Founded in 1985 by Brian O'Rourke and his son Alan in Essex, Ruark Audio emerged from Brian's decades of experience in cabinet-making and audio manufacturing. Initially launching as Ruark Acoustics with the Sabre and Broadsword loudspeakers in 1986, the company gained recognition for combining British craftsmanship with acoustic excellence. After Brian stepped down in the late 1990s, Alan took over as Managing Director, leading the transition to Ruark Audio in 2006 and expanding beyond hi-fi speakers into award-winning DAB radios and music systems. Based in Southend-on-Sea, this family-owned company continues creating premium audio products that blend elegant design with exceptional sound quality, earning accolades including What Hi-Fi? awards for products like the R2 and MR1 speakers.