Modern technology meets a vintage look. The result is the wonderful 1970s-style Ruark R810 High Fidelity Radiogram.
You might know the maker, as it was also responsible for another of my favourites, the ridiculously cool Ruark Audio R7 MKIII radiogram. Sadly, that 1950s-style unit looks to have left the range now, as components to produce it were no longer available. So, instead of tweaking the design (and probably for the worse), Ruark has instead created an all-new radiogram. The one you see here.
The new design is different but still very much the retro statement piece. It puts me in mind of 1960s and 1970s European designs. I featured a 1970s Blaupunkt radiogram on eBay some time back, and you might notice the similarity. It’s rocking that retro-modernist vibe.
And it’s a perfect look for the retro houses of today. Put your coffee cup down on your Merrow Associates table, sink back into your Robin Day sofa, reach for the remote and blast out some soulful 1970s grooves via whatever streaming service you use. As you might expect, there’s no turntable included here. This is all about streaming.
A couple of different designs are available for the finish: the fused walnut veneer cabinet and grille (my personal favourite) or the soft grey with walnut grille. Whatever takes your fancy, as the inner workings are much the same.
That’s 2 × Ruark 27mm silk dome tweeters, 2 × Ruark 100mm NS+ bass-mid units, 1 × Ruark 200mm long-throw subwoofer, and a 180W 5-channel Class A-B amplifier. You’ve probably spotted the RotoDial BT LE rechargeable remote that brings everything to your fingertips.
In short, most streaming services you need are built into the unit, although there’s no CD player like the last radiogram. So you get Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast, Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect built-in, Apple Music, BBC Sounds, Deezer, Qobuz and more, Hi-Res music file support up to 32-bit 384kHz, internet/DAB/DAB+ and FM tuners plus HDMI ARC/eARC connectivity.
I’m guessing that gives you at least a couple of musical options. If you want to go old school, there are input connectors, too, including a turntable input. I’m sure a minimal deck would look the part on top of this, especially if you find something in walnut to match.
Much more, too. If you want the full technical specifications, do have a look at the maker’s website for that.
This is brand new, with stock arriving in December> If you want to treat yourself to an early Christmas present, then you’ll need to find something in the region of £3,000. Not cheap, but this will be both useful and good looking for many years to come.
