DIY micro tower (desktop version)

If you value linearity, use a potentiometer, but potentiometers can be a pain. Noise crackles after many years, if it is an ALPS type, the advantage is that the knob turns by itself.

I think I prefer digital, but this is my personal opinion.

Greetings.....

@efi222 I didn't expect such perfect workmanship in terms of the case. It is superb! Personally, I would have preferred a "mechanised" potentiometer in the amplifier, this is of course a matter of taste, but there is a second bottom line. In the event of WiFi 'failing', we have the option of controlling the volume manually (mechanically). Relying only on WiFi, in my opinion, is a serious mistake. I had the opportunity to convince myself of this.

DJCheester wrote:

plus that the knob turns itself

But the visual effect, cool.

>>21900096 The library for RDA has a bug and you have to manually enable the LNA in the receiver. And you make the remote control so that each device learns but different buttons.

A gem on Elektroda. Thank you.

Specialist needed for "VU metres"
I am combining something here as a motif for the spectrum, (on request) but somehow these clues "walk" strangely for me Or by moving posts I have messed up something in my head . Perhaps someone can guide me?

That's the kind of indicator I missed here 😀

Greetings....

efi222 wrote:

FM is, in my opinion, slowly going into the background. You can play around with the receiver, but this is more for fun. A colleague is tiring such a receiver (RDA5807M) and is struggling with interference in the audio path. It interferes with the TFT display. He has combined with screens and other wonders and it doesn't help much.

Because the colleague doesn't know. TFT screens, inverters and any other choppy circuitry are part of today's precision sensitive measurement equipment and somehow there is no problem. FM tracks with classic sperheterodyne, at least 10x more sensitive than these "digital" receivers also had interfering blocks and no problem either.

efi222 wrote:

It worked so well. But maybe it's the fault of the speakers - not the highest quality in my opinion. As a power amplifier I inserted a ready-made TPA3110 module.

The speakers are also an important issue, but the truth is that it plays weaker because you believed the Chinese and incorrectly connected the speakers to the module with the TPA3110. You can see that in this photo:



This module has the wrong output polarity marked for the right channel. The correct one is as I have described in red in the photo below:



Connect it as I've marked and you'll definitely hear the difference.
And if you don't believe me, I invite you to read the catalogue note of the aforementioned TPA circuit.

efi222 wrote:

I'm putting together something here as a motive for the spectrum, (on request) but somehow these cues are "walking" strangely for me. Or I've got something messed up in my head by the moving bars . Maybe someone can guide me?

In my opinion, such displayed "wipers" are for nothing. If I were you, I'd stay with a bar analyser.
Such a thing is not a substitute for real "outriggers" a share

Audio technology is a rather heavy subject for me. In my career, I built a "40 W low distortion amplifier" from Radio Electronics in a bygone era. Older people probably remember it. It played very nicely in my opinion.

I had no idea at all for the amplifier in the topic. So I did as I did. It would have to be designed by someone more experienced. It sounds tolerable.
The fact that there is not much space in the enclosure.

And with the polarity marking of the TPA outputs. Interesting point. Why shouldn't I believe that Chinese has reverse labeled them? I've already encountered all sorts of flowers in their modules. Thanks for pointing this out.

Regarding the "wipers", it's an on-demand effect, as I wrote. Personally, I would stay with the white pillars, as they fit best with the overall design in my opinion.

But it's a bit of a trend to go for visual water features, I guess.

I don't know if I missed it, but what and how do you make the transparent panels for the displays? Is it cnc, printing? Out of what material? Great quality case and sense of aesthetics. Congratulations.

efi222 wrote:

In my career, I built a "40 W low distortion amplifier" from Radio Electronics in a bygone era. The older ones probably remember it. It played very nicely in my opinion.

Hmm, the project you mentioned, at one time was very often made by many electronics engineers, including homebrewers.
I myself also once committed an amplifier with terminals based on this schematic ( Link )

I won't comment on the technical side of the project. I just don't know much about it, But the workmanship, as for me, is top notch. A beautiful kit without any unnecessary bits and pieces. A 5 with a plus.

austin007 wrote:

from what and how do you make the transparent panels for the displays? Is it cnc, printing?

Not sure I understand the question correctly.

The picture shows the front of the radio without the masking panel. The display is behind the tinted glass. So-called anisol black 4mm. I often use this glass. The plexi unfortunately scratches over time and here there is always a glass shine

And here is the masking panel itself. It's a printout taped to the front side with self-adhesive foil in grey. It is attached with contact adhesive. It can be removed quite easily and replaced with, for example, a black panel or any other colour.

tytka wrote:

I myself also once committed an amplifier with terminals based on this schematic (Link)

I know your projects. As always full professionalism and very careful finishing

@efi222 Thanks, but I too see a lot of professionalism in this project of yours and great attention to detail and finishing of the project. I am also very aware of how much time you have spent on it.
For that I bow my head firmly and lowly.
Because these are values not often found these days. Not many projects like this today.

The project is interesting. It can inspire more people I think.

Congratulations on the project, it looks great! I'm also getting together to design this internet radio, but something is dragging xD.

I really like the printed chassis, if I understand that blue projection correctly, the components on it; are printed in different directions (if I may say so), making it just fold over after printing (without having to cut the filament supporting the 'hanging' components). It may be nothing revelatory in 3D printing, but it impresses me .

tytka wrote:

in this your project a lot of professionalism and great attention to detail and finishing of the project

Thank you very much...

All of you thank you for your positive reviews , feedback and advice

@Damian_Max
The picture shows the structural arrangement of the spectrum housing components.
The components are printed in various positions on the table. They do not have supports or bridges. Of course, you have to scrape something in there - if only the "overfill" of the first layer or the remnants of the island. But something for something. Some have to be glued together (a few recessed pegs to make it easier to fit). You could probably simplify the prints by using bridges or sub-bases, but such a base, for example, is universal.

The same is for the spectrum and amplifier and probably for the BT audio module. The final of the enclosure depends on the "arming" of the front bezels final glued in (something I may come up with to make them screwed in). The rear panel is fixed with screws.
The top cover of the enclosure is universal and interchangeable with all enclosures. The one from the amplifier has additional ventilation holes.

In any case, such an enclosure can be made in several ways.

Damian_Max wrote:

I am also getting together to design this internet radio

dIY internet "radios" are a handful on the internet. There are plenty to choose from.

Beautiful work. @efi222 have you thought about adding a Spotify Connect option? There's a library on ESP

>>21901513 Which library is my colleague talking about because I think they all require an API key to be entered later in the code and a premium account. So far I have only tested one fully working one but its implementation is not that simple. Maybe I have missed something interesting?

I really like this design. Interesting design - seemingly "just a 3d print" but thanks to the glass panels and wooden sides it looks very tasteful.
The interior is also ok.

I have also made a few audio devices myself (file players or mini-music players). The most fun was always in preparing the case - aesthetically pleasing and functional. Nowadays, 3d printing makes this work easier - there is not so much dust and chips, although it probably also takes time - designing in front of a computer.
I defend myself against this technology and remain analogue

TechEkspert wrote:

It is very easy to add FM radio reception capability. A miniature stereo receiver module controlled over I2C gets the job done.

FM in a device standing on a desk and connected to the net makes no sense. Instead of a few or a dozen humming stations on the air we have thousands of them and from all over the world!
BTW: I believe that aerial radio and takoważ TV are declining technologies. I don't know why the state spends money on this - they should close down the decommissioning that has started as soon as possible

DJCheester wrote:

It begs for an infrared remote control.

A remote control would be nice for at least some of the most important functions - switching on, volume or changing stations or visualisation mode - but does it have to be hardware?

lopr_pol wrote:

Why does anyone need fm these days, to listen to commercials every 5 minutes plus music pap for the masses?
Instead of a remote control get control from www.

I fully share the above comment. With ESP on board you can easily implement an http service and make a page of buttons. Then there is no problem looking for the remote control and aiming Plus backlighting - additional information - dynamic design etc.

@robgold I did not implement. I've been looking for such an option because it's something missing from such players. There is cspot (https://github.com/feelfreelinux/cspot), which squeezelite (https://github.com/sle118/squeezelite-esp32#spotify) uses.
I don't know how it works in practice, unfortunately I don't have time at the moment to figure it out.

efi222 wrote:

That leaves a spectrum analyser, I guess.

You probably could. Although I thought for a while about displaying what is currently being played. But it's not that simple (for me, anyway) so it's just a loose thought

Regards,
A.

bsw wrote:

The most fun has always been in preparing an enclosure - aesthetically pleasing and functional.

Enclosures have been a bugbear of ectronics designers since the dawn of time....

bsw wrote:

I defend myself against this technology and remain analogue

Which is a pity because the printer makes the job easier. I'm practically done visiting markets in search of structural components.
Of course, plastic prints are not suitable for all constructions and will not replace more durable steel or aluminium components and housings. But it is something for something.

For those who don't print. Photos of the raw casing for the radio with sides. Now you have to turn on manual beautification mode

@efi222 I have a question from a different angle, you write that the front panel is smoked glass. How did you chamfer the edges?

ArturAVS wrote:

I have a question from a different angle, you write that the front panel is smoked glass. How did you chamfer the edges?

>>21900849
In this photo the ground edge is done by a glassblower (machine cut). I cut this glass from a larger piece. This is very difficult to do at home without the right tools. I then ordered the glass cut to size from a glassblower. The problem is that not every glazier can do this with such small formats (edge grinding). You need a machine to grind small formats. So I ordered only cut ones. And I just dulled the edges myself with sandpaper so they wouldn't cut. The edge grinding is not really necessary in this construction, as it is concealed.
It is not even worth cutting the glass by yourself. The cost of such a glass is a few zlotys. (ground glass is three or four times more expensive).

9bf170d5b

Thanks.

Fellow Efi, I would make myself such a spectrum, but.... i don't really know which ESP board to use? N16R8 44 pin will be OK? Thank you in advance and best regards.

>>21901705
For the ESP32 Wroom 32 or later ESP32 Wroom 32D spectrum
Conditions for correct compilation are given at the beginning of the source code.

I did (courtesy of colleague efi222 - thanks for the soft)

I also made the PCB under this spectrum.









Greetings....

>>21901729
In the newer version from this topic there is still a button for AP mode for wireless software updates and an encoder is connected to change the display themes. As per the attached diagram.

Added after 11 [minutes]:

>>21900390
A newer version of the spectrum with a level indicator motif will be released soon,