Photo Credit: Fuse Audio
The Fuse Audio GLD is a vertical vinyl player that has surpassed $500,000+ funding on Kickstarter from a collection of more than 2,200 backers. The campaign still has 15 days to go, with Fuse Audio announcing an upgraded tone arm.
Fuse Audio says the milestone in support highlights the demand for the unique record player, a mid-century modern vertical record player designed to appeal to vinyl enthusiasts. The company has been working on improvements for the tone arm, which include improved balance and tracking force, ensuring smoother playback. The refined design also introduces a slightly adjusted headshell angle for the Audio Technica AT3600L cartridge, enhancing needle accuracy.
The Fuse Audio GLD record player features an ashtree wood veneer finish, available in black and gold trims. It also features Bluetooth capabilities, enabling vinyl streaming to Bluetooth-compatible devices. The stylish design displays record vertically while they play, offering high-quality audio with two external 36W speakers—each featuring a 1” tweeter, 4” cone, and a Class D amplifier. The GLD also features versatile playback support for 33, 45, and 78 RPM speeds—offering high-quality sound no matter the format.
The main appeal of a vertical vinyl player is the space-saving footprint. The GLD is just six inches deep, meaning it doesn’t take up a lot of counter space while also displaying the vinyl record as a centerpiece of design. Since the record player is designed with vinyl enthusiasts in mind, it also includes a built-in slot at the back to display cover art of the vinyl currently spinning.
There’s a little more than two weeks left on the Kickstarter campaign, with Fuse Audio telling Digital Music News that the GLD has been in development since July 2023. The company began sourcing materials in September of the same year, with their final sample coming to shape in January 2024. Now the audio company is gathering funding with the expectation that manufacture of the device will happen around December 2024. Fuse Audio has a timeline to ship to backers between December 2024/January 2025.
A pledge of $315 offers Kickstarter backers a 12% discount from MSRP when the device eventually makes its way to the enthusiast market for sale. Early backers were able to snag their GLD players for prices between $199 and $229—though those reward tiers are no longer available. It’s important to note, as with all Kickstarter funding projects, that rewards are not guaranteed.