The R3S is Ruark's mid-range compact music system within the R Series, sitting above the R1S smart radio and R2 in the range. It combines a slot-loading CD player, twin 75mm NS+ full-range drivers in a twin bass reflex cabinet, and 30W of Class A/B amplification with Wi-Fi streaming, Bluetooth, DAB/DAB+ and FM radio, and Internet Radio in a single handcrafted enclosure.
Drivers, Amplification, and Cabinet
Two Ruark 75mm NS+ full-range drivers are housed in a twin bass reflex cabinet. Amplification is rated at 30W nominal from a Class A/B output stage. Ruark's STEREO+ sound processing is built in to extend the perceived soundstage beyond the cabinet's physical width. Frequency response is quoted as 50Hz–20kHz, measured in a typical room. Bass and treble controls each offer a range of –6dB to +6dB, with a switchable loudness EQ and a switchable 3D audio processor available for further tonal adjustment. The cabinet is available in Rich Walnut veneer with a Dark Slate fabric grille, Soft Grey lacquer with a Lead Grey fabric grille, and Charcoal lacquer with a Dark Slate fabric grille.
CD and Audio Formats
A slot-loading CD mechanism plays standard CD-DA discs and home-recorded CD-R media. Data discs encoded with WAV files (16-bit/44.1kHz), MP3, WMA, and AAC up to 320kbps are also supported, with track and album metadata displayed on the OLED screen. A USB-C port on the rear panel accepts FAT32-formatted storage devices for MP3 playback at up to 48kHz/320kbps, and doubles as a 5V/1A (5W) device charging port.
Streaming and Radio
Spotify Connect, Deezer, and Amazon Music run natively on the R3S without requiring a connected phone or tablet to relay audio. Internet Radio, DAB, DAB+, and FM with RDS (87.5–108MHz) are all integrated, along with a dedicated podcast source browsable via the RotoDial controller, the supplied IR remote, or the free Oktiv app for iOS and Android. Wi-Fi is 802.11b/g/n with WPS 2, WEP, WPA, and WPA2 security. Bluetooth 5.2 supports SBC, BLE, and A2DP, covering wireless audio from smartphones and computers. Up to 8 presets can be stored per source mode, and two daily alarms are available, configurable for weekdays, weekends, or a custom schedule. Software updates are delivered over-the-air, via LAN, or via USB.
Connections and Interface
A stereo RCA line input (maximum 2.3Vrms) connects analogue sources such as a turntable with a built-in phono stage. A TOSLINK optical input accepts digital PCM up to 24-bit/96kHz for connection to a television or separate transport. Stereo RCA line outputs are provided, switchable for use as a subwoofer feed via the mono RCA subwoofer output — Ruark's own RS1 active subwoofer is a matched companion. A 3.5mm headphone socket is on the rear panel. The 75Ω F-type aerial connector accommodates an external aerial for improved DAB and FM reception; a telescopic aerial and spanner are included in the box. The tactile RotoDial on the top surface handles source selection and volume in a single knob. An OLED display with automatic dimming shows programme information, time, and alarm status.
