Ruark MR1 Mk3 Active Bluetooth Speakers Walnut (Pair)

The MR1 Mk3 is Ruark's compact active desktop speaker system, and sits apart from the main R Series streaming products — the R1S, R2, and R3S — as a self-contained powered loudspeaker pair rather than an integrated streamer or radio. It is intended for desktop nearfield listening, secondary room use, or as the output stage for an external streamer, turntable, or computer, where a compact active solution is preferred over a separate amplifier and passive speakers. At £399, it occupies a natural companion role to the R Series sources while drawing its amplifier circuit from Ruark's award-winning R410, the entry point of the higher-tier 100 Series all-in-one range. The MR1 Mk3 won the What Hi-Fi? Award 2025 for Best Desktop Speakers.

Drivers and Cabinet

Each enclosure houses a Ruark 20mm silk dome tweeter, crossed over at 2.5kHz to a Ruark 85mm NS+ long-throw woofer with a treated natural fibre cone. The cabinet is a dual-flared tuned bass reflex design with a 2.0-litre internal volume and a port tuning frequency of 68Hz. Frequency response is quoted at 48Hz to 22kHz under typical in-room conditions. Cabinet dimensions are H185 × W135 × D160mm (maximum H200 × W135 × D185mm), and each speaker weighs 2.1kg.

Amplification

The active speaker contains a 2 × 25W nominal Class D output stage, with the circuit topology adopted from Ruark's R410. Built-in adaptive EQ adjusts the response to compensate for the close-proximity listening distances typical of desktop use. Soft-clip overload protection is included to guard the drivers at high output levels.

Connectivity

Bluetooth V5.1 supports aptX HD, SBC, and AAC codecs. A built-in moving magnet phono stage on the RCA input (maximum input level 7mV) allows direct connection to a turntable without a separate phono preamplifier. A combined 3.5mm stereo jack and mini TOSLINK socket accepts both analogue line sources and digital PCM audio up to 24-bit/192kHz. A USB-C audio input supports playback up to 24-bit/96kHz via USB Audio Class 1.0. A mono RCA subwoofer output enables the addition of a powered subwoofer; Ruark's own RS1 subwoofer is a compatible pairing. Input sensitivity for the line, phono, USB, and optical inputs can be adjusted independently. The active (left) speaker drives the right speaker via the supplied 3-metre interconnect cable.

Controls and Operation

Volume and source selection are managed through Ruark's RotoDial, a rotating selector mounted on the active speaker enclosure. A compact IR remote control is included. Auto-standby engages when no signal is detected, and automatic wake-on-input resumes playback without manual intervention. Power is supplied via an 18VDC 2.8A adaptor (100–240VAC, 50–60Hz), drawing 0.5W in standby and 7W under typical use.

Finish

This listing is for the Rich Walnut veneer finish with Dark Slate fabric grille. The MR1 Mk3 is also available in Satin Charcoal lacquer with Dark Slate fabric grille.