It’s just 11.4 mm thick, 90 dB louder than a main road and an absolute eye-catcher: hardware hacker and computer technician Joe Grand’s boom box. What at first glance looks like an art print is actually an oversized circuit board and frame, the graphics of which were designed by Mar Williams.
Boombox with Raspberry Pi Zero 2W
The boom box is powered by a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, which is powered by a 5000 mAh power bank. Via a PCM5100A digital-to-analog converter, the microcontroller forwards audio signals to be played via LM48580 piezo drivers to special PiezoListen loudspeakers from TDK. And because the flat speakers are glued to the circuit board, they use the entire surface as a resonator. So basically, this boombox is a big speaker itself.
On the front, the hardware can be controlled via touch-sensitive sensors and a couple of NeoPixel LEDs react to the music you play. Last but not least, you can even magnetically attach an audio cassette to the front panel and use it to turn the boombox on and off.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Grand lets us take part in the creation process of his boombox and shows which steps were necessary from the initial idea to the finished product. What he couldn’t do himself, he did with the help of service providers and was even supported by a couple of breakdancers in his final presentation. Anyone who wants to recreate the design will find it all the information you need on Grand’s website.
(akf)
