ESParagus Media Center is a line of audio streamers from Sonocotta, all powered by an ESP32 microcontroller module. It includes the ESParagus HiFi MediaLink, Loud ESParagus, and the Louder ESParagus.
The ESP32-based audio centers can be used to power old stereo speaker systems that lack streaming capabilities. They are completely open-source, consume little power when not in use, and boot up in seconds.
The ESParagus Media Center products are based on the ESP32-WROVER microcontroller module with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and an onboard PSRAM chip. They are fitted with an external Wi-Fi antenna and the top-end model – the Louder ESParagus – is fitted with a W5500 LAN chip for Ethernet networking.
All three ESParagus Media Centers run squeezelite-esp32 firmware which supports Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay, and Logitech Media Server. Integrations with Home Assistant are possible and can be useful for multi-room configurations.
The Louder ESParagus is quite similar to the Louder Raspberry Pi media center we covered earlier, but it is powered by an ESP32 microcontroller rather than a single-board computer. Other audio streamers we have taken a look at include the PecanPi audio streamer and the Volumio Motivo.
ESParagus Media Centers specifications:
- Microcontroller – ESP32-WROVER microcontroller module, based on ESP32 dual-core 32-bit processor @ up to 240 MHz, up to 8MB PSRAM
- Flash – 16MB
- PSRAM – 8MB
- DAC
- Output
- 2.1 VRMS line-level stereo output 3.5 mm jack
- 2x 3W
- 2x 22 W at 20 V over USB-PD
- Peripherals – External Wi-Fi Antenna, Adafruit WS2812B RGB LED, IR receiver, W5500 SPI Ethernet (Louder ESParagus)
- Power
- 3.3 V Ultra-Low-Noise LDO
- 5 V from USB Type-C
- Up to 20 V from USB Type-C PD
- Dimensions
- ESParagus HiFi MediaLink and Loud ESParagus – 80 x 50 x 20 mm
- Louder ESParagus – 100 x 80 x 38 mm
As mentioned earlier, the ESParagurus products are fully open-source, and design files, documentation, and other information can be found in the project’s GitHub repository and Hackaday.
The ESParagus Media Center lineup of ESP32 audio streamers has been launched on CrowdSupply with a $5000 funding goal. The ESParagus HiFi MediaLink and Loud ESParagus audio streamers are both priced at $45 while the Louder ESparagus version costs $69. There is free shipping within the United States and a $12 shipping fee applies to the rest of the world. Orders are expected to ship by November 12, 2024.
Tomisin is a writer specializing in hardware product reviews, comparisons, and explainers. He is very passionate about small form factor and single-board computers.
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wondering what’s the software inside? which OS
The article explains the system is running squeezelite-esp32 firmware and links to the project. That would be FreeRTOS under the hood.
If they’re using ESP32 Wrovers why are they using the W5500, that version has an integrated ethernet MAC.