The latest version of the R1 DAB digital radio has been revealed by Ruark.
The Ruark R1 Mk4 features a new design with the round speaker grille replaced with slatted wood. New finishes are available as Light Cream and Espresso replace the walnut, black and white colours of the Mk3. The edges of the polymer case appear slightly thinner and the OLED display blends in with the front of the radio.
Controls are still placed on the top of the radio with the ‘Rotodial’ control system as seen on other Ruark models. The high contrast OLED display, which auto adjusts to suit the current light level, shows the time and radio station information. A remote control and rechargeable battery pack can be purchased separately. The BackPack II can provide up to 12 hours of listening depending on the volume.
Sound quality is improved with the addition of Ruark Audio’s latest neodymium NS+ driver which is already used in the R3 and R5 models. The company says the tuned enclosure “delivers an impressive bass performance”. Adjustable EQ settings are available and internally the radio has a 9W amplifier. A 3.5mm headphone socket is included on the rear.
The Ruark R1 Mk4 receives FM, DAB and DAB+ radio stations. A telescopic DAB antenna on the rear of the radio is removable so that external aerials can be used. This ability is rare on DAB digital radios now but allows the radio to look better and fit on shelves where an external aerial connection is available.
As well as Bluetooth the radio has a line-in input and USB-C socket which can be used to charge devices and for “shuffle playback”. Supported file formats include MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV and WMA.
Ruark Audio says on their website that supply of the new radio before Christmas will be impacted by Coronavirus. Anyone interested in purchasing the R1 Mk4 is encouraged to fill in a form on their website to receive updates about availability.