Kit: A Hi-Fi Quality Radio and A Slow Juicer to Savour

When the original Ruark R1 was released just over 10 years ago it was hailed by a British national newspaper as the Aston Martin of DAB radios. This presumably alluded to its aesthetic beauty in a market that was, and remains, dominated by functional plastic items that are high on tech but low on taste. The next generation of Ruark DAB radios, of which the R2 Mark III is one, have retained the founders' high-minded aesthetics while at the same time marching forward relentlessly on the technological front.

I shall elaborate, but fi rst it is important to know that this Kent-based company started out as producers of highly regarded loudspeakers developed by Alan O'Rourke, who is both an engineer and a lifelong music enthusiast. Together with his partner Neil Adams, O'Rourke decided to branch out into DAB radios 10 years ago because he found the sound reproduction in the new generation of radio was not up to hi-fi standards. And that is why Ruark radios are diff erent.

So the Ruark R2 Mark III Multi-room Music System, to give it its full title, off ers DAB and DAB+ (the new sharpersounding improved version), FM, internet radio, Bluetooth and Spotify Connect, all encased in a beautiful walnut cabinet that, like most of Ruark's products, harks back to 1950s design. The sound produced from both DAB and FM radio signals is rich and warm, a result no doubt of the incorporated speaker technology. Ruark also claims that its aerials are the best in modern radio and, if the FM reception I've been getting is anything to go by, I would have to agree.

However it is the addition of Bluetooth that ups the game here, transforming your desktop radio into an agreeable and perfectly acceptable hi fi system when connected to your iPhone or Android. (It can also connect by wire, thus acting as a charger as well.) It also means that you can stream radio stations from around the world. Also, several Ruark R2s can be connected to the same network thereby providing you with a multi-room audio system. At $613 it is not cheap but it is a sound system that will last a lifetime.

Hurom Slow Juicer

If you want your juices to last longer and retain more nutrients you need a masticating juicer or a slow juicer rather than the common centrifugal juicer. For this reason the Hurom Slow Juicers are getting rave reviews this summer. They operate at a low 80rpm and use only 150 watts of energy compared with 1,000-plus RPM and 1,500 watts for the centrifugal juicers. They use a patented Low Speed Technology System (LKSTS) that allows maximum release of nutrients and enzymes and results in vivid, richer-coloured juices that retain more vitamins, minerals and natural flavour. Huroms are easy to clean, by running water through them, and disassemble for a thorough scrub. The Hurom comes in there models – the HE Series ($460), HH Series ($613) and the HF Series ($767).lt;/pgt; lt;divgt;lt;!--1--gt;lt;/divgt; lt;pgt;lt;stronggt;Jawbone UP 24lt;/stronggt;lt;/pgt; lt;pgt;Now we are all trekking, jogging, and sprinting in the name of health and fitness, it#039;s time to look again at a fitness tracker/ The latest Jawbone update, the UP 24, has the advantage of looking like a reasonably attractive wrist adornment, and it is a lot cheaper than the FitBit Surge ($192 compared with $304) featured in this column earlier in the summer. For this you get a device that gives you data in real time by syncing with Bluetooth Smart on iPhones and Androids, which means you don#039;t have to plug the band into a computer to sync the data. While still focusing on step-counting information and sleep data, the UP 24 introduces recommendations in the form of information cards that appear on your UP news stream after four or five days#039; input. So it#039;s a wearable fitness intelligence guidelt;stronggt;.lt;/stronggt;lt;/pgt;

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Lucy is the deputy news editor for Newsweek Europe. Twitter: @DraperLucy

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