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R2 Smart Music System
One of Life’s Essentials
Can you imagine a life without music? Neither can we. With its slim profile, SmartRadio tuner, inclusive streaming options and natural, powerful sound, the new R2 has been designed to fit easily into your life and surroundings and makes it easy to enjoy the music you love the most. Like that first tea or coffee in the morning, R2 is an essential element to creating a great day, all day and every day.
- Striking and natural sound quality
- Comprehensive Wi-Fi streaming
- New generation Bluetooth 5 receiver
- SmartRadio with Internet/DAB/DAB+/FM tuners
- Comprehensive dual alarms and sleep function
- Dedicated podcast source
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Light Cream lacquer with Ash grille -
Espresso lacquer with Walnut grille
“If you’re after a high-quality music system that looks great, is lovely to use and sounds wonderful, the Ruark R2 Mk4 should be at the top of your wishlist. It’s the kind of product that could – and should – be considered alongside any budget hi-fi separates as a more lifestyle (but still very hi-fi-sounding) alternative.”
“With a gorgeous finish that hides incredible smarts and solid drivers, this is a top-spec radio to wake up to each morning.”
“The R2 Mk4 is a wonderful way to consume music and radio. It’s the sort of speaker that deserves to be on show, perhaps even on a shelf all of its own.”
“The Ruark is just so easy to use, so easy to get playing with a single tap of the power button, that we reckon it must have quadrupled the amount of music we played in that space during its time. And that’s a recommendation in itself.”
“The R2 Mk4 sounds brilliant and is a pleasure to use. It’s the kind of radio and streaming system that encourages you to explore all the music, podcasts and radio out there – and it’ll make your favourite bands and artists sound amazing.”
“Fantastic styling and excellent sound quality come to define this speaker.”
“The new R2 Music System is a typically splendid offering, with a retro-yet-modern look which will fit into most homes and even smarten them up somewhat.”
A Slim, Elegant Profile
The new R2 brings one of our longest-established models right up to date, while retaining key features that made our original R2 a popular music system since its launch in 2007. The most obvious change from its predecessors is its slimmer footprint. Such elegant new proportions allow R2 to be placed almost anywhere in the home and make it perfect for a windowsill or bookcase.
The appearance of R2 is simple yet stunning. The enclosure, with precise lines and soft contours, combines with the hand crafted slatted wood grille to create a timeless retro-modern feel. Along with its bonded glass display and our trademark RotoDial controller, R2 is undoubtedly a Ruark design and the quality remains clear.
Unboxing R2 Mk4
Technology journalist and former editor for What Hi-Fi, Simon Lucas, unboxes one of our R2 Mk4’s and takes you through some of the basic functions and features of this compact audio system.
Features at a Glance
- Striking and dynamic sound quality
- Spotify Connect*, Deezer & Amazon Music
- New generation Bluetooth 5 receiver
- SmartRadio with Internet/DAB/DAB+/FM tuners
- Comprehensive dual alarms and sleep timer
- Dedicated podcast source
- Acoustically tuned and damped polymer cabinet
- Adaptive EQ provides ideal sound at all volumes
- Handcrafted slatted wood grille
- High Fidelity Class A-B stereo amplifier
- Ruark NS+ neodymium full range drivers
- Enhanced stereo sound
- Adjustable bass and treble settings
- Intuitive Ruark RotoDial controller
- Full control and search with free Oktiv control app
- Optional remote control with 4 direct access presets
- Presets to store favourite stations and playlists – 8 per source
- USB-C port for MP3 playback and phone charging
- Switchable analogue input for aux devices
- Multilingual UI (EN, DA, NL, FR, DE, IT, NO, PL, ES, SV)
- Headphone output memorises last used volume
- Auto dimming full colour TFT display
- Automatic standby after 20mins of inactivity
- Power adapter: 100-240VAC, 50-60Hz input, 14VDC 2A output
- Dimensions: H185 × W340 × D150mm including RotoDial and aerial
- Weight: 2.9kg
*R2 will also support Spotify Hi-Fi when made available
‘The most obvious change…. is the R2 Mk4’s slimmer footprint. Such elegant new proportions allow the system to be placed almost anywhere in the home’
A Complete System
A complete music system, R2 is equipped with DAB/DAB+, FM and internet tuners with pre-sets, and directly supports major streaming services including Spotify*, Amazon Music and Deezer, and with a quality Bluetooth receiver every other streaming service available. The Bluetooth function also seamlessly integrates with the volume function on phones and tablets, so volume can be easily raised or reduced as desired. R2 also features a USB-C charge and playback port, switchable auxiliary line input and headphone output. Remote control is available through the free Oktiv app, or a compact IR handset is available as an optional extra.
*R2 will also support Spotify Hi-Fi when made available
Full of Useful Features
Our new colour graphic display clearly shows time, alarm and programme information and with internet based sources you can choose between text display or station and album artwork by pressing the volume control. The display intensity can also be set as you want it and auto-adjusts to suit ambient light levels. With two comprehensive alarms and a sleep timer, R2 also makes a great bedside companion.
Like all Ruark products, the R2 incorporates carefully selected technologies to deliver wonderfully clear and effortless sound. The linear amplifier linked with our NS+ drivers and adaptive equalisation provides the perfect sound balance for enjoying music and spoken-word at all volume levels, making R2 an essential way to relax and unwind in today’s often manic world.
‘With its full bodied Hi-Fidelity sound, it makes speech and music thoroughly enjoyable and like that first tea or coffee in the morning, an essential element to creating a great day.’
Control at Your Fingertips
Our optional compact remote is a convenient addition to R2 and with four direct pre-set buttons you can quickly access your favourite stations and playlists. Also available is a new free to download Android and iOS app called Oktiv. This also allows full control of R2 Mk4 and is particularly useful for searching radio stations and podcasts.