Style and Substance. The Ruark R5 Music System

The Ruark R5 System is absolutely gorgeous! There you go, we’ve said it and we mean gorgeous in its styling, its versatility, and its sound.

Wrapped in rich real walnut or in soft contemporary grey with contrasting grilles this system looks amazing.

But the beauty of the R5 is not just skin deep. This is one seriously well equipped system. The R5 has:

Bluetooth with aptX HD

Internet streaming services including internet radio, access to the most popular music services, and Spotify Connect

A DAB, DAB+ and FM radio section

CD

A phono stage built in for moving magnet cartridges

Optical digital in

Analogue in

Analogue out (subwoofers anyone?)

USB in with charge

and a Headphone output too

There’s the now familiar circular control on the R5 which makes navigating the menus and functions very easy and intuitive. This is also mirrored in the remote control which has identical form and function.

The really surprising thing about the R5 however is its sound. It sounds like serious Hi-Fi. OK it’s not going to beat a big pair of floorstanders on the end of an expensive separates system, but what it does do is play music and communicate on a far bigger scale than it should.

You can certainly tell the difference between Billy Eilish and Lorde, or Ariana and Mariah. The R5 handles midrange subtleties wonderfully. Put on some bigger scale rock or orchestral and you get the impact immediately.

There’s even a proprietary app from Ruark to control it and to integrate it with other Ruark products into a complete home multi-room system.

We simply can’t think of any other one box solution that sounds anywhere near as good as the Ruark R5.

Pop into Audio T Brentwood and we’ll be more than happy to show you why we think it is so good!

Ruark Hi-Fi products are available from the following branches of Audio T: Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Southampton, Swansea

Honey, I've Shrunk The Radiogram - Ruark R5 Music Streaming System

Ruark have scaled down their flagship model the R7 to create a tabletop version. They have listened to customer feedback and have learnt that many love the design and features of the Ruark R7 and have scaled down their flagship model in all but sound to create the R5.

The Ruark R5 is multi-room ready and if desired can be wirelessly linked with the Ruark MRx, R2 Mk3 and R7 Mk3 to provide beautiful sound all around your home. Perfect on its own or with a TV as a complete home entertainment solution, The R5 embodies their rich heritage with awareness of changing technology in a system that is timeless and built to last.

The wonderful walnut wood and lovely lush sound of the Ruark R5 is something to be experienced. The canvas front and minimalistic look give it a fantastic modern look that catches the eye and is backed up with a very solid sound.

Whether you want to wirelessly stream or want to connect a turntable or TV, the R5 has it covered. For direct streaming, R5’s aptX HD Bluetooth receiver provides above CD quality from compatible devices and with a broadband connection you’ll have access to Internet radio stations worldwide and an infinite library of music through services such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer and Tidal. Moreover, with both analogue and digital inputs it’s also easy to connect and enjoy other devices. In particular the Ruark R5 makes a great sound system to boost the sound quality of your TV.

The Ruark R5 features an underside subwoofer which gives it a larger than life sound and a surprisingly wide soundstage to the point we have mistaken its sound for the massive floorstanders we have beside it!

The R5 also incorporates a high quality moving magnet (MM) phono stage so connecting a turntable now is an easy option. No more fiddling about with add on phono stages or inferior turntables, just plug one in and you will be listening to your favourite vinyl in minutes.

The remote control puck mirrors the top controls and provides unique and convenient control. Ruark also provides an alternative control method through the ‘Ruark Link’ phone app meaning you’ll never be far from your music.

Come on in and have a listen and you could be bringing high quality music to any room in your house.

The Ruark R5 is available at the following branches of Audio T: Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Southampton, Swansea

The Amazing New Ruark R5 Compact Hi-Fi System

As a company, Ruark found fame by making rather nifty loudspeakers during the 1980’s, 90’s and part of the noughties. Since 2006 they have been pouring their considerable talents into designing and building some of the best compact audio lifestyle products on the market today!

The newest of these is the R5. Ruark call it a High Fidelity Music System.

Now you might think that their description may be stretching the truth a little and you’d be forgiven for thinking this upon first seeing it in the flesh as it is pretty small. Listening is another matter though! It has a lush sound with oodles of detail. This is partly down to the secret weapon lodged on the underneath…….an active sub woofer. This gives a the system a much deeper and more realistic sound than is usually associated with such systems.

You can wirelessly stream music, play from a phone via high quality Bluetooth, play from one of the squillions if internet radio stations, plug in a turntable using its built in phono stage or even play one of those old fashioned CD things!! Support for streaming music services such as Spotify, Tidal and Deezer is built in and there are also spare analogue and digital inputs meaning you can enjoy a multitude of other devices and also upgrade the sound from your TV too!

Ruark have not skimped on the styling either. There is certain retro chic going on here with the sleek curvy hand crafted cabinet and the fabric grille……all very cool and all very perfect for the music and design enthusiast alike.

We love it and we think you will too. The Ruark R5 is available in Walnut or Soft Grey finishes and is on permanent demonstration here in the Cheltenham shop and you are welcome to come in and have a play.

Tea and coffee are available!

Ruark Audio Hi-Fi products are available at the following branches of Audio T:
Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Southampton, Swansea

The New Ruark R5 Streaming Music System Buzzes In To Manchester.

Say hello to the brand new R5 from Ruark, officially the bigger brother of the ever popular R4, but with the design queues from the top of the range R7, in fact the R5 is like a scaled down version of this Ruark range topper.

The new fabric exterior makes the Ruark R5 look really classy, and with the smooth, slick CD loader and an OLED display the unit offers a discreetly high-tech look, balanced with the furniture grade rich walnut veneered cabinet and soft grey anodised metal-work, result in a minimalist, yet practical design.

To operate and control the R5 it could not be simpler. Fitted atop the cabinet is Ruark's trademark controller, the RotoDial, this ergonomically designed control offers instant operation of the main functions, and with the simplest press of a couple of buttons, some of the more advanced features too.

The RotoDial is completely copied with the supplied remote commander, so all features can be controlled from the comfort and convenience of your favourite arm chair. But there is more; the recently developed Ruark 'LINK' control app, allows you to take full command of the unit via your smart phone or tablet. Through this app, you can link other Ruark WiFi compatible units, and create a whole house Ruark wireless system...

Connection Heaven is how Ruark describe the R5, and that is no lie or exaggeration.

It starts with a traditional CD player, one offering multi-format support. All three radio systems are incorporated, conventional FM, DAB+ Digital, and internet radio. The R5 boasts a Bluetooth wireless connection, for playing music from all your favourite devices; featuring the latest high specification aptX HD receiver. In addition, both analogue (a separate RCA line input, with separate RCA Phono input) and digital (via optical toslink connection) hard wired inputs are provided. Full wireless music streaming from U-PNP devices; and as mentioned, fully multi room ready. You can also play your favourite tunes from Spotify Connect, with support for Tidal, Deezer and Amazon Music services.

Inside the R5's electronics it has a high capacity linear power supply and utilises genuine Hi-Fi grade Class AB power amplifiers, driving the main left and right channel high quality full range speakers. These larger drive units, compared to the smaller R4, are combined with a low frequency bass driver mounted underneath the unit to help give the R5 a truly rich sound, much bigger than the elegant, compact case would suggest. Room filling sound within even a large room, distortion free and with ease.

The base unit and reflex port underneath the R5.

The heat sinks on the class A-B amplifier.

The Ruark R5 in on display and available for demonstration at our Manchester store.

Come along and ask for a demo. Munir, Mike, Macarena,Dave and Haden should be there to help

See you at the store.

.

Ruark Audio Hi-Fi products are available from the following branches of Audio T:
Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Southampton, Swansea

New Ruark R5 Lifestyle Music System With Rega Planar 2 And A Goat

Yes that's right a Goat. We have been experimenting with the phono stage in the new Ruark R5 just to see if it really can do everything really rather well, or if we could find a chink in the armour.

R5 Planar 2 and Goat. Can you spot it?

As in Preston’s wonderful blog on the arrival of the R5 and its many features, it is a hugely versatile and a great sounding system as one would expect from a Ruark product. However, we know that built in phono stages can be can be of variable quality, so we thought we would put the Ruark through its paces.

The circular remote takes a short time to learn how to navigate but very pleasant to use when you have.

We felt the Rega planar 2 (with Carbon cartridge) was a suitable match as you could hear the difference between the Planar 1 and the 2 quite clearly. We did try the Planar 3 but didn’t feel you where getting the best out of it.

After a short listen we had a quick play with the sound settings to a) see how easy it is and b) to find out how much more we could pull out of the system. It was super easy and you can make the changes during playback making things fast and efficient. We switched off 3D sound, switched loudness on and kept bass and trebile level. This seemed to give the overall sound presentation more openness and clarity, allowing more control in the room. Of course this can differ from room to room, and the surface upon which the R5 is placed will play a role in how the system sounds.

Then we cranked the volume and enjoyed some Goat!

Goat Requiem

So, why do I keep saying Goat. Well Goat are a Swedish Alternative/Experimental group, who formed in 2012. Their main genres are various types of rock such as experimental, psychedelic and hard sort of world music (that being the name of their debut album). I often get asked by customers if I have come across anything new and a bit different, well Goat fits that bill. The album is very well produced, open and a good system test. Certainly worth a try.

Back of the album

After listening to two of the four discs at various volumes we decided that the built in phono stage is certainly not a chink in the armour but another strength.

In conclusion, much as expected the Ruark R5 is an all-round fabulous portable music system bringing stylish, compact quality and great sound into the home.

We look forward to seeing you in the Portsmouth branch so can can hear it for yourself. If a home demonstration is required that can also be arranged.

Nick, Joe and James

Ruark Audio Hi-Fi products are available from the following branches of Audio T:
Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Southampton, Swansea

The All New Ruark R5 Portable Music Streaming System Has Arrived

The all new Ruark Audio R5 has arrived. As we have come to know and love from Ruark is that they are well designed and visually pleasing, and jam packed with features for a single box music system.

The R5 is fitted with a multi-format CD player that will play self made discs in WAV, AAC and MP3 formats and has an OLED display for clear information display.

You can connect a mobile device to the R5 using the very latest in Bluetooth technology, AptX HD Bluetooth. Or, if you prefer you can stream music from Spotify, Spotify connect, Deezer, Amazon music and Tidal streaming services which are all built in to this competent and visually appealing unit.

You can choose from a phenomenal range of music stations on FM, DAB and DAB+ or from anywhere in the world using internet radio where you are sure to find something for your listening pleasure. The R5 will connect directly to your network either via an ethernet port situated on the back of the unit or via WiFi. The R5 even lets you play your stored music from a network hard drive using the UPNP feature.

The Ruark R5 is equipped with a built in phono pre-amplifier enabling you to connect a turntable directly with no additional boxes required. Ruark have also expanded the physical inputs on the R5 to include an optical input to connect your TV or another digital device as well as an analogue RCA input and a USB port for playback from USB devices in a variety of file formats.

Situated on the front of the R5 is a convenient headphone socket for those late night listening sessions enabling an up close and personal performance from your favourite artists day or night.

This latest addition to the Ruark Audio line up the R5 has a full remote control that works on radio frequencies so doesn't need to be pointed at the unit and if you misplace the remote control temporarily, there are controls on the top. Ruark Audio have a control application 'Ruark Link' which works with both Apple and Android devices giving you all the control you will ever need over your music.

The R5 is multi-room ready so will connect with MRX, R2 Mk3 and R7 Mk3 for seamless multi-room playback.

We look forward to seeing you in store for a listen

Ian/Gavin & Andy

Ruark Audio lifestyle Hi-Fi products are available from the following branches of Audio T:

Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Southampton, Swansea

New Ruark R5 Coming Very Soon!

Ruark have been hard at work and a super new model is being added to the range. We are expecting a full complement of features and the sound quality that Ruark have become renowned for.

To be launched at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show (organised by AUDIO T) 22nd to 24th February.

We would love to tell you more but we are sworn to secrecy until the launch date!

Ruark Audio

Available at
Brentwood, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Enfield, Manchester, Online, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Southampton, Swansea