pre-ANNOUNCE: SqueezeAMP and SqueezeliteESP32

[daduke]

> For flashing it, you need to use, at least for the first time, a usb to
> serial converter, but that's super easy. I think we'll be happy to do
> the first download if needed.

I should still have one around from SB beta days. Let's see whether I
can still get them to work with the latest macOS. Is anybody in your
group using a Mac?

hey Michael, long time no see!
There's no reason the USB adapter shouldn't work, but if for some reason it doesn't, just get one off aliexpress for $3..

[chill]

Here is a gerber simple PCB outline and a step model. Let me know if it helps

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8u4vw4ffd...DZatpZtba?dl=0

The step file is perfect, thank you. Any thoughts on how tall the two heatsinks on the underside need to be? Are they the tallest parts on the underside?

[Julf]

Great! Yes, that's the idea to get a batch of ~30 fully assembled from my usual PCB vendor (PCBWay)

Great! In that case, I would actually be interested in 2.

[philippe_44]

The step file is perfect, thank you. Any thoughts on how tall the two heatsinks on the underside need to be? Are they the tallest parts on the underside?

They are, their height is 4.8mm, so I assume they stick ~7mm above PCB. The bottom of the case is where one might want to add a fan maybe at least something like that https://www.digikey.ca/product-detai...106-ND/1165500.

Although I've decided to move to a 2-LiIon battery cell and a 12V power supply to minimize heat

[JerryS]

Forgive me, it is absolutely not my intention to 'rain on your parade' but, just to educate me, could you explain what advantages this project would offer over a pi with a dac/amp HAT (JustBoom for example)?

Just curious
Jerry

[chill]

They are, their height is 4.8mm, so I assume they stick ~7mm above PCB. The bottom of the case is where one might want to add a fan maybe at least something like that https://www.digikey.ca/product-detai...106-ND/1165500.

Any reason why the board should not be mounted upside down, so that the heatsinks can radiate upwards, possibly through a vent in the top cover? That 16mm fan looks very compact - I'll look at making a lid that could accommodate that.

[DecTenToo]

Count me in for 2 as well

Rich

[philippe_44]

Any reason why the board should not be mounted upside down, so that the heatsinks can radiate upwards, possibly through a vent in the top cover? That 16mm fan looks very compact - I'll look at making a lid that could accommodate that.

No reason, it can be mounted any orientation, the spdif and header for the speaker wires will be upside down, but that's no big deal IMHO

[philippe_44]

Forgive me, it is absolutely not my intention to 'rain on your parade' but, just to educate me, could you explain what advantages this project would offer over a pi with a dac/amp HAT (JustBoom for example)?

Just curious
Jerry

No worries and it's a totally valid question. You can get similar features with a Pi0 and a JustBoom AMP which are very good. You will probably get them cheaper due to volume. The few extra things that this project bring are

- analogue, spdif and amplifier in the same box
- battery power and charge included
- being a BT sink and an AirPlay to BT source bridge (maybe piCore does that as well, I don't know)
- lower power (to be measured precisely) but an esp32 is probably a few ~10mA waiting wifi connection
- fast boot (a few seconds)
- a bit smaller
- ... and fun

[paul-]

- being a BT sink and an AirPlay to BT source bridge (maybe piCore does that as well, I don't know)

Yes pCP does BT Sink and pCP 6 will do BT source (Nothing Airplay however) Although a piZero doesn't do both BT and wifi well. How does this chipset solve wifi/BT interferance. Is it 2 different radios?

- ... and fun

Why else!