When we got an invitation to Ruark Audio's launch in Malaysia, I confess that I didn't have a clue of who were they. As we mostly focus on tech gadgets like smartphones and laptops, we are not that well versed in HiFi audio but we do have our fair share of reviews on audio products. One of my audiophile buddies recommended checking them out as they are an award-winning audio brand in the UK, so I did that and was smitten with their products.
Apparently known for winning a few What Hi-Fi? Awards for three years in a row from 2017, the MR1 (also known as Ruark Audio MR1 Mk2 Bluetooth Speakers System in full name) are the brand's entry-level lineup and costs RM2099. While it may seem a bit expensive for many, I think this is a pretty good purchase especially if you're just starting your audiophile journey. Read on below for the rest of my Ruark Audio MR1 Bluetooth speakers review!
Design-wise, the MR1 looks pretty simple but it stands out because of its build material. If you are a Generation-X or Baby Boomer, you would be familiar with the radiogram design that got phased out in favour of the more modern sleek design of the Millenium era. With this concept using a Rich Walnut Veener design, the MR1 can blend into a living room surrounding perfectly. I would recommend that you put this in your bedroom or study room, but more on that later.
Simplistic in design, they also come in white but I prefer this variant
What you're seeing here is the Rotodial volume controller. Also, check out the smooth wood surface
The back of the left and right speaker. On the right side, you'll find the optical, power, aux-in and sub-out connectors, as well as the port that connects the two speakers
Setting up the MR1 is a simple task, just use the provided cable to connect the left and right speakers and then plug in the power cable. You also get a Bluetooth remote control that can be used to connect to your preferred phone or an auxiliary input device like the MRX or even a modern vinyl recorder, though I doubt most people would have the latter. Pairing is pretty simple too but for your information, the MR1 is not included in the Ruark app so you can't use that for quick pairing. You also can't share the MR1 between two devices.
Looking at the size of these Bluetooth speakers, it's only logical for you to put them in your room. An option is to place them nicely beside a monitor in front of you, then connect it to your smartphone or laptop and you're all set to go. By the way, the MR1 (and other Ruark audio speakers) can also be connected to via Bluetooth aptX or WiFi streaming, as well as Spotify, Tidal, Deezer and Amazon Music. If you leave your devices hanging there for too long with the speaker on, there will be a slight delay when you start playing a song or video but otherwise, the wireless connection is usually fine.
The power adapter and speaker cable connector are found inside the box
There's also a Ruark RotoDial controller inside the box
Now that we have gotten the aesthetics and setup out of the way, we are going to discuss the most important part of the review - audio performance. So how did it go? Well, although I only had a week of experience using them, I must say that I'm very impressed with it! I wished that you were in the room with me listening to the songs and enjoy the entirely different experience, all thanks to the Class A-B amplifiers that all Ruark audio speakers are equipped with. For comparison, other audio products here in Malaysia normally use Class D amps.
To best describe the audio performance, I would say that it feels like you are in front of the singer or band, with the musical instruments playing live. Playing acoustic or orchestra pieces with it is just blissful and it performs very well on a variety of music genres like EDM, rock, hip hop. Oh, speaking of feeling like a live concert in front of you, it's a blast to play an actual concert and feel like you're there. If you have a chance to test out the MR1 (or any other Ruark Audio speaker), below are the songs that I'd recommend to test out:
- Mree - In Your Eyes (live version or any of her songs for ambience, really)
- Utada Hikaru - Face My Fears
- Selena - Dreaming of You (Remastered)
- Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence (by Ryuichi Sakamoto or Kaori Muraji)
- MGS Peace Walker - Koi No Yokushi-Ryoku (Acoustic Guitar Duo)
- BLACKPINK - How You Like That (Amy Park Remix, YouTube only)
- Skrillex feat. Ragga Twins - Ragga Bomb (Skrillex & Zomboy Remix)
- Bring Me The Horizon - Shadow Moses (Live at the Royal Albert Hall)
- OR3O ft. RichaadEB -【Tokyo Ghoul】Unravel
- The Gazette - Guren (Traces Vol.2)
- Evanescence - Your Star (Synthesis)
- Linkin Park - Heavy
Of course, everyone has their choice of songs when testing out a speaker but there's a reason for each one I chose. As you can see from the list above, the MR1 can handle a wide range of music genres. In addition to that, it can bring new life to these songs, helping you discover details in the songs that you probably never heard before. The sound comes out crystal clear and crisp, without the bass, treble and mid trying to overshadow each other with the right amount of "mhm". You can also hear the singer taking a quick breath before singing or lips smacking, and discerning music instruments in the background between the left and right speakers. Just wonderful stuff there.
Apart from listening to songs, you can also use the MR1 to watch TV shows and movies too. The sound is also quite good for that and you can set the speakers up to create a mini theatre, something you can enjoy after a long week. When I was watching the climax in Avengers Endgame (the opening portals part), I got goosebumps when the musical score was playing in the background. Well, it's either that or I'm just a sucker for that moment. Nonetheless, the MR1 is great for this too!
My desk setup with the Bluetooth speakers
By now, you probably realise that saying I really like the Ruark MR1 Bluetooth speakers would be an understatement. In fact, at the time of posting this review, I have already bought myself a pair of Ruark Audio MR1 Bluetooth speakers because they are worth it. The audio quality is a solid A+ for me and the homey radiogram design fits my computer desk perfectly. If there's one thing that I have to nitpick, it would have to be the fact that it cannot connect to more than one device.
Tech specs and features
- Linear Class A-B amplifier 20 watts
- Frequency response 35 Hz ~ 22 kHz
- Quality Switch Mode Power Supply
- 2 x 20mm treated silk dome tweeter
- 2 x long-throw 75mm woofer with a neodymium magnet system
- Audiophile 24-bit Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC)
- Active subwoofer output connectivity, Analogue audio line input, Digital audio optical input
- Bluetooth aptX, SBC, AAC
- Bluetooth music services - Spotify Connect, Tidal, Deezer, and Amazon Music
- Stereo 3.5mm RCA and Optical
Pros - Awesome speakers that let you listen songs and background music in movies the way they are meant to be heard, has a homey design and is easy to setup
Cons - Can't pair with more than one device
Conclusion - A great entry-level HiFi speakers for audiophiles and music lovers who are on a budget
COMMENTS