Ruark Audio R4 CD, DAB/FM Radio with integrated iPod Dock - Walnut finish

I have always been dubious about systems where the speakers are an integrated part of the main unit; worries about the quality of sound which comes from two apparently tiny speakers set in the front of the unit. In the past this has put me off purchasing a Bose system (although I must admit the Bose Sound-dock does not have the same appealing appearance as this machine, but is its direct comparator in terms of price).

However, I was attracted to this great looking system and road tested it in a hi-fi store where I live, trying out Elbows magnificent "Seldom Seen Kid" (particularly Grounds For Divorce, when those guitars kick in), New Orders "Techinque" (for the Bassline on Fine TIme", and a Miracle Mile album. I was duly impressed and handed over my £550.....

On getting home, the system is great - easily set up, and rapidly picking up more DAB Stations than the unit is was replacing (a Pure Legato, which I have continually had issues with, either with the CD not registering or the radio refusing to pick up a single channel), and wow, it does impress.

The two speakers in the front of the unit are supplemented by a sub-woofer in the bottom, which really packs a punch, and the sound is loud and crystal clear. There are a number of options to tweak the sound, either through a bass controller on the back, or through using a series of options on the (cool) remote control, such as Loundness, Equalizer etc. However, the factory settings appear suitable for the type of music I listen to, and I have a collection approaching 5000 cds in addition to 17,000+ tracks on my well known MP3 player.

The remote control is a small circular device which slots in to the top of the unit, also acting as the main means of controlling the system when not detached. The unit is simple to control which adds to its appeal. The remote also allows for complete control over the ipod, enabling you to drop down through playlists and find specific tracks you want, without the need to get up and physically touch the machine.

There is a small telescopic aerial on the rear which seems adequate for both DAB and FM reception (which as I live in a fairly poor reception area this is saying something). The only quibble with the radio is that there are only 5 presets for each of DAB and FM, but this is a minor issue as on DAB is it so easy to find another station through the scrolling menu that it only takes a couple of seconds more to tune to the channel you want. The unit can also be fitted to an external aerial if required. The only other thing - there is no "stop" button, meaning you either have to eject a disc before turning off, or turn off and leave in - I never like just turning the power off when a disc is spinning - it cant be good for it!

The only bit I have not tried yet is the flash drive, but if the quality of the sound through this is as good as all the other functions, it will be fantastic.

So, whilst this is admittedly an expensive investment, it is certainly worth it - at 8kg, the weight is such that there is no vibration and the "ski-like" feet means the unit can sit happily on any relatively solid base quite happily and not vibrate through the unit. The range of finishes the unit comes in (shiny black and shiny white in addition the walnut I purchased) means it would probably fit in with the decor in most rooms.

If you are thinking of buying a "One-stop" system for the majority of your music needs (and there are inputs for auxillary, so turntables or casette units could be added and there are outputs to other recording devices) and you want a system with a quality sound, with £500 or so to invest, you will not go wrong with this unit.

Saw this in a local store and was mightily impressed by the looks, but for the price wanted to investigate further. Went away, listened to all the others (Bose etc), came back to the Vita Audio. The sound is really impressive once it's on a sound footing (that big bass speaker in the bottom will shake and rattle a lightweight shelf).
It has a couple of quirks - that remote isn't as intuitive as it might be, and you have to switch the unit to CD to eject a CD you've put in (which led me to believe the CD was broke a couple of times)
But overall the unit looks and sounds superb - I'll happily say it's the best sounding audio device I've ever owned. That it looks so good is a total bonus. Team it with an apple airport express to get your iTunes/spotify music like you've never heard it before.
I forgot to mention the radio (!) which does everything I'd expect a top notch dab radio to do.

If you are looking for a portable hi-fi system that you can carry around your home and are willing to part with this kind of cash then my advice is to look no further. Even if you think this is way too much money to be spending on a system like this then I would urge you to think again! Doing a bit of research yourself is obviously a good idea but you can be guaranteed at least that my ears have barely had a thing to complain about.

The nitty-gritty: I made my decision to buy the R4 after demoing it alongside the Roberts MP53. Liking the look of both units, I was expecting to have a tough decision to make: could the extra cost of the R4 be justified on sound alone? Well, on hearing them side by side, I felt it a bit unfair on Roberts to even begin to compare them here. There was no comparison! These units are obvious choices to demo given there is not much on the market in this range. One review urged me to save my money and buy the Roberts. "Same sound quality, half the price" he reasoned. Having heard both, I find it difficult to explain how I feel about this statement without sounding like a snob. I have no doubt the MP53 is a fantastic product. However, comparing it with the R4 I feel is a bit like comparing Edam cheese with Double Gouda. Many people like Edam and would never consider forking out twice the money for something that they have never heard of. For those who really appreciate good cheese though, most of them I'm sure would happily spend a couple of hundred quid not to have to eat Edam for the rest of their lives. A loose comparison I admit but you get where I'm at. What really separated them for me though was the depth, body and presence coming out of the R4. An almost 3D experience. By 'comparison'? The Roberts sounded flat, tinny and struggling to express itself. As if it was in a different league actually; which it is!

As for specifics: I found the R4 sound immediately crisp, clean and mellow at the same time. The bass is taught and expressive and individual tracks can be picked out and savoured. One exception here is that the bass of SOME rock music can sound a tiny bit flat - I was left wanting a bit more. As for the other 95% of what I've listened to though its been fantastic and I still find myself shaking my head and smiling in wonder! Its also been said that the sound can become a bit "muddied" with very complex, in your face music. Probably true but hardly surprising given that its a single box. What I feel really lets it down is having to be close and directly in front of the unit for the remote to work which seems an odd and frustrating oversight (its still the coolest looking one I've ever seen and is a bit of a talking point!).

Overall I would highly, highly recommend this product. Having spent a couple of years listening to a Monitor Audio set-up worth around five times the price, I still find this little (or not so little?) machine very satisfying indeed. Everything I wanted and a little bit more. It looks nice too!