A magnetic resonance (MR) system includes a volume-type radio-frequency (RF) coil assembly having a volume coil with a plurality of ports and a ring coil with a plurality of ports (p′) and which is situated about the volume-type coil. At least one controller is configured to selectively control a first transmit/receive (T/R) radio frequency (RF) channel to generate an output including RF quadrature signals to drive the volume-type coil and to selectively control a second T/R RF channel to generate an output including RF quadrature signals to drive the ring coil.