Set down a card.The music plays.
A Spindle is a small wooden player with cards full of the songs your parents love. A lifetime of music, back within reach.
Paid preorder. Ships by November 15, 2026.
Cancel for a full refund any time before it ships.
Nothing for them to learn.
You do the setup. They get the music.
You, once
Plug it in at their place. A two-minute setup on your phone connects the Spindle to their Wi-Fi and their Sonos. After that, the phone stays in your pocket.
Them, every day
They pick a card and set it down. The music plays until they pick it back up. That's the whole thing.
New music, anytime
Any album or mix can become a card. Order new ones anytime and we'll mail them to you or straight to their mailbox.
What it needs
A Spindle needs three things the house may already have: Wi-Fi, a Sonos speaker, and a Spotify or Apple Music account.
No Sonos yet? Add one to your order, or bring your own before your Spindle arrives.
Their music, from you.
You build the first stack when you order: the records they wore out, the song from their wedding, the voice that was always on in the kitchen. Each card carries the title in one of our designs, or a photograph you choose.
Mixes are the cards you make. Pick the songs, give the mix a title, and write a message for the back. We print everything, and the card arrives ready to give.
The music didn't go anywhere.It just slipped out of reach.
Your parents' music used to be something they could hold. Records on a shelf, a stack by the player, sleeves worn soft at the corners. Anyone in the room could put one on.
Streaming moved it all somewhere harder to hold — onto a phone, behind a login. The songs survived the move. The habit didn't. For a lot of people, “put something on” became a thing they used to do.
Made to be displayed.
Each Spindle is solid walnut, shaped and finished by hand in Boston. There are no buttons and no screen; it just sits on the mantel next to the photographs, like it's always been there.
Solid walnut. Made in Boston.
A note from our co-founder
I built the first Spindle because I love sharing music with my family. I wanted my kids to be able to play all of our favorites when I'm not around, and nothing makes me happier than when they reach for the Beatles instead of Baby Shark.
Watching them, my co-founder Eben and I realized the same thing would work for anyone who could set down a card.
So we built the next one for Eben's mom, Patty, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She set a card down, and Nanci Griffith started to sing. Eben's dad said, “Holy sh*t.” Now their house is filled with music again, every day.
If you ever have a question or an idea, or just want to talk, I answer every email sent to mike@spindlemusicbox.com.
— Mike
Mike delivering a Spindle to one of our early beta testers.
A gift you can't get wrong.
These are the songs they chose for themselves, long before you came along. You're not giving them something new, you're giving something back.
Preorder nowFrequently asked questions
Will they actually use it?
They set a card down and the music plays. They pick it up and it stops. Our earliest testers include people in their nineties, people living with Alzheimer's, and Eben's dad, who hadn't taken to a new technology since the landline. Every one of them plays their music.
Why not just buy them a record player?
We love record players. We both own one, and we spend more than we should on records. But a record asks for steady hands and regular trips to flip the side, and a collection asks for shelf space they may be trying to give up. Cards ask for less: a stack by the player, and a mix that plays all afternoon without anyone getting up.
What about a smart speaker?
Talking to a speaker works when you know what you want to hear and can call it by name. Many people decide with their hands, flipping through the stack until they find the one. Setting a card down asks nothing of their memory or their voice.
Do they need a smartphone or an account?
They don't need a smartphone after setup. A Spindle needs a Spotify or Apple Music account, yours or theirs, linked during setup. After that, they just use the cards.
Which streaming services does it work with?
Spotify and Apple Music. A Spindle needs an account with one of those services, linked to their Sonos. If both are linked, one card can play from Spotify and another from Apple Music.
What if they don't have a Sonos?
A Spindle plays through a Sonos speaker, so the house needs one. You can add a Sonos to your order, or get your own before your Spindle arrives. Either way, it's set up once, in your hands, before you give it.
Is there a subscription?
There's no Spindle subscription. It plays through a Spotify or Apple Music account, yours or theirs, linked once during setup.
What can go on a card?
Any song, album, or playlist on their streaming service. The records they kept for fifty years, the song from their wedding, or a mix you put together last night.
Can I set it up before I give it?
Yes, and we recommend it. Setup needs the house's Wi-Fi and Sonos, plus the Spotify or Apple Music account you'll link. If they already have a Sonos, it's about two minutes on your next visit; if you're setting up Sonos for the first time, plan a little longer. Either way, it plays from the first card they set down.
How does the preorder work?
You pay in full now to reserve one of the first run, and you can cancel for a full refund any time before your Spindle ships. We expect to ship by November 15, 2026, within the United States.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, anytime before your Spindle ships. Email us at hello@spindlemusicbox.com and we'll refund your payment in full, back to your original payment method.