Appealing retro looks and ‘proper hi-fi’ sound
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Gorgeous looks, streamlined design and features and improved sound quality – the Ruark MR1 Mk2 shot straight to the top of our favourites list when the company returned with a vengeance to provide a sequel to the 2013 originals.
We said the original Ruark MR1 were the closest any desktop wireless speaker had come to sounding like proper hi-fi, and that’s true even more so now, thanks to a clearer, more insightful and open sound. The MR1 Mk2 are wonderfully musical. The amount of subtlety conveyed is even greater than before, delivering rich detail and fluid dynamics on a whole new level.
There’s plenty of space between instruments in the airy soundstage, giving songs an expansive feel, with new life breathed into whatever music you play through them. The dominant bassline in SBTRKT’s Wildfire is taut, packs a punch and you can hear its deep, squelchy textures. The MR1 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 lovely. Bella Hardy’s The Driving Of The Deer is delivered with the kind of effortless drive and insight we’d expect from decent hi-fi speakers. There’s a solidity underpinning the rich, warm midrange, and the elegance with which her lilting, nimble vocals are delivered is simply gorgeous.
The Mk2 sound lush and smooth while also being articulate. They convey the mood of songs faithfully, too – an impressive feat for wireless speakers. 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 Ruark MR1 Mk2 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 wise to keep its characteristic look, but it doesn’t rest on its laurels. Where possible, the design has been streamlined. The most obvious update is the grey fabric covering the grilles – both for aesthetic and acoustic reasons. The cable connecting the left and right speakers is now slimmer and covered in braided fabric.
Hi-fi principles
Less obvious, but far more useful, is the addition of an optical input that can support hi-res audio up to 24-bit/192kHz – a big update from the original. It also means you can use the new
