Both of these products are made by a well-known and highly regarded manufacturer. Ruark is a family-owned British company that has been designing and manufacturing high-fidelity speakers for over thirty years and is now also producing well-engineered music systems. Bose is a privately owned American corporation that designs, develops and sells audio equipment worldwide and is best known for its home audio systems and speakers.

Ruark R4 Mk3

The third version of the Ruark R4 is a good-looking system that’s available in a rich walnut veneer finish or in soft black or white lacquer. Like most Ruark products, it produces a good sound quality through twin drivers and a sub-woofer, the sound also augmented by the acoustic properties of the materials used in manufacture.

The R4 is a traditional music centre with modern functionality and connectivity. Radio is provided through FM and DAB tuners and there’s also DAB+ should the UK ever upgrade. However, there’s no WiFi so you can’t access internet radio or services such as Spotify. But there is Bluetooth with aptX so you can stream music of CD quality from compatible devices.

A CD player accepts standard CDs and CD-Rs that are encoded in WAV, MP3, AAC or WMA formats. Information for these can be displayed from the ID3 tag.

Rather than a series of buttons, the R4 is controlled by a RotoDial that’s standard on all Ruark audio devices and there’s also a remote control but no smartphone access via an app.

There’s an aux-in socket and a USB connector so you can play music from connected devices (MP3, AAC and WMA formats) and charge your phone or tablet. Additionally, there’s a headphone jack and an optical input that allows connection to a TV.

It’s mains-powered only and has a bright and easily viewed OLED display. There’s also a dual alarm with sleep and snooze modes.

The Ruark R4 is highly rated by consumers and was Hi-Fi Choice Recommended, attained five stars in the Music Choice Awards and was Editor’s Choice in Android Magazine.

Bose Wave IV

This compact, all-in-one player comes in a choice of three finishes and achieves great sound courtesy of its Waveguide speaker technology. It has an AM radio tuner as well as FM and DAB, with six pre-sets for both FM and DAB, but no DAB+.

The CD player accepts standard CDs and CD-Rs in MP3 format only with track information displayed when available. This appears on the large and bright display screen.

There’s a headphone jack and aux-in socket to connect other devices and the system is mains powered via a supplied cable. Everything is controlled from the unit itself or by a very small and slim remote and there are dual alarms.

The basic Wave IV has neither Bluetooth nor WiFi but these are available on the more expensive Wave SoundTouch IV. This has a separate unit that’s connected by cable and provides two USB ports, Bluetooth and WiFi. Consequently, you can control the system from your phone using the SoundTouch app and have access to internet radio, which means Spotify and other services are available as well as a great choice of worldwide stations.

Which Should You Choose?

Both models provide a great sound and good music options although there are some differences. The Wave IV has an AM tuner, which may be important depending on the radios you listen to, while the R4 has DAB+ for future-proofing. For the CD player, the Ruark R4 has a greater choice of codecs for CD-Rs.

The Ruark R4 has no WiFi connection while the Wave IV supports neither WiFi nor Bluetooth in its standard form. However, you can add both by purchasing the SoundTouch version.

The Wave IV is smaller, lighter and considerably cheaper than the R4 and could be your choice if you only want to play CDs and listen to radio with a great sound. But it becomes somewhat bulkier and more expensive, although still cheaper than the R4, if you buy the SoundTouch version.

As usual, it comes down to personal choice and what you want out of the system. It may also depend on whether you like the R4’s RotoDial control or prefer a more conventional method.

For some more options, see our roundup of the best high-end DAB radios.

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Revo SuperSystem

The Revo SuperSystem launched in 2015 in direct competition with the already established Ruark R2. It followed on from the successful SuperConnect, which won the What HiFi ‘Best Radio £200+’ award in the same year, to provide a product with a wide range of features.

Design and Appearance

The most widely sold model has a walnut cabinet with anodised aluminium fascia and mild steel cabinet. It has a distinctive retro appearance and there are also black and white versions. The choice of materials is influenced not only by their good looks but also their feel and the fact they help to create high-quality sound.

Music Selection and Connectivity

The Revo provides plenty of radio options that cover FM with RDS, DAB, DAB+ and internet, giving access to over 24,000 stations nationally and around the world. Added to that, there’s Spotify Connect that provides over 30 million songs for Spotify Premium account holders.

Wireless streaming from a number of sources is enabled through Bluetooth, with Qualcomm aptX technology providing CD quality from supported devices. DLNA and WLAN technology allow playback from NAS drives and various other devices.

There’s also a 3.5mm input, RCA out, headphone out, Ethernet, optical in and out, and a USB port for charging and input from memory sticks, with compatible audio codecs including AAC, AAC+, WAV, WMA and FLAC.

Controls and Display

The Revo can be operated in a number of ways. There’s a large knob on top of the cabinet that’s simply used to adjust the volume, several buttons that control playback, presets, etc., and a small joystick that navigates the menu system.

Also supplied is a remote that can be used to control the device or, if that isn’t convenient, you can download an UNDOK app to a mobile device and use this instead. That includes the ability to distribute whatever’s playing to various rooms in the house, providing they have compatible Revo devices.

A 2.7” OLED display provides information about what’s playing and is clear enough to be read from a distance.

Other Features

The Revo has an 80-watt amplifier that delivers sound through two 3.5-inch flat panel BMR speakers. The effect is high quality sound that can fill a large room and is forceful and subtle at the same time.

A dual alarm is incorporated with sleep and snooze functions, and there’s a multi-country power supply in the box. Power consumption is 48.64 watts in operation and 0.758 watts on standby.

Reviews and Awards

The Revo has won multiple awards, including the What HiFi Best All-in-One System award in 2017. It also received the Red Dot Product Design award, which recognises good industrial design, innovation, quality and functionality.

Reviews frequently mention the product’s great build quality, extensive functions and superb sound.

Brand Reputation

Revo was founded in Lanark, Scotland, in 2004 and is a specialist designer of digital audio devices. It has a good reputation for sound quality and its products are sold in twenty countries. The company’s AXiS hybrid radio features in the National Museum of Scotland’s permanent collection.

Ruark Audio R2 Mk3

The Ruark Audio R2 is a well-established and highly regarded product that is now in its third version. The latest model appeared in 2015 and has been a market favourite since then.

Design and Appearance

As is common these days, the Ruark has a retro look with up-to-date features. The cabinet, available in handcrafted rich walnut or a soft white or black lacquer, has a steel front panel. The selected materials are intended to not only look good but also deliver excellent sound quality.

Music Selection and Connectivity

Radio is provided through FM, DAB, and DAB+ tuners, plus an internet tuner to give access to stations worldwide, with thirty station pre-sets (ten each for DAB, FM and internet). There’s also Spotify Connect that gives access to a vast array of music.

There’s Bluetooth with aptX technology for CD quality sound from compatible devices, WiFi for internet radio and wireless DLNA for audio streaming from networked storage devices and PCs. Additionally, there’s multi-room capability so several compatible devices can broadcast around the house.

Other connectivity is available through a USB port for playback and charging, stereo headphone output, telescopic aerial and two line inputs for audio devices. Audio codecs include AAC, WAV, WMA, MP3 and FLAC.

Controls and Display

The Ruark’s RotoDial control system gives access to all menu options and is provided instead of multiple buttons for different actions. Operation is as for all Ruark devices, turning the dial to scroll and pressing to select.

Alternatively, there’s a remote control provided and availability of the UNDOK app that can be downloaded to control the Ruark from a smartphone or tablet device.

The OLED display has a large format clock and other information. It has adjustable brightness and is easily viewable from all angles.

Other Features

Sound is delivered through a 20-watt output amplifier and there’s a loudness function to enhance sounds at low volume and a 3D sound mode for a bigger and bolder sound.

Also incorporated is a dual alarm with multiple settings, adjustable volume and sleep and snooze modes. This device tends to be a bit cheaper than the Revo SuperSystem.

Reviews and Awards

The Ruark R2 Mk3 is generally considered a quality product that delivers exceptional sound and has a large number of features. It won the 2015 What HiFi award in the All-in-One System category.

Brand Reputation

Ruark is a family-run British business that was founded in 1985. It has a reputation for good build quality and has plenty experience in producing high-quality speakers. As a result, it’s considered one of the best producers of audio products.

Making a Choice

Both these music systems are remarkably similar in terms of functionality, connectivity, build quality and exceptional sound output. They’re both also extremely attractive products (if you like the retro style) and so choosing between them may not be easy.

The Revo SuperSystem is by far the biggest and heaviest at 43 x 22 x 16.5 centimetres and 9.8 kilogrammes as against 34 x 18.5 x 12 centimetres and 3.6 kilogrammes for the Ruark. It also delivers the most volume to the point where one review believes it’s only suitable for large rooms and recommends turning off the loudness mode in any case. If space is at a premium, therefore, the Ruark R2 Mk3 may be your choice.

How you are able to handle the controls may also be a consideration, with the Ruark’s Rotodial being thought complex by some while others believe the Revo’s joystick is too fiddly. Both, however, have the alternative of a remote and an UNDOK app.

If you really can’t choose, it may come down to price, the Ruark typically being over £100 cheaper. Shop around, however, to see the current best price:

The post Revo SuperSystem vs. Ruark R2 Mk3 appeared first on Best Radios.

The R4 Integrated Music System MkIII is one of the most high-end and expensive digital radios currently available in the UK. It’s made by Ruark Audio, a family-run British company founded in 2006.

Find out what the Ruark R4 MkIII can do and how it performs in this review…

Features

Dimensions: 44 cm wide x 20 cm deep x 15 cm high
Weight: 8 kg (boxed)

Performance and use

As you’d expect from a radio at this price point, the R4 MkIII has excellent sound quality, and is one of the best-sounding radio CD players on the market. The walnut cabinet helps give depth and warmth to its sound. The 80W speakers can also be turned up pretty loud so you can use it for parties.

While it technically has stereo sound, the R4’s speakers are close together so you don’t get much sense of stereo separation. The bass and treble levels can be adjusted independently if you’re not keen on the default settings.

This product is very versatile. You can listen to FM, DAB and DAB+ radio as well as CDs and music from your phone or tablet via Bluetooth. On Bluetooth it uses aptX technology so that the audio you stream won’t lose sound quality. You can also connect an iPod using the USB port.

The CD player is slot-loading and is compatible with regular CDs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs. You can control it using the remote control.

While the R4 would look great in the living room, it can also be used as a bedroom radio as it has a dual alarm and a sleep function. The display brightness can be dimmed easily using the remote control, and it can be dimmed very low so it won’t disturb you at night. However, it doesn’t use auto-dimming unlike some other radios.

The Ruark Audio R4 feels very well made. It’s reassuringly heavy and the wood covering is real, not artificial like on cheaper alternatives. The radio is quite compact but if you’re planning to put it on a narrow table you should be aware that the power cable sticks out about 5 cm from the back which makes the radio effectively 25 cm deep.

Disappointingly for a radio at this price point the R4 doesn’t connect to the internet for streaming internet radio or Spotify. However, you could simply use Bluetooth to stream internet radio or other online content via your laptop or phone.

Verdict

If you can afford it and appreciate excellent sound and build quality, the Ruark Audio R4 MkIII is a great buy. It’s right up there among top 5 or so best DAB radios on the market.

It’s a shame this radio doesn’t have an internet connection, which would make it even more versatile.

Similar radios

If you like the look of the Ruark R4 MkIII but would like something with internet radio as well, you should consider the Pure Evoke C-F6. It has a very similar list of features to the R4 but with the addition of internet radio. It’s also substantially cheaper than the R4, despite being made by a respected British radio manufacturer, Pure.

One budget radio with similar features is the Majority Castle DAB Radio. It’s very affordable, especially compared to the R4 MkIII, but inevitably it has inferior build and sound quality.

A cheaper alternative from Ruark is the R1 MkIII, which has a single speaker and doesn’t have a CD player. It’s significantly more affordable than the R4 MkIII, but still has excellent sound quality.

For some more alternatives see these roundups of the best high-end DAB radios and the best radio CD players.

The post Ruark Audio R4 MkIII Review appeared first on Best Radios.

The Ruark Audio R1 MkIII is the latest in Ruark’s R1 series of classy, high-end radios. Earlier R1 models were known for their quality both in terms of sound and construction, adding to Ruark’s reputation as one of the best British radio brands. Let’s see if the R1 MkIII is up to the same standard…

Features

Dimensions: 13 x 13.5 x 17 cm
Weight: 1.8 kg
Power: Mains powered or battery powered with the optional battery pack (not included)

Design and ease of use

The R1 MkIII is a small radio at just 17 cm high, meaning it can easily fit on a kitchen countertop or small table. The radio’s shape is reminiscent of the Pure Evoke D1, but the materials used feel higher quality.

Ruark are known for the craftsmanship and attention to detail shown in their products, and the R1 MkIII is no exception. The model pictured above has a walnut veneer casing, which helps give warmth to the radio’s sound. In addition to walnut, you can also buy this radio in black or white.

The radio’s controls are positioned on the top in an attractive circular layout, and are generally straightforward and easy to use. However, setting the sleep function is slightly fiddly. Furthermore, the OLED display does not dim automatically when in sleep mode, which would have been a good design feature.

Sound quality

The R1 MkIII has an upgraded chipset helping it sound even better than the original R1. Ruark Audio R1 MkIII is one of the most expensive DAB radios on the market, so it’s not surprising that it offers excellent sound quality. You really can hear the difference in audio quality when you compare it to cheaper radios. If most radios leave you feeling disappointed when it comes to sound quality, this radio is for you.

The high-quality construction of the R1 MkIII’s case helps give this radio its rich, warm sound that is perfect for both speech and music. This is one of the best DAB radios for sound quality currently available.

The R1 MkIII is quite a small radio, and its single speaker has limited power. However, it should go loud enough for listening to at home in an average-sized room.

Verdict

The Ruark Audio R1 MkIII is definitely one of the best DAB radios currently available, and is possibly the number 1 best-sounding small DAB radio on the market. Its bright screen means it’s not ideal for the bedroom, but for using in the living room or kitchen it’s a great radio.

#1 reason to buy: Unrivalled sound quality
#1 reason not to buy: High price

Similar radios

If you’re willing to sacrifice audio quality in return for more radio stations, you should consider the Roberts Radio Stream93i. It’s an internet radio, which means you can listen to over 20,000 stations available online in addition to regular FM and DAB/DAB+ stations. While the sound quality isn’t as detailed or as rich as that of the Ruark R1 MkIII, it’s a Roberts radio which means you can expect better than average sound.

Ruark produce several other great radios in their R range, including the R2 Mk III, which is another internet radio with stereo sound and the same superb sound and build quality as the R1 MkIII.

For more top-of-the-range radios, take a look at our roundup of the best high-end radios.

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