Ruark Audio R2 mk4 cream

On a windowsill or bedside table, a radio can care as much about its looks as its sound character. Since 2007, Ruark’s R2 range has cultivated this blend of digital radio, network playback and decorative object. This fourth generation refines the silhouette by twenty percent, modernises streaming and retains the RotoDial control that defines the brand’s identity.

A silhouette refined by twenty percent

The fourth version loses twenty percent of its predecessor’s width, allowing it to fit on a kitchen worktop, windowsill or bedside table without taking up too much space. The cabinet opts for understated styling: clean lines, rounded corners and a grille made of thin wooden slats, with Japanese-inspired styling, already seen on the R1 radio. Two finishes share the spotlight: Light Cream with an ash grille and Espresso with a walnut grille. At the centre, the high-contrast colour TFT display adjusts its brightness according to room lighting and shows the time, playback information and album artwork. The RotoDial control sits proudly on top, in keeping with the brand’s tradition. The enclosure measures 175 mm high by 340 mm wide and 135 mm deep (185 by 150 with the controls and antenna), weighing 2.9 kg.

Digital radio and streaming combined

In terms of sources, the R2 mk4 covers radio in its common forms: FM with RDS, DAB, DAB+ and internet radio, with eight presets per tuner for finding stations at a touch. Streaming is handled via Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n): Spotify is available through Spotify Connect, while Deezer and Amazon Music are supported directly from their apps. For everything else, Bluetooth 5.0 takes over and synchronises with the volume of the paired phone or tablet. One detail to note: the Bluetooth connection supports SBC and AAC codecs, without any high-resolution format. In practice, the main services run via Wi-Fi, which retains control over quality, while Bluetooth is useful for non-integrated applications.

The character of NS+ speakers

The electronics remain simple on paper and convincing to the ear: an 18 W class AB linear amplifier powers two 75 mm NS+ full-range speakers, designed specifically for Ruark. Adaptive equalisation adjusts the sound according to volume, keeping voices intelligible at low levels and music balanced at higher levels. Playback is warm and detailed, with a stereo soundstage wide enough for an enclosure of this size, although it gains little in height as the display occupies the space above the drivers. The tuned bass-reflex loading supports the low end, which nevertheless remains limited in extension: an enclosure of this size cannot do everything, and the R2 mk4 favours balance and clarity over the impact of deep bass. Bass and treble controls, a loudness mode and a 3D Audio function that widens the soundstage provide room to tailor the sound to the room and programme. The stated frequency response extends from 55 to 20,000 Hz.

Living with the R2 mk4 every day

Control primarily relies on the RotoDial knob positioned on top: one turn, one press, and you can select the source, playback, volume or settings. It is not detachable, which means getting up to reach it; the supplied infrared remote control and UNDOK app (iOS and Android) take over from the sofa. Connections are located at the rear, in a recess: a USB-C port that plays MP3 files from a FAT32 drive and charges a device (5 W), a 3.5 mm line input with adjustable level and a headphone output for listening without waking the household. On a bedside table, the dual alarm can be set individually, every day, on weekdays or at weekends, supported by a sleep timer and automatic standby. The R2 mk4 receives updates via the network or USB, and its power consumption remains modest, from 5 to 10 W in operation and 1.6 W in standby. Ruark includes a two-year warranty.

Technical specifications

Design and amplification

• High-definition colour TFT display with automatic brightness dimming
• 18 W Class A / B amplifier
• Dual 75 mm Ruark NS+ full-range speakers (neodymium)
• Speaker type: tuned bass-reflex
• Frequency response: 55 to 20,000 Hz
• Audio settings: bass, treble, loudness, 3D Audio

Power supply and consumption

• Mains adapter: 100-240 V AC input, 50-60 Hz; 14 V DC output, 2.0 A
• 1.8 m cable with 2.1 × 5.5 mm DC plug
• Power consumption
  • In operation: 5 to 10 W
  • Standby: 1.6 W

Features

• Dual alarm: custom, daily, Monday to Friday, weekends
• Sleep timer
• Automatic standby for energy saving
• Adjustable input level
• Real-time clock with internal backup battery
• Over-the-air (OTA) and USB software updates
• User interface languages: English, German, French, Spanish
• UNDOK control app (iOS and Android)

Reception and streaming

• Tuners: FM RDS (87.5-108 MHz), digital DAB, DAB+, internet radio
  • 8 presets per tuner
• External telescopic antenna with 75 Ω F connector
• Streaming services: Spotify Connect, Deezer, Amazon Music

Wireless connectivity

• Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n with WPS2 setup and WEP, WPA and WPA2 encryption
• Bluetooth 5.2, SBC, AAC, BLE and A2DP profiles

Connections

• Line input: 3.5 mm stereo jack (1.4 Vrms max.)
• Headphone output: 3.5 mm jack, 25 mW into 16-32 ohms
• USB 2.0 port compatible with FAT32 USB drives, MP3 playback up to 48 kHz / 320 kbit/s
• USB charging port: 5 V, 1 A (5 W)
• Kensington-compatible security slot

Included accessories

• R2 speaker
• Mains adapter
• Quick start guide
• Remote control

Aesthetics and dimensions

• Available finishes: Espresso, Light Cream
• Dimensions: 185 mm (H) × 340 mm (W) × 145 mm (D)
• Weight: 2.9 kg