Ruark’s new music console and slim speakers are the CD playing, vinyl spinning, and high-resolution music streaming system your small apartment needs.

Ruark unveils the R710 music console and Talisman-R floor-standing speakers
The R710 is Ruark’s “most powerful” console to date, with CD player and phono stage
It costs £2,199 (around $3,000, AU$4,000); Talisman-R costs £1,499 (around $2,000, AU$2,800)

Let me be clear: British audio specialist Ruark is a master of compact hi-fi products – just look at the MR1 Mk3 five-star powered small desktop speakers for a start.

Although the duo of products Ruark just unveiled at High End Vienna may appear heritage, they’re packed with thoroughly modern technology (and also some slightly older technology) beneath their delightful exteriors. And yes, they can absolutely be purchased together to create a beautifully simple and space-saving hi-fi system.

These slim floor-standing speakers remind me of the electrostatic designs Quad did in collaboration with the BBC in the 1960s, but Ruark tells me they’re actually reminiscent of one of the company’s original flagship designs, first released in 1990.

Ruark R710 music console and Talisman-R columns: key specifications and prices

The R710 is an update to the company’s Ruark R610 console (and Sabre-R bookshelf speakers) that I loved when I saw them in the flesh, in 2024.

Along with its built-in CD player, phono stage (so your vinyl record can be added as a source) and two built-in 200W Class-D amplifiers, support and streaming of high-resolution music files is there, up to 24-bit 384kHz, thanks to the R710’s quad-core processor, with Spotify Connect, Qobuz Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Internet Radio and apt-X HD Bluetooth all integrated.

For local music libraries, the R710 also supports playback from networked media servers and connected USB storage devices. If you want to listen to your movie soundtracks, the R710 also adds HDMI ARC/eARC for TV connectivity. And while you get a wonderful rotary Bluetooth remote with your purchase, for easy playback control (it’s not much different from something ambitious amplifier brand Moon might offer), a big selling point for me is that large front-mounted color screen for the album’s artwork and text.

And these Talisman-R speakers? You’re looking at a two-way passive bass-reflex wired system, featuring a 27mm Ruark silk dome tweeter and a 6.5in long-throw woofer with a nice long, slim profile and angled front baffle – although, note, they still weigh a reassuring 17.6kg each.

Ultimately, Ruark wants you to think of the R710 and Talisman-R speakers as a beautiful system – and I get it. Both products are available in Fused Walnut or Satin Charcoal lacquer, and the R710 costs £2,199 (that’s about $2,000 or AU$4,000, as a rough estimate) with Talisman-R at £1,499 (that’s $2,000 or AU$2,800, or thereabouts).