Ruark has given its compact smart radio a warm new look, and the Ruark R1S Terracotta may be the most characterful version yet. Launched as part of the British brand’s 40th anniversary celebrations, this limited edition pairs a soft clay-toned cabinet with an ebonized grille and an etched anniversary badge. The result feels less like a gadget and more like a considered piece of homeware that happens to play music beautifully.
A finish that settles into the room
Terracotta is a difficult colour to get right, but Ruark has judged it well. The shade is muted rather than bright, so it sits comfortably alongside natural wood, linen and stone without dominating a shelf. Against the dark grille the contrast is subtle, and the overall effect is grounded and contemporary at the same time.
The cabinet’s gentle curves do much of the work here. Its hand-crafted composite wood grille, trademark RotoDial controller and new colour display all blend into one another, so the technology quietly recedes while the music plays. For anyone who has spent years hiding black plastic boxes behind books, that alone is a strong argument for the R1S.
Radio, podcasts and streaming in one place
Behind the styling sits a genuinely capable smart radio. The SmartRadio tuner opens up internet radio stations from around the world, alongside DAB, DAB+ and FM, plus a dedicated source for podcasts. Because there is so much content available, Ruark has built in a search facility that makes finding and saving favourites straightforward, whether you use the RotoDial or the optional infrared remote.
Streaming is equally well covered. The R1S supports Spotify Connect, Amazon Music and Deezer directly, while its Bluetooth 5 receiver handles virtually everything else. Bluetooth 5 also brings practical benefits: the radio remembers up to six paired devices, and its efficiency means very little battery drain on the phone or tablet you are streaming from.
Sound that belies the cabinet size
Styling and features only matter if the sound holds up, and this is where Ruark’s hi-fi heritage shows. A dynamic linear amplifier with adaptive equalisation keeps the presentation balanced at low listening levels as well as high ones, which matters enormously in a radio that will spend much of its life on a kitchen worktop or bedside table.
The latest NS+ neodymium full-range driver sits in an optimised enclosure, delivering a smooth, extended frequency response with more bass weight than the compact dimensions suggest. It is a warm, room-filling sound that suits the new finish rather well.
Thoughtful everyday details
The full colour TFT display shows time, alarm and programme information clearly, and on Wi-Fi sources it also displays album and station artwork. A light sensor dims the screen automatically to suit the room, which makes the R1S an excellent bedside companion rather than a distraction at 2am.
Elsewhere you will find a combined USB-C charge and MP3 playback port, a headphone output and a switchable line input, so a turntable phono stage or CD player can join the party when needed.
Ruark R1S Terracotta specifications
- Finish: Terracotta with ebonized grille and etched 40th anniversary badge
- Tuner: SmartRadio with internet radio, DAB, DAB+ and FM
- Streaming: Spotify Connect, Deezer, Amazon Music
- Bluetooth: Latest generation Bluetooth 5 receiver, up to six remembered devices
- Amplifier: High fidelity class A-B system with adaptive equalisation
- Driver: Ruark neodymium NS+ full range
- Display: Full colour auto-dimming TFT
- Connections: Combined USB-C charge and MP3 playback port, analogue input, headphone output
- Remote: Optional infrared remote control
- Dimensions: H175 × W130 × D135mm
- Weight: 1.6kg
Price and availability
The Ruark R1S Terracotta is priced at £319 As a limited edition tied to the brand’s 40th anniversary, availability will be finite, so early orders are sensible if the colour appeals. Contact us: sales@mossofbath.co.uk Tel: 01225 331441
About Ruark
Ruark Audio is a family-owned British company that has been making fine audio products since 1985. Every product is developed at its premises in Southend on Sea, Essex, and the brand’s focus has remained consistent throughout: products that enhance their surroundings and sound as good as they look.
