Streaming From Scratch

Picking up an off-the-shelf gadget is certainly the easiest way to go, but building your own allows for a level of customization that cannot be matched by a mass-market product. That is certainly the case when it comes to electronic devices, where a DIY version can have a feature set and aesthetics that are as unique as the individual user. Whether one wants to include every conceivable bell and whistle, or go with a trimmed-down, minimalistic design, the only bounds are those of the creator’s imagination.

A Redditor that goes by the handle OracleDude33 understands the benefits of building a device from scratch, and recently put together a very nice looking internet kitchen radio build. These systems are not as popular as they once were, so the number of available choices has dwindled. These days, if you want an internet radio, you are probably going to wind up with a dull-looking black box and an uninspired user interface. But by DIYing the radio, OracleDude33 was able to make a beautiful device that would look good in any home. And of course the interface can be customized to no end as well.

The radio’s hardware is enclosed in a classy looking wooden case with a retro feel. The only exposed components are a seven-inch Raspberry Pi Touch Display, a volume control knob, and some speakers scavenged from a SiriusXM TTR1 internet clock radio. Most of the functionality is exposed via the touchscreen to maintain the minimalist appearance of the device.

Inside of the box, there is a Raspberry Pi 4 single-board computer to serve as the brains of the operation. No doubt, this is overkill for an internet radio, so there is plenty of room for hacking if one wanted to build in additional capabilities, like smart home control, for example. For high-quality audio generation, there is a Raspberry Pi DigiAMP+ stereo amplifier to drive the speakers. To get the project off the ground quickly, OracleDude33 utilized the Moode Audio streaming software, which was designed for use with Raspberry Pis. This handles the details of streaming audio over the internet, and also provides a ready-to-go user interface.

If you need more inspiration for building your own custom music player, check out the Streaming Audio Player that we recently covered. Or perhaps you would rather hack your car’s audio system? Or maybe everyone in your apartment building made a streaming audio player and you just want to get some sleep? Whatever the case may be, we have got you covered here at Hackster.