DECEMBER 2020 T3 3Gadgets that showcase the
very best that design and
technology have to offer
SHOWSTOPPER
We know what you’re thinking: didn’t streaming kill the radio (star)? Far from it: rather than going extinct, they’ve evolved.
Perhaps the closest you could get to the Platonic ideal of a digital radio, this is the fourth-generation of the Ruark R1,
released for its predecessor’s 14th birthday, and the premium audio brand has essentially perfected the formula to give you
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NaturalSound+ driver and adaptive EQ. But its talents go much further than that: not only does it have a DAB, DAB+ and
FM tuner, it also has a high-quality Bluetooth receiver, switchable auxiliary input and a USB-C playback port, meaning it
doubles as a high-quality bookshelf speaker. All in all, it offers a serious amount of audio adaptability for a very decent price.
£229, ruarkaudio.com
RUARK AUDIO R
A FACE FOR RADIO
No matter how clever the R1 is,
the most memorable thing is its
looks. This is a gorgeous gadget:
its attractive contoured polymer
enclosure is acoustically inert,
while its ash or walnut grille
will make it an item of furniture
you actively want to show off