KEF Egg vs Ruark Audio MR1

[dannybuoy]

I was all set to buy a pair of Ruark Audio MR1 speakers to use with my desktop PC setup when these KEF Eggs made an appearance with a 5 star review on here, with a hint that they might even win an award and take the trophy from the MR1:

http://www.whathifi.com/kef/egg/review

Has anybody had a chance to compare the two (with respect to sound quality)? I know the KEF has USB audio, but since it does not have a headphone out I will be keeping my existing USB DAC, which makes the lack of USB in the Ruark a non-issue. I guess I will be waiting for more reviews to crop up and also see what wins the What HiFi award on the 27th!

 

[chebby]

They were only reported as being on sale by WHF? on the 28th August. I am not sure how many/few people would have had a chance to directly compare both in a proper listening room yet (not a shop floor).

Stylistically they are also poles apart, so I can't see much chance of their respective customers having any interest in auditioning both. (One would be at home on the set of the 1970s kid's series 'UFO' and the others wouldn't go amiss in Poirot's London flat.)

 

[Al ears]

They were only reported as being on sale by WHF? on the 28th August. I am not sure how many/few people would have had a chance to directly compare both in a proper listening room yet (not a shop floor).

Stylistically they are also poles apart, so I can't see much chance of their respective customers having any interest in auditioning both. (One would be at home on the set of the 1970s kid's series 'UFO' and the others wouldn't go amiss in Poirot's London flat.)

+1 They haven't been out long enough for many or any forumees to make a comparison, even if (like Chebby) says they would even bother. My guess is whichever of these you would pick would be on esthetics alone and not sound quality.

 

[dannybuoy]

Stylistically they are also poles apart, so I can't see much chance of their respective customers having any interest in auditioning both. (One would be at home on the set of the 1970s kid's series 'UFO' and the others wouldn't go amiss in Poirot's London flat.)

I think anyone interested in one would surely be interested in both (well I am for a start!), they are direct competitors with similar size, price and performance. The looks are of secondary importance to performance to me and I suspect most on any hifi forum, but both sets would look good enough on my desk!

 

[chebby]

I suppose you could go and listen to both, or wait and see which one takes the award (as you expressed an interest in their WHF? star ratings and upcoming awards outcome).

If you are truly seeking ultimate performance - regardless of external design - then you need to research true active desktop speaker systems for up to the same cost. (Both the Ruark and the KEF Eggs are merely 'powered' passive systems.

 

[Andrewjvt]

The reviews or the stars

Go for one you think sounds the best.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_1248677475158664]

The reason of the latest review prefers Kef egg might be due to the built-in DAC, which makes KEF Egg sound more refined if direcetly output from PC. I did come to KEF shop to experience the new KEF egg. Although it's not a close comparasion like listen to KEF egg and then try MR1 afterwards. However, I'm using Ruark MR1 sourced with ARCAM irDAC, and preamplified with Lehmann linear amplifier. It does sound more refined than KEF egg itself in my opinion. Ruark MR1 gives you more space to customize its sound signature while KEF egg got a build-in DAC and amplifier which fix its sound feature. So I still think Ruark MR1 excels in terms of audio gadget combination.

Hope this could help.