Vertical turntables aren’t exactly common, but the format has been around long enough that a handful of models already exist. GLD Vertical Vinyl Record Player by Fuse Audio earned bragging rights to be the first to do so, followed by the VS-01 Vertical Turntable by CoolGeek. Not far behind was Miniot Wheel 3, which challenged the premise of how a turntable should look. And now, there is a new player in town vying for attention with features that are more or less the same. Dubbed the TD-1 turntable, the $1,399 unit blurs the line between high-fidelity audio equipment and luxury home decor.
But what’s special about the unit is not the design and engineering behind the model but its origin. A brainchild of ex-Apple engineers, the TD-1 turntable is the debut product of Los Angeles-based Ruka Studio. First reported by ecoustics, the TD-1 turntable plays records upright so the vinyl appears to float on the wall or a stand. The question arises: how does physics allow it to do so?
Traditionally, record players require a perfectly flat, level surface to prevent skipping and uneven groove wear. The TD-1 solves the challenges of vertical playback through precision engineering. The record itself is held in place by a magnetic clamp, so it appears to float in front of the wall or stand rather than resting on a plinth.
The TD-1 turntable can be mounted to the wall, set on a floor stand, or placed on a tabletop. “The TD-1 adapts to your space and aesthetic,” the company states. What Hi-Fi, which covered the launch in detail, reports that the TD-1 includes a swappable moving-magnet cartridge. “The TD-1 takes easy-swap headshells, so you choose the cartridge, and it calibrates the tracking force to whatever stylus you mount,” states the company.
From a technical standpoint, the TD-1 is belt-driven, and the motor is decoupled from the platter to cut down on vibration. Ruka Studio describes the result as a “quieter, smoother listening experience.” Industrial designer Sam Kapor, who leads the company, has previously worked on the Apple AirPods Max, and that pedigree shows up in how the TD-1 is built. The body is machined from aluminum, and every control is a physical knob or switch, not a touchscreen or an application.
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As far as playback is concerned, the TD-1 features wired outputs allowing hardware to be connected to a traditional hi-fi system. The record player, however, also features built-in Bluetooth, allowing you to stream your vinyl records to wireless speakers or Bluetooth headphones.
The Ruka Studio TD-1 can now be reserved on the company’s website with a $100 deposit. The full retail price is set at $1,399, with shipping for preordered units expected sometime in 2027. That initial $100 is fully refundable, or it will be applied toward the final purchase price once the device ships.
