VSTECS launches Ruark R100 Series in Malaysia

VSTECS CEO Soong Jan Hsung (right) and Ruark's global sales and marketing director Richard McKinney introduce the R410

For the Ruark story, read the AudioFi.net interview with Alan O'Rourke

THE 100 Series music system from UK manufacturer Ruark was released in Malaysia at a media event on October 13, offering music lovers and audiophiles looking for a one-box streaming solution something more sonically exquisite than the plethora of such products available in the market.

The first of the 100 Series is the R410, which supports audio files of up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution, and has Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast on board. It will also do DAB/DAB+/FM and Internet radio. A bonus is the R410's design – it is housed in a luxuriously hand-crafted enclosure that will surely add a touch of class to any living room... or wherever else it finds a home. The 1970s-inspired styling makes it stand out visually.

"As Ruark’s sole distributor in Malaysia since 2020, we are thrilled to be bringing in these incredibly fine audio products that are sure to impress music lovers and design aficionados alike,” said Soong Jan Hsung, CEO of VSTECS Group, a leading distributor of ICT products in the region.

A statement from Ruark MD Alan O'Rourke, who couldn't be present for the launch, said: "After three years of development, we are truly excited as to what the 100 Series offers and believe that it will open a new and exciting chapter for Ruark. Apart from the tweeter drivers taken from our award-winning MR1 speakers, absolutely everything about our 100 Series is new! Customers can expect the 100 Series to feature products that are designed to be seen and engineered to be heard."

Ruark's global sales and marketing director Richard McKinney (photo below), who was at the launch, provided some interesting insights into the company's history and direction.



Lifestyle audio, obviously, has been the way forward for numerous audio manufacturers, and Ruark, renowned for its acclaimed hi-fi speakers back in the 1980s and 1990s, went this way in the new millennium to keep its head above water. Forget vinyl, and yes, let's leave CD in the dust – streaming is the zeitgeist, in fact, that's all most music lovers these days need or want. Apart from a pair of wireless headphones and smartphone.

The R410, though, frees you from the need to be physically connected to anything. However, if you need expanded connectivity, it offers aptX HD Bluetooth, along with HDMI with eARC and Toslink inputs, and is UPnP media server compatible. And... hold your breath, there's a RIAA phono input!

Navigation of the R410 is a breeze, thanks to the RotoDial controller carried over from the R-Series components which displays the interaction on the unit's high-resolution colour display. The RotoDial control system has been in used since Ruark's R1 in 2006.

According to Ruark, only the finest quality materials have been used for the R100 components, from the hand-crafted grille and cabinet to the precision-formed components.

Adding to the aesthetic of the R410 is the new material used for the grille construction and enclosure. Engineered from sustainable woods that have been spliced, coloured, and recomposed, the resulting eco-wood closely resembles slow growing hardwoods, but with the added benefit of consistent grain patterns and colour that's less prone to change with time.



Built into the cabinet of the R410 are reflex-enclosures that house two long-throw 100mm mid-bass units and two custom-designed 20mm silk-dome tweeters.

There's also a new-generation Class D amplifier, outputting 120 watts RMS – the two-channel amplifier assembly is mounted directly onto the rear of each bass mid-unit to optimise signal paths. Doing conversion duties are Burr-Brown DACs.

Priced at RM8,899, the R410 is available  now at specialised stores like Style Laser, Atlas Sound and Vision (The Gardens Mall), TechX Malaysia, Top Audio Marketing, Asia Sound Equipment, Charlie Care, Audio Concept, Grex Multimedia, Mylo Trading, Impulse Gaming (KL Flagship Store), Begins Acoustic, Maison Audio, Direct-D, Cinesound Gallery, Harmonic AV, Shomez, Lazada and Shopee.

Hint, hint – there's something even bigger coming from Ruark, so keep your eyes peeled.