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Design-conscious audiophiles, rejoice -- British luxury audio brand Ruark Audio has finally made its way to Singapore shores.
Featuring powerful full-bodied sound and sleek, midcentury-modern design, it's little wonder that their creations have been dubbed the Aston Martin of speakers.
“Our dream is to design music systems that first catch your eye, and then your ear. We personally tested many combinations of fabric, wood and other materials to find the Ruark hallmark sound – creating a soundstage that is as beautiful as it looks in your home,” shares Alan O'Rourke, the founder and managing director.
His inspiration for the Ruark brand, which has now made its way into acclaimed hotels like the Savoy and Four Seasons, came from his days of listening to his grandmother's radio in the kitchen. Realising that no other sound system came close to reproducing the warm, resonant vocals he loved listening to, he decided to create his own.
Today, the speakers that the family-owned brand has created -- regardless of size -- produce beautiful, clear notes that resonate throughout the space. The acoustics are warm and nuanced, while the bass is powerful even in the smaller speakers.
In Ruark's lineup are four sound systems: the R7, R5, MR1 and MRx, which all look as good as they sound. Sporting a midcentury-modern look with their handcrafted wooden enclosures and sleek contours, they pay tribute to the radiograms of the past while retaining a contemporary profile. Each system also features Ruark's signature Rotodial control, a circular control knob not unlike the rotary dials of yesteryear's telephones and radios.
R7
You'll be forgiven for mistaking the R7 for a beautiful side table. Designed to be a statement piece, the flagship piece of the lineup stands on its own as a focal point. Inspired by the pre-70s radiogram, which was a radio and record player combined into one, the R7 offers a wide range of connectivity options, including the usual radio, Bluetooth, and even a CD slot. With its hand-crafted wood cabinet and sleek legs, it's designed to blend seamlessly into any design-conscious music lover's home.
The R7 retails for $4,999 at Musica Boutique @ ION and iStudio.
R5
Featuring a fabric grille and hand-crafted wooden enclosure, the R5 is a smaller version of the R7, with a similar sound output thanks to a class A-B amplifier and two Ruark Audio full range drivers. It even has a dedicated RIAA turntable input for those of us who like it old-school.
The R5 retails for $2,299 at Musica Boutique @ ION and iStudio.
MR1
These award-winning Bluetooth speakers pack surprisingly full-bodied sound for their compact size, filling the room with clear notes that sound as if the singer is right there in the room with you. They feature custom Ruark tweeters and woofers, as well as a Class A-B amplifier. With their small size, they can be placed next to your TV or desktop, or even brought down to the beach for a party.
The MR1 retails for $699 at Musica Boutique @ ION and iStudio.
MRX
Designed to be a portable option, the MRx can be connected via Bluetooth, USB or analogue input for a quick setup. It can also function as an extension speaker when connected to any other Ruark systems, so you can have the same music throughout the house even as you walk from room to room. Instead of a controller, the MRx can be controlled using the dedicated Ruark Link app.
The MRX retails for $699 at Musica Boutique @ ION and iStudio.
For more information, please visit https://ruarkaudio.com.sg.