Ruark Audio just announced the R5 music system, and it’s a beaut. The R5 pairs with other Ruark Audio products to become the centerpiece of a multi-room audio system.
The body is made from wood, available in either walnut veneer or soft grey lacquer, along with metal and glass, while the front is covered with a subtle gray fabric.
Inside the Ruark R5 is a pair of 2.95-inch (75 mm) stereo speakers, which use neodymium magnets and a lightweight coil and cone for a natural sound, plus a 5-inch (125 mm) long-throw subwoofer for enhanced bass. This 2.1 system is powered by newly developed Class A-B amplifiers with an 80-watt output.
The R5 also has outstanding performance. Its breadth of audio sources and options it provides to music lovers is also second to none. Hidden in the glass front panel along with an OLED screen is a front-loading CD player, while the radio system supports Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB), FM, and internet radio stations. Connect using Bluetooth and, provided it’s a compatible device, it will be an AptX HD signal, plus there’s a USB port as an alternative.
The Ruark R5 has both an Ethernet port and Wi-Fi, and it will stream Deezer, Amazon Music, Tital and Spotify. Ruark’s own mobile app makes set-up easy. Finally, digital and analog inputs let you connect a turntable to the R5. Those invested in the Ruark range can link Ruark R7 Mk3, R2 Mk3, and MRx speakers up to the R5 for synced multi-room audio.
Ruark includes a cute hockey-puck-style radio remote, and the company says the R5 was inspired by the Ruark R7. The R5, however, is a lot cheaper than the almost $3,000 R7, coming in at around $1,310. If you’re interested in the Ruark R5, it will be available in the spring in the U.K., Japan, Australia, and many others. Sadly, Ruark still doesn’t have distribution in the U.S.
