Ruark R1 MK4 - Table Top Radio - Light Cream - Ruark Audio

Good radio has never been a compromise for Alan O'Rourke. When the founder of Ruark Audio was looking for a DAB receiver to buy himself in 2004, he couldn't find one - so he developed one. Ruark Audio has since become a British family business from Essex, using speaker knowledge from the 1980s hi-fi tradition to create desktop radios that sound like they come from a different planet to the usual DIY store fare. The Sunday Telegraph was quick to call the R1 the "Aston Martin of DAB radios" - a title that the new Mk4 generation supports rather than strains.

The Ruark R1 Mk4 is the most radical revision yet of the R1 line, which has been continuously developed since 2006. The previous wooden cabinet has been replaced by an injection-molded, acoustically damped polymer cabinet - a material that not only allows for more precise shaping, but above all suppresses resonances more effectively than wooden constructions of a simpler design. Inside, a 9-watt class A/B linear amplifier drives the in-house 75 mm NS+ neodymium driver - the same driver that Ruark also uses in the significantly larger R3 and R5 systems. The result: a sound that is simply surprisingly complete for a device of this compact size.

Why does Ruark rely on class A/B amplification even though class D digital technology would be more efficient? Because Ruark prioritizes sound quality over efficiency charts. The analog circuitry delivers a warmth and musicality - especially for speech and jazz - that Class D competitors in this price range simply cannot match. Coupled with the adaptive EQ, which dynamically adjusts the sound image to the set volume, the R1 Mk4 sounds balanced and rich in detail even in the quietest night mode - and not thin like many compact radios as soon as the level drops.

The NS+ driver benefits from the bass reflex port on the underside of the housing - a deliberate design decision that allows it to be positioned close to a wall without any loss of bass. Independent tests attest to the R1 Mk4's exceptional strengths with vocals and speech as well as jazz, classical and acoustic genres. With very dynamic electronic music or heavy rock, a single full-range driver reaches its physical limits due to its design - this is honest and normal. As a news, jazz and classical radio for the kitchen, study or bedside table, the R1 Mk4 is in a league of its own.

The injection-molded housing has a special acoustic coating on the inside that effectively dampens unwanted resonances. The newly designed, slightly conical shape is not only aesthetically pleasing - it also improves the measurement properties of the housing. The handcrafted wooden grille on the front is the emotional heart of the design: it bridges the gap between a design classic and a contemporary product without appearing folkloristic. In the Light Cream and Espresso versions, the R1 Mk4 blends into almost any living environment - from the modern bedroom to the warm kitchen.

The 2.5-inch OLED display shows the time, alarm status and program information in unusually high contrast. The automatic brightness adjustment makes the device the perfect bedroom companion: easy to read during the day, discreet enough at night not to light up the room. The iconic RotoDial control concept - a turn-and-push control with eight surrounding buttons - has been continuously optimized by Ruark since 2006. Operation without an app, without voice assistants, without a Bluetooth pairing procedure at every start is a real mark of quality at a time when all devices require account registration.

Despite its compact dimensions, the R1 Mk4 offers a remarkably complete connectivity package for its class. The Bluetooth receiver connects quickly and stably to smartphones or tablets - Spotify, Apple Music, podcasts and BBC sounds can be played easily via the R1. The USB-C port on the back plays audio files from a connected stick (shuffle playback, including FLAC and WAV up to 24bit/96kHz) and simultaneously charges smartphones or tablets - a practical detail that is useful every day on the bedside table. The 3.5 mm line-in connects older source devices, while the headphone output enables silent listening.

The comprehensive dual alarms support individual day and weekend profiles. Simplified operating settings are available for hotels and communal facilities. If you want to use the R1 Mk4 without a power outlet, you can add the optional Backpack MkII battery pack - it provides up to twelve hours of battery life and transforms the R1 into a portable device. The optional remote control (sold separately) allows direct access to stored station presets.