Stream in Style with This Mid-Century Radio

Vintage electronic devices appeal to a lot of people not only due to the feelings of nostalgia that they evoke, but also because they were just built better. Planned obsolescence, shoddy plastic casings, and unserviceable internal components were virtually nonexistent in decades past, but today, they are the norm. Consequently, fixing up old electronics is a favorite pastime of many hobbyists who are handy with a soldering iron and multimeter.

But let’s be honest — today’s cheap electronics still run laps around gear from yesteryear, even if they are lacking in style and build quality. Software developer and tinkerer Andy van Stokkum noticed this when he came into possession of a beautiful Ultimate RDG Sorrento radio made in 1955. It looks great with its solid wood case, knobs, and classy dial. However, it can only receive AM signals. And aside from that, the old wiring and components look like they are ready to burst into flames at any moment.

So van Stokkum came up with the idea of modernizing this old radio. The basic plan was to remove all of the old, questionable components and install new hardware. That would not only improve the quality of the sound, but it would also allow the old radio to learn some new tricks. In particular, van Stokkum wanted to add internet radio streaming and MP3 playback to replace AM reception.

Once the chassis was stripped, the internal layout was completely rethought. The original mono speaker was replaced with a multi-speaker setup, including tweeters and mid-range drivers mounted behind a new plywood front panel, along with an 8-inch subwoofer housed in the cabinet. To drive everything, van Stokkum installed a compact ZK-HT22 2.1-channel amplifier, which supports both analog input and Bluetooth. Despite its small size, the amplifier delivers enough power to easily outperform the radio’s original valve-based audio stage.

At the center of the radio’s new “tuner” is an ESP32 microcontroller. This dual-core chip provides Wi-Fi connectivity and enough processing power to stream and decode MP3 audio in real time. Digital audio is sent over I2S to a PCM5102A DAC, which converts it to an analog signal for the amplifier. An external antenna ensures reliable streaming, even in less-than-ideal Wi-Fi conditions.

User interaction was also modernized while preserving the original aesthetic. A rotary encoder on the front panel acts as a virtual tuning knob, selecting between internet radio streams. The old frequency needle was replaced with an array of WS2812 RGB LEDs that visually indicate station selection. Behind the scenes, one ESP32 core handles controls, LEDs, and networking, while the second core is dedicated entirely to audio decoding for smooth, uninterrupted playback.

The finished radio keeps its mid-century charm on the outside, but inside it is a thoroughly modern internet radio with impressive sound. While old hardware may not keep up with today’s technology, a thoughtful upgrade can give classic devices a very long second life.