3 it has made unarguable progress.   

living with

‘Painless’ is as good a word as any to describe the experience of living with the Ruark MR1 mk3. If there’s a pair of powered stereo speakers that’s equally discreet and well-made, equally simple to operate and equally easy to get along with, I’d like to know about it.

All of the amplification, and all of the physical and wireless connections, are in the primary speaker that Ruark has designated as the right channel. It also features a socket for the mains power adapter, and an output for the cable to connect it to the partnering speaker that constitutes the left channel. This secondary speaker has an input for that connecting cable, and that’s it. 

Ruark provides a small, slender remote control of the ‘clicky membrane’ type that covers power on/off, volume up/down and input selection. Far nicer, if slightly less convenient, is the integrated RotoDial on the top of the primary speaker’s cabinet. This has been a signature bit of Ruark design for a long time, and it raises the height of this speaker to 202mm - and it remains an undeniably gratifying way of doing what the remote control can do. 

The primary speaker also features a little button on the rear panel marked ‘reset/input level’. Press and hold it for 5 seconds and you can perform a factory reset/memory wipe - or use a short press and it will adjust the input level of the line, optical or phono input (depending on which input is selected). This is particularly useful for the phono input, as it allows adjustment to compensate for different cartridge types - and the selected input level is stored individually for each source. 

The way the MR1 mk3 is built and finished makes living with the system pretty easy, too. The pleasantly curved cabinets are available in real walnut veneer or charcoal lacquer finishes, and each is nicely complemented by the slate grey fabric grilles (which are fixed, by the way, and are not to be removed). The overall look is - to my eyes, at least - understated and actually quite sophisticated. It’s hard to think of a desk that wouldn’t have its appearance elevated, at least a little, by a pair.   

conclusion

As a desktop system or a set-up for a small or medium-sized room, the Ruark MR1 mk3 is an ideal combination of performance per pound, aesthetic good taste and fairly wide-ranging connectivity. To a lesser extent, it’s a good option as a TV audio system too. It’s been an unarguably long time coming, but nevertheless the MR1 mk3 has been worth the wait.

listening notes

Brian Eno & Beatie Wolfe Hopelessly At Ease
The Dolby Atmos mix of this predictably gentle-yet-unsettling recording lets the Ruark show off the winning nature of its soundstaging and spatial coherence. It’s remarkably adept at positioning sound quite a significant distance from its actual cabinets   

Frank Ocean Nikes
The spare and wide-open nature of this recording allows the MR1 mk3 to demonstrate its abilities with transient response and stereo focus - and it also lets it prove it’s no slouch when it comes to midrange resolution. The system sounds every bit as direct as the song requires

The Wedding Present Dalliance 
An absolute paradigm of the ‘quiet/loud/EXTREMELY LOUD’ indie dynamism template, this recording’s numerous upshifts in drive and attack are handled deftly by the Ruark - and without discernible stress, either. If you want to take full-throttle angst and heartbreak all the way to your desktop, don’t look any further

You buy a Ruark MR1 mk3 because you fancy more than a hint of hi-fi performance without the need to break the bank or spoil your interior decor choices. You buy it because you like its looks, its sound and its adaptability. And because you know a high-quality bit of cabinet-making when you see it.

The JBL Spinner BT is a fine-sounding record player at its relatively modest asking price, and as well as very enjoyable vinyl playback it has a couple of features useful when pairing with the Ruark MR1 mk3. First of all, it’s equipped with aptX HD Bluetooth transmission - so it can be positioned far from the Ruark and still enjoy a very worthwhile connection. If you move it a little closer and physically connect it to the speakers, you can indulge in a little ‘A/B’ sound quality comparison thanks to the JBL’s built-in phono stage. Connect it via the 3.5mm line-level input and you’ll hear what the turntable’s amplification is like - switch the phono stage off, connect via stereo RCA to the Ruark’s phono stage and you’ll discover which you prefer.