This striking turntable is the brainchild of former Apple engineers
The TD-1 is the first product from Los Angeles based Ruka Studio
by Ioan Hazell · What Hi-Fi?
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Ruka Studio, a Los Angeles based company that was founded by a group of former Apple engineers and designers, is set to launch its first product: a vertically spinning turntable, the TD-1.
Currently priced at $1399, which the company claims is “the lowest price it will ever be”, the turntable features an aluminium body and “switches that click” for playback controls, rotational speed and even Bluetooth pairing.
A magnetic clamp holds records in place, which is good news, given that they appear to hang in the air – equally a feast for the eyes and challenge for the nerves.
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The TD-1 includes a swappable moving-magnet cartridge – the company says that buyers can select “which cartridge [they] want” for no extra fee before shipping – and features conventional RCA wired outputs as well as the option for wireless playback via Bluetooth.
The turntable is belt-driven, with a motor that is de-coupled from the platter to minimise unwanted vibrations for a “quieter and smoother listening experience”. The TD-1 is also wall-mountable via a rubber-coated magnetic plate that fixes to the wall.
Those of you familiar with the agony of trying to hang a painting straight will be pleased to hear that the wall-mount features a built-in spirit level. But if this all sounds like too much bother, don’t fret, a record stand and floor stand are also available. No prices have yet been confirmed for the stands, but Ruka Studio’s website says that a ‘table stand’ is also on the way.
The Ruka Studio TD-1 will soon be available to pre-order and waitlist spots for the first production run (of just 500 units) can currently be reserved for $100 on the company’s website. Notably, that $100 credits in towards the full balance of the record player and locks it at a price of $1399. The deposit is also fully refundable.
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Pre-ordered units are expected to ship in 2027.
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