Price Paid:  $1300.00

Summary:
Ruark Prelude II are outstanding speakers. Not because of their really outstanding build – real wood - but also because of the sound.
Connected to the right stuff gives holographic, exceptional clear soundstage. Localization of instruments is perfect and easy to point the source of each sound. It is really brilliant. Soundstage is wide open (very!) and quite deep. Voices are natural and without any coloration. Bass fundament is unexceptionally good – notice the small size of these speakers – speed, deepness, definition. Details both on the top and midrange come in the big amount. It is possible enjoy the music and separate each and every note. Impressive.
Dynamic is better then average but you can find more 'screeming speakers'.

Strengths:
Great looking, contains classy drivers from Seas, perfect, classy sound.

8 ohm impedance - easy to drive.

All round speakers fit to classic, jazz and rock. They like to be present, they like to be visible, they like to play. They are full of musical enthusiasm.

Weaknesses:
Small, can be treat almost as a bookshelf pair. Not the best for rooms bigger than 30 m2 (250 feet).

Should work with good quality devices for showing their best.

Expensive.

Similar Products Used:
kef Q7, Dali Evidence 470

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from Audio Concept Aalbor

Summary:
First my Ruarks were connected to the Rotel 02 series sytem with Supra Rondo cables. Sound was bright. Yes, their bass was very good, fast and with great definition and strenght, vocals perfektly natural with only very little color comming from the cabinet but high friquences too bright. Any combinations with cable changes - interconnect Audioquest Diamondback to some others - gave only minor improvement.
Were good but not completely disaster :-)
Since I have the other music system in my secong appartment near my work place I have decided to try these beautiful Ruarks with other electronics. Audio Analogue int. Amp. Puccini and Audio Analogue CD Paganini. Cables from Harmonic Tech IC Truth Link and speakers Pro-9. Result? Ruarks became completely new speakers now. Brightness is still a part of them but their unpleasure disppeared. Fast bass remainds the same like before, Vocals are even better and bright high range is fully acceptable. Worth to buy now.:-)
I recommend fullfilling boxes' sand chambers with sand up to half of the volume. Sound gets fast and low frequences are better define, out of box colour disappears.

Strengths:
Classy sound can transfer musicality from the source to your ears, great craft skills and nice looking in the room

Weaknesses:
A bit bright so do not pair with bright electronic.
They go not to the end with details and soundstage space.

Similar Products Used:
Jamo D590 and many others