Retro vibes and high-resolution streaming smarts? Yes please. Introducing Ruark’s new radiogram-style music centre. All I want to do is plug it in via the HDMI ARC/eARC connectivity, place it under my wall-mounted TV and enjoy.
I mean, just look at it. This impressive music furniture, complete with 4-inch TFT color screen, must now come home – and not only because it reminds me of my grandparents’ radiogram, but also of the whole modernization of 2023.
The R810 is quite a bit larger than the company’s August-released R410 (which I think is a major competitor for the second-generation Naim Mu-so Qb). And for me, it’s an easy contender for best wireless speaker, rivaling the likes of the Sonus Faber Omnia in terms of feature set and connectivity.
Did I mention it’s big? Beneath the stunning exterior (available in a soft gray or walnut finish, both with a fused walnut grille) you get Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple Airplay 2 and Chromecast built-in; support for high-resolution files up to 32-bit/384kHz; DAB/DAB+/FM & internet radio; aptX HD Bluetooth connectivity; HDMI with eARC; TOSLINK digital input (24-bit 192 kHz); Compatibility with UPnPTM media server; Stereo RCA phono input; 180W 4.1-channel Class AB discrete component amplifier; 2 x 30mm Ruark silk dome tweeters; 2x 100 mm paper cone woofers; a 200mm Ruark long-throw paper cone subwoofer; tuned dual bass reflex satellite enclosures and a sealed subwoofer enclosure.
Those retro-chic table legs come as standard (no additional purchases needed here) and you also get a beautiful rechargeable RotoDial Bluetooth remote, which reminds me of the ones you get with Moon’s high-end 791 and 761 amplifiers.
Advice: forget the soundbars, give me the R810 from Ruark. Now.
This unashamedly imposing piece of hi-fi furniture harkens back to a time when music was the centerpiece of a home and meant to be displayed with pride. And I love it.
In an age of beige, pebbly smart speakers designed to spread around your home and fade away like air fresheners, this souped-up sonic table is, I think, to be applauded.
Imagine the sound that would greet you from all those talented drivers (and the British firm has form here – see our glowing Ruark MR1 MkII review for starters) if you were to slide this under your wall-mounted TV and put it on the good place to sit. You can even keep the best soundbars, I’ll take this one, thank you.
Do you want to switch to DAB+ radio? Simple. Working on a playlist for the Halloween party? Ping it from your phone via Bluetooth to the R810 and listen in aptX HD. And if you’re still into vinyl and CDs, you can take them with you by connecting your turntable to the dedicated phono inputs or a CD-ROM to the USB-C connection.
When I first started testing such players for the publication What Hi-Fi? in 2019 they were doing so much that I wasn’t sure what to call them – speaker streaming system? All-in-one music box? But the R810 is different because it has a real physical presence. It has the size and prowess of a radiogram and will become a focal point in smaller rooms (like the wonderfully quirky Fennessy Donut i5), but it’s also ideal for your TV.
Prices? Okay, but let’s make it quick. The Ruark R810 is available from today (October 30) for $4,499 / £3,000 (which is around AU$5,800, although official Australian pricing has yet to be announced).
So it is pricey. That doesn’t mean it won’t be one of the best AirPlay speakers we’ve ever tested. And I still love the design and feature set.