Ruark MR1 Bluetooth review

The MR1 is powered by a 20W Class A-B Amplifier, which is able to produce enough volume to soon have the neighbours knocking on the door, which is an impressive achievement for such a small system. Each speaker has a 75mm main driver that’s paired with a 20mm tweeter. There’s also a bass reflex port located in the underside of each speaker, which improves bass.

Once hooked up to our test system and paired with our reference aptX smartphone, we were blown away by the MR1’s clarity. All our test files shone through with precise detail and a rich, warm tone that suited more energetic musical genres. The mid-range was clear, yet it never encroaches on either the crisp high-end or the surprisingly powerful lows.

When placed with a wall to their rear to give sound waves something to bounce off, the compact speakers generate an impressive amount of bass. This adds real presence to heavier rock and electronic tracks, giving them the aggressive rumble they deserve. We were impressed with how much low-end the MR1 was able to produce by itself, but if you demand more bass you’ll be able to connect an active subwoofer and truly shake the room. There’s no bass control on the speakers themselves, so you’ll need a sub with a power dial in order to balance the sound.

Although it produces excellent sound, whether your source is wired directly to the speakers or beamed wirelessly over Bluetooth, £300 is a lot for a pair of monitor speakers. You could buy two Best Buy-winning Sonos Play:1 speakers for around £340, but if you want classic styling and don’t plan on moving the speakers once they’re set up, the Ruark MR1 Bluetooth speakers are a great buy.