RUARK AUDIOR1 MK4 Music System - Espresso

Before we settled on buying a Ruark, we tried models from a number of well known names.The first was from a brand that had been well respected but where the brand name had been sold on, and was now producing cheap, nasty, tinny junk. Good bye but not a good buy!The second was designed in the UK and made in China but clearly quality control was in outer space - touching the volume knob caused hissing and cracking every time and any speech sounded as though it was being delivered from the bottom of an oil drum!Number three was ‘pure’ frustration.What’s the point of having a radio alarm that goes off at random times rather than when it’s set to go off?? And whose invisible hand turned the volume down after it had been set to wake us up in the morning?We bit the bullet - 230 quid is NOT cheap for a radio alarm. But the Ruark is good - really good. We can listen to faultlessly clear music and equally plain speech - without complex adjustment. We can set the alarm and it goes off on time, every time - it still seems to be a bit of a gamble as to whether the buzzer wakes us up or the radio but whatever - it does wake us up at the correct time!The footprint is small; the reception is great; the design is elegant and unobtrusive. Yes it’s not cheap, but as the last three radios have demonstrated for us, with Ruark you get what you pay for. In the case of the other three radios, between them they had set us back a total of £360 - and given ages of frustration and poor quality. In comparison, the price of the Ruark seemed much more reasonable!!

This is an incredible radio, I gifted this to my husband as an anniversary present as the hotel we stayed at for our honeymoon had the exact same radio. 2 years later and I still hold the same views! We don't use it all the time however it is great when we do - either listening to the radio or connecting my phone via bluetooth, I don't think any of the radios are missing per my radio knowledge which isn't vast lol. The music output is really good, the sound and bass is great. You can also set a timer for the radio to come on in the morning and it is possible to set more than one as well as setting the volume. Last but not least, it is very aesthetically pleasing at £187 at the time of purchase.

Very easy/logical to setup and use. Great sound quality, although it does have a slight buzz at high volumes. It can also sound a bit boxy at times. Packs a great punch for it's size.Overall very happy

Punches above it's weight, beautiful in every sense, get what you pay for, quality. Put the battery pack on it, got a remote, a joy to listen to ! R2 mk4 due out soon (same design but two speakers=stereo), may just upgrade and retire the r1 m4 to the bedroom as a posh alarm clock.

Radio hissed.Seller told me it didn't.25% deducted from refund.

Sound quality superb, compact and elegant. Discovered as a room accessory on recent visit to London from USA. Contact with customer service for adapter for US power was over the top in careful responsiveness. This is what consumer products companies should emulate.

I have given this only four stars as believe it or not, when I put the main room light on, the radio stops playing and starts crackling. The bulb is a low wattage led as well. I would not recommend the radio if you live in a weak signal area.

Excellent for my new garden studio room - not dependent on wifi