Ruark R610 Music Console Charcoal

The R610 Music Console sits at the centre of Ruark’s 100 Series, a range that also includes the R410 all-in-one music system, the R810 radiogram, the Sabre-R bookshelf speakers, and the R-CD100 CD player. Where the R410 integrates its own speakers for a single-box solution and the R810 extends to a full radiogram format, the R610 serves as a dedicated streaming amplifier designed to drive passive loudspeakers — bridging the convenience of modern streaming with the flexibility of a traditional two-box hi-fi system. Inspired by the stereo music consoles of the 1970s, it combines comprehensive source connectivity, Class D amplification, and a high-quality DAC in a compact, hand-finished enclosure.

Amplification and Signal Processing

The R610 delivers 2 × 75 W per channel from its Class D amplifiers, with a frequency response of 22 Hz to 22 kHz (+0/−3 dB). Digital-to-analogue conversion is handled by a Burr-Brown 32-bit 192 kHz DAC, supporting high-resolution audio formats including FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, and WAV at up to 32-bit 192 kHz, MP3 at up to 48 kHz 320 kbps, and AAC at up to 96 kHz 320 kbps. Audio shaping controls include adjustable bass, treble, and subwoofer levels (−6 dB to +6 dB), a switchable Loudness EQ for low-volume listening, and Stereo+ mode for widened stereo imaging.

Streaming, Radio, and Wireless

Network audio connects via dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) or wired Ethernet (RJ45, 10/100 Mbps). Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and Qobuz Connect run natively on the R610, while Apple Music, Amazon Music, BBC Sounds, and Deezer are accessible through Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast — both of which also enable multiroom playback across compatible devices in the home. Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX HD, SBC, and AAC codecs provides wireless streaming from portable devices. Built-in radio covers Internet Radio, DAB/DAB+, and FM with RDS across 76.0–108 MHz. A telescopic aerial is included.

Inputs and Outputs

Analogue inputs include a turntable connection with integrated moving-magnet phono stage (RCA, adjustable gain 2–7 mV) and a switchable stereo line-in (RCA, up to 2.3 Vrms). Digital inputs comprise HDMI ARC/eARC for television audio, an optical input supporting up to 24-bit 96 kHz PCM, and a USB-C 2.0 port for multi-format audio file playback from USB storage (FAT, FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, ext2/3/4) and connection to the optional R-CD100 CD drive. Outputs include direct speaker terminals, a selectable stereo RCA line-out/pre-out, and a mono RCA subwoofer output rated at 2.0 Vrms.

Design and Build

The R610’s cabinet pairs a satin charcoal lacquer finish with walnut slat trim, following the 100 Series design language shared across the range. A high-contrast 5-inch colour TFT display with auto-dimming presents album artwork, station logos, and system menus. Navigation is handled by the RotoDial controller with tactile soft-touch buttons, and twenty global presets provide quick access to favourite stations and streaming services. A rechargeable wireless Bluetooth remote control is included, along with 2 × 3 m premium oxygen-free copper 400-strand speaker cables.

What the Press Says

• What Hi-Fi? Awards 2025 winner
• What Hi-Fi? Readers’ Awards 2025 winner
• Hi-Fi Choice Recommended