Clock radios. Anyone heard a Ruark R1 mk3?

[Diapason]

As much as I love the sound, the functionality of my Tivoli Model 3 has always annoyed me, and now that the snooze button has stopped working altogether it's time for a new bedside radio-alarm-thingy. I basically need good sound, FM, a radio alarm that can be trusted and a snooze button that works. Nice to have would be weekday/weekend alarms and Bluetooth.

The Ruark R1 mk3 seems to fit the bill and the small form factor and looks have already received the seal of approval at home. Still, it feels wrong to buy anything that plays music without consulting you guys first, so here I am. Thoughts? Alternatives?

Of course, deep down this is all about the time I heard Ruark Crusader 2 speakers in Cloney as a schoolkid, and was as blown away by the sound as I was at the fact that people spent that much money ("One thousand five hundred pounds?!?!?!?!") on hifi.

[cybot]

Were they the bug eyed speakers from Venus? If so I remember them because myself and my fellow fi dabbler went up to Cloney's to audition them. In the main room and all too! We were left to our own devices for nearly an hour or so. Bliss!

Good luck with your clock radio search :)

[Diapason]

I think they looked normal enough by today's standards, but at that point they may have been the first floor standing speakers of any clout I'd personally seen. I was more innocent then...

[cybot]

I think they looked normal enough by today's standards, but at that point they may have been the first floor standing speakers of any clout I'd personally seen. I was more innocent then...

Do you really think so? That bug eyed mid-ranger had us mesmerised :) Then again we were innocent too!

[Fran]

The last clock radio I got was with petrol stamps from Maxol in about 1983. Still working too I might add. About the time "free a nipper" was around.

[ralphs voice] I'm old. [/ralphs voice]

sigh

[Ivor]

I bought a mono Vita R1 or something many years ago. That was a DAB radio in a virtually DAB free world, even the stations that promised to go digital never did. But as it happens, bed side I listen to RTE 1 a lot. RTE1 is DAB. The Vita R1 is basically another Ruark side show. The sound is lovely, it's like having Miriam in the bed beside you (don't ask how I know that), voices/talk is natural and untiring.
The radio will of course tune to analogue stations too. I've rarely bothered. The display on mine is an eye test but I don't use it for that.

Sound wise they are beyond reproach. After that you're on your own!


https://www.pinterest.ie/pin/148478118950331214/

[Diapason]

This is all good stuff, thank you.

Don't worry, Fran, I also remember the free a nipper days, and regularly talk about getting stuff with petrol to the mystification of my young colleagues. Then I start singing "Find the Tiger, win 20,000" and they shuffle off nervously...

[Diapason]

After all that I've ordered a Revo Supersignal. Radios picked clean everywhere, apparently, place in Limerick had this one. Read that the Ruark is too bright for bedside use.

[Fran]

Let us know how it turns out....

[Diapason]

I will. My first upgrade in ages!!