Ruark MR1 Mk3

Fancy little bookshelf speakers without the bother of a separate amp

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A mere eight-and-a-half years after it launched its MR1 Mk2 powered stereo speaker desktop system to considerable acclaim, Ruark is back with the Mk3. So what has the firm been up to all this time - and has it been worth the wait?

Glance at the MR1 Mk3 and you'll be hard-pushed to discern the differences between it and the long-serving model it replaces. This is because, for the most part, the changes are inside. Amplification, for instance, has changed from the Class A/B of the Mk2 to Class D. On the face of it, this might seem like a step backwards, but the amplification here is derived from Ruark's extremely well-regarded R410 integrated music system, and the power output has increased to 25 watts per channel.