A tiny Sendspin media player with cover art display and a weather clock, built around the ESP32-S3 Zero.
This project turns a small, inexpensive ESP32 board into a compact audio receiver for your amplifier, with a screen for album art, Song, Artist, and a weather clock when not playing.
This started as a fun experiment: I wanted to see if the little ESP32-S3 Zero would work with Sendspin. Since it has 2 MB of PSRAM, I figured it might be possible—and it turns out, it is.
Once that worked, it hit me: instead of building yet another “Sendspin speaker”, why not make a tiny receiver for my amplifier?
So I:
- Replaced the MAX98357 with a PCM5102A DAC
- Designed a custom case
- Added a display for cover art and a weather clock
…and this is the result 🙂
All parts were sourced from AliExpress and added up to just over $10 the last time I checked.
-
1 × ESP32-S3 Zero https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009890203011.html
-
1 × PCM5102A DAC https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008130629022.html
-
1 × 1.54" LCD screen https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008703777053.html
If you plan to put it in the box, do not solder pins to the DAC, zero and display, solder cords directly to boards or they won't fit.
I reused the display from breadboard that had pins soldered on so had to bend 2 legs to make space for the jack.
| ESP32-S3 GPIO | PCM5102A Pin |
|---|---|
| GPIO4 | LRCK |
| GPIO5 | BCK |
| GPIO6 | DIN |
| ESP32-S3 GPIO | Display Pin |
|---|---|
| GPIO7 | SCL |
| GPIO8 | SDA |
| GPIO9 | RST |
| GPIO10 | DC |
| GPIO11 | BL |
- GND
- 3.3V
And remember to solder the pads as on the on the back of the PCM5102A like in this image. and on the front, solder the bridge by SCK (some comes soldered, others unsoldered):
Toslink version without display, this is about the easiest project to make! and for under §10 :)
Your Soundbar will love you for it ;) - 3D files for case is in 3D_Files
| ESP32-S3 GPIO | TOSLINK PLUG |
|---|---|
| GPIO4 | VIN (DATA) |
| 3.3V | VCC |
| GND | GND |
Pins on this specific toslink plug:
Links to parts, esp32-s3 zero is same as above, toslink connector that fits the 3D case:
single: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005011593001325.html
1-10pcs: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008393864163.html
Cords: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008202856228.html
and 1 M2.6x10 self tapping screw to hold the toslink plug in place
!IMPORTANT: remember to choose "Transmitting end" (A1)
Optionally it's possible to use Coax SPDIF output instead of Toslink. - One cord less + one resister (330-470ohm). 3D files for case with and without display in 3D Files.
