High-end style meets high-end audio in Ruark’s stupendous music system
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(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
T3 VerdictThe Ruark R410 all-in-one combines retro-cool good looks with a versatile specification suitable for both music and movie listening. It’s a tempting alternative to a soundbar or standalone hi-fi system, and makes surprisingly few concessions in pursuit of convenience and style.
T3 Verdict
The Ruark R410 all-in-one combines retro-cool good looks with a versatile specification suitable for both music and movie listening. It’s a tempting alternative to a soundbar or standalone hi-fi system, and makes surprisingly few concessions in pursuit of convenience and style.
Reasons to buy+Punchy, dynamic stereo performance+Beautiful industrial design+Features an HDMI input
Punchy, dynamic stereo performance
Beautiful industrial design
Features an HDMI input
Could do with a little more power
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
The Ruark R410 is a high-performance all-in-one music system from the UK’s top hi-fi fashionista. With designer style to spare, it’s as much a piece of furniture as an audio component.
There’s high-res music file support (up to 24-bit 19KHz),HDMI eARC, so you can sit it beneath one ofthe best TVswhere it can function as an external sound system, DAB radio, and Bluetooth aptX HD.
But with plenty of competition in this high-end space, is the Ruark R410 able to deliver as one ofthe best Wi-Fi speakersmoney can buy for your home?
Ruark R410: Price & Availability
Today’s best Ruark Audio R410 deals$1,799.95ViewNo price informationCheck AmazonWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Ruark Audio R410 deals$1,799.95ViewNo price informationCheck AmazonWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Ruark Audio R410 deals
$1,799.95ViewNo price informationCheck Amazon
$1,799.95View
$1,799.95View
$1,799.95View
$1,799.95
$1,799.95
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price information
No price information
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
The R410 is positioned just below Ruark’s larger, more imposer R810 Radiogram, but shares much of that model’s feature specification and sense of style.
Nestled at the higher end of the all-in-one market, it sells for £1,299 in the UK, $1,699 in the US and AU$2,599 in Australia. While this isn’t cheap, the R410 offers a lot of functionality for the cash, and can be considered a competitive rival to the similarly specifiedNaim Mu-So 2.
Ruark R410: Design & Features
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Ruark has made quite a name for itself when it comes to designing audio kit. The brand has found a unique niche, with its Scandi 70s aesthetic and artisan finishes.
There are two versions of the R410 to choose from. One has an eco-wood veneer enclosure, the other is available in a cool grey. Both iterations come with a handcrafted wooden slatted facia.
The R410 is hardly small, measuring 150 x 560 x 290mm, but it doesn’t look overly imposing when parked on a shelf or AV furniture. I particularly liked the provision of a full-colour 4-inch vertical display, which is great for pursuing menus and album art.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Menus can be navigated using an integrated rotary dial controller on the top of the unit.
The R410 can cope with wired or wireless sources. There’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth aptX HD, with Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect,AppleAirPlay2, and Chromecast Built-in.
There’s also the choice of DAB, DAB+, FM and Internet Radio. Ethernet is available for wired networking.
You can connect a variety of external sources including vinyl turntables, analogue stereo devices and televisions, using HDMI with eARC.
Ruark R410 review: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
The R410 is rated at 4 x 30W (120W cumulative). Personally I would have liked a little more brawn, but with a two-channel amplifier assembly directly attached to the rear of each mid cone and tweeter, it’s able to reach comfortably loud listening levels without obvious strain.
The R410 copes well with a wide variety of genres, from Def Leppard to Schubert. A run-through of Alice Cooper’sBillion Dollar Babies(96kHz 24-bit) impresses with enormous clarity and presence; Hi-Res content sounds like it’s coming from an altogether different system, at least in terms of size. The soundstage is expansive and agile, even when volume is pushed. Nothing is lost in the stereo mix.
Its mid-range performance is particularly well-judged, vocals are delivered with believable gusto. The system sounds at its best with stripped-back acoustic tracks, country and guitar-based rock. It finds air between instruments and creates a welcome sense of space.
There’s also the option of adding a wired subwoofer, if that appeals.
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
The R410 also makes an intriguing TV audio upgrade, not least because it’s a good deal better looking than the average soundbar (or even one ofthe best soundbars). Once the Ruark has been partnered with a TV over eARC you can use the TV remote to control system volume.
I found the R410 sounds great with daytime TV, where dialogue tends to dominate proceedings, but it also holds its own with more cinematic fare, adding depth toSlow Horses(Apple TV+), and snappy transient excitement to the more outlandishOne Piece(Netflix).
It doesn’t drop particularly deep when it comes to bass, but there’s a solidity and dynamism to its presentation that suits both drama and action.
But given this is a lifestyle sound system, and not a home cinema rig, it seems churlish to complain.
Ruark R410 review: Verdict
(Image credit: Ruark)
(Image credit: Ruark)
The Ruark R410 is an extremely well specified all-in-one that brings the music centre concept bang up to date. Hi-Res capable, with streaming audio central to its appeal, it makes surprisingly few compromises when it comes to balancing high design and performance.
It’s also an adept TV audio upgrade if you can’t accommodate buying a separate soundbar. For such an overtly premium sound system, I reckon the Ruark R410 can be considered great value for money.
Also consider
Offering a similar retro vibe to Ruark, the Revo SuperConnect Stereo is a Bluetooth DAB radio system with a sense of style. It’s equipped with DAB/DAB+, FM and internet radio services, can partner a streaming device over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and has a large, clear OLED display. A 30W amplifier drives two 3.5 BMR speakers, while connectivity includes analogue inputs, a digital optical output and a 3.5mm headphone jack
Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound A5is an ultra-chic portable sound system that’s very much a designer statement, with its curved cabinet and cute carry handle, but don’t be fooled - inside lurks 280W of amplification, deployed in a 360-degree sound configuration, with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support. It’s very nearly as expensive as the Ruark R410, but nowhere as versatile.
Much like the R410, the slickNaim Mu-so 2is an ambitiously specified all-in-one, suitable for music streaming and TV audio via HDMI. It trades Ruark’s stylish design for a more minimalist approach, but supports UPnP and has Chromecast built-in. In addition to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, there’s USB, digital optical audio, and analogue inputs, so there’s not much you can’t connect.
Today’s best Ruark Audio R410, Revo SuperConnect Stereo, Bang Olufsen Beosound A5 and Naim Mu-so 2nd generation dealsRuark Audio R410$1,799.95ViewSee all pricesRevo SuperConnect Stereo$649ViewSee all pricesBang & Olufsen Beosound A5$1,451.67ViewSee all pricesNaim Mu-so 2nd generation$1,299ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Ruark Audio R410, Revo SuperConnect Stereo, Bang Olufsen Beosound A5 and Naim Mu-so 2nd generation dealsRuark Audio R410$1,799.95ViewSee all pricesRevo SuperConnect Stereo$649ViewSee all pricesBang & Olufsen Beosound A5$1,451.67ViewSee all pricesNaim Mu-so 2nd generation$1,299ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Ruark Audio R410, Revo SuperConnect Stereo, Bang Olufsen Beosound A5 and Naim Mu-so 2nd generation dealsRuark Audio R410$1,799.95ViewSee all pricesRevo SuperConnect Stereo$649ViewSee all pricesBang & Olufsen Beosound A5$1,451.67ViewSee all pricesNaim Mu-so 2nd generation$1,299ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Ruark Audio R410, Revo SuperConnect Stereo, Bang Olufsen Beosound A5 and Naim Mu-so 2nd generation deals
Ruark Audio R410$1,799.95ViewSee all pricesRevo SuperConnect Stereo$649ViewSee all pricesBang & Olufsen Beosound A5$1,451.67ViewSee all pricesNaim Mu-so 2nd generation$1,299ViewSee all prices
Ruark Audio R410$1,799.95ViewSee all prices
Ruark Audio R410$1,799.95ViewSee all prices
Ruark Audio R410
Ruark Audio R410
$1,799.95View
$1,799.95
$1,799.95
See all prices
Revo SuperConnect Stereo$649ViewSee all prices
Revo SuperConnect Stereo$649ViewSee all prices
Revo SuperConnect Stereo
Revo SuperConnect Stereo
$649View
$649
$649
See all prices
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5$1,451.67ViewSee all prices
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5$1,451.67ViewSee all prices
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5
$1,451.67View
$1,451.67
$1,451.67
See all prices
Naim Mu-so 2nd generation$1,299ViewSee all prices
Naim Mu-so 2nd generation$1,299ViewSee all prices
Naim Mu-so 2nd generation
Naim Mu-so 2nd generation
$1,299View
$1,299
$1,299
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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