Ruark Audio R3 Compact Music System – Compact design, great sound

Extremely compact and elegant in appearance, versatile in features, and convincing in sound, this is how Ruark Audio describes its latest offspring in the all-in-one range.
One systems, the new Ruark Audio R3 Compact Music System.

Ruark Audio is a company with a long tradition. Since 1986, the English company, which is still family-owned, has been developing and manufacturing the finest audio solutions with the primary aim of integrating them as harmoniously as possible into the living environment of music lovers. Ruark Audio’s solutions are characterised by unique design, high-quality materials and flawless manufacturing, as well as technically flawless equipment.

Ruark Audio’s philosophy is to produce all-in-one audio systems that are perceived as part of the home environment, not as a disturbing factor, and that are highly flexible and provide very fine sound quality. This also applies to Ruark Audio’s latest addition, the Ruark Audio R3 Compact Music System. The English manufacturer promises a compact design, but at the same time room-filling sound. The main focus is on streaming as a source, but it also offers a CD player, radio and Bluetooth.

It’s obvious at first glance that the design language that was introduced with the Ruark Audio R5 High Fidelity Music System and Ruark R7 High Fidelity Radiogram is trusted. The noble case with round shapes is made of wood and has a convincing walnut veneer surface, but can also be purchased with a simple grey lacquer finish.

The system sits enthroned on elegant, slim metal feet, which are essential if only because the Ruark Audio R3 Compact Music System is designed as a bass-reflex system and the corresponding openings are located on the underside of the cabinet, but more on this in the following.

The front is adorned with a grey mottled textile covering, in the middle of which a generously sized OLED display with very good contrast has been mounted. Directly under the display is the drive for CDs, whereby a drive with slot-in mechanism is used here. On the top side are all the controls, which once again have the extremely practical arrangement in the form of a circle, which has been typical for Ruark Audio for years and days, thus guaranteeing truly intuitive operation. All connections are located on the rear, on a connection panel made of aluminium.

As already mentioned, the new Ruark Audio R3 Compact Music System focuses on streaming, which can be connected to the network either via WiFi or the classic cable connection.

The Ruark Audio R3 Compact Music System can access the services Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music HD and TIDAL. Depending on the service, music streaming is even offered up to hi-res audio, so that high quality is provided at the source.

As an alternative, we have already mentioned, CD is of course available, whereby data CD-ROMs with MP3s are supported in addition to pure audio CDs. In addition, a classic radio is of course also available, with the tuner being designed for both FM and DAB+. A rod antenna ensures optimal reception. You can also integrate appropriate storage media via USB, whereby you can fortunately already use USB C. This interface can also be used to charge mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Via Bluetooth such devices can also be used as a “wireless” source, so that not only your own content but also any online streaming services can be played back that are not directly supported by the Ruark Audio R3 Compact Music System. The support of aptX guarantees signal transmission in “CD quality”.

For example, if you want to connect a TV set directly to the Ruark Audio R3 Compact Music System, you can do this via an optical S/PDIF interface, a so-called TOS link. The system also has an analogue input, also designed as a pair of cinch sockets, as well as a line out.

Headphones can also be connected directly, via a 3.5 mm stereo mini jack socket, which unfortunately is located on the back and not on the front.

A signal processing with DSP-support, but also an amplifier in classic “HiFi construction” provides for a rich sound. Thus one does not rely on Class D, but on Class AB, whereby the latter supplies 30 Watts.

This drives so-called Ruark Audio NS+ loudspeaker units, which, with a strong neodymium magnet as drive, accurately move particularly light yet very stiff membranes and thus guarantee a harmonious, dynamic reproduction. Of course, the solid cabinet described above is also an essential basis for a rich sound, in addition to the aforementioned bass reflex ports on the bottom side.

Of course, an infrared remote control is included in the scope of delivery of the new Ruark Audio R3 Compact Music System, which, with dimensions of 420 x 167 x 220 mm, will probably find a place anywhere. It weighs 5.3 kg.

The new Ruark Audio R3 Compact Music System will be available in specialist shops these days, according to the sales department. As described, it is available in a choice of high-quality walnut veneer or a matt grey lacquer finish. The recommended retail price for the new Ruark Audio R3 Compact Music System is € 799,-.

Getting to the point

Ruark Audio’s philosophy is to produce all-in-one audio systems that are perceived as part of the living environment and not as a disturbing factor. This also applies to Ruark Audio’s latest addition, the Ruark Audio R3 Compact Music System. The English manufacturer promises a compact design, but at the same time room-filling sound. The main focus is on streaming as a source, but it also offers a CD player, radio and Bluetooth.