phoniesp32 🎶🔋

A kid-friendly jukebox powered by the ESP32, inspired by Phoniebox. Unlike the original Raspberry Pi–based version, phoniesp32 is designed to be battery-operated, low-power, and ultra-portable.

⚠️ Work in Progress — Contributions, ideas, and wiring tips are very welcome!

---

📥 Download Latest Firmware

Download Firmware (download the firmware artifact from the latest run on main)

✨ Features

• ESP32-based jukebox: replaces the Raspberry Pi with an ESP32-C6.
• Low-power & battery-ready: runs on a Li-ion cell with TP4056 charging and MT3608 boost converter.
• Bare-metal Rust firmware: built on the embassy async embedded framework.
• Rust-powered Web UI: implemented with Dioxus and served directly from the ESP32.
• Audio transcoding & upload: convert music files via the web frontend to IMA ADPCM, upload to device, and play back instantly.
• RFID support: scan S50 fobs with a MFRC522 module to trigger playlists.
• Affordable: target build cost under 15 CHF.

---

🛠 Components

• MCU: ESP32-C6
• Charging/Power: TP4056 (Li-ion charger), MT3608 (boost converter)
• Battery: Li-ion cell (e.g. 18650)
• Audio: MAX98357 (I2S DAC + amplifier)
• Storage: SD card adapter
• RFID: MFRC522 module + S50 RFID fobs

---

🚧 Project Status

Current work-in-progress prototype

• Hardware
  • Prototype on breadboard
  • Soldered Prototype
  • Battery charger
  • Schematics
  • Custom PCB
  • Design and 3D print case
• UI (Dioxus)
  • File transcoding
  • Served from device
  • Show last scanned RFID tag ID
  • Switch to Bluma CSS
  • Playback control
  • Store RIFF INFO chunk for artist/title
  • Associate file with RFID tag
  • Configure Wi-Fi settings
  • Playlists
  • List known tags
  • List uploaded files
  • Continue file upload
  • Styling
  • Do not use CDN
  • Update to stable Dioxus 0.7
• Firmware (Embassy)
  • Fallback to Wi-Fi AP mode
  • Audio pipeline (I2S → MAX98357)
  • SD card access
  • Playback control via buttons
  • Playback control via RFID tags
  • Pause playback
  • Playlists
  • Use RIFF INFO chunk for artist/title
  • Fix concurrent access to file system
  • mDNS responder
  • Turn off Wi-Fi when on battery power
  • Battery status with LED indicator
  • Speed up SD access/upload
  • Playback control via BLE
  • Update to stable esp-hal 1.0
• Web API (picoserve)
  • Associate file with RFID tag
  • Playback control
  • Playback status
  • Last scanned RFID tag ID
  • Configure Wi-Fi settings
  • List known tags
  • List uploaded files
  • Playlists
• Command line utility
  • Transcode
  • Upload
  • Playback control
  • Associate
• Build system
  • Build and bundle all components
  • Build via GitHub actions
• Upstream fixes
  • dioxus: Support sass:color.channel()
  • embedded-fatfs: SD card partitioning support
  • mfrc522: async / IRQ support implemented in mfrc522-async
• Documentation
  • API Documentation
  • Full build instructions
  • Video tutorial

---

🤝 Contributing

Want to help build the cheapest, most fun, and hackable jukebox for kids?

• Review my code! I bet there are many possibilities to optimize power/memory usage
• Create schematics & PCB in KiCad
• Implement any of the missing features
• Share your ideas

PRs, issues, and ideas are always welcome!

---

📜 License

MIT License — free to use, hack, and share.