Pandora's Ultimate Boombox

This is a portable music player that can play most if not all internet radio available including your own music collection. No need to connect to an amplifier & additional speakers, so you can take this away from home as long as you have access to broadband.

The design ideal was to produce a sleek, minimal, stylish device that is a 'no compromise' internet music player. For the player there seemed no other choice than Slimdevices Squeezebox 3 (http://www.slimdevices.com). This is a 'thin client device' that streams music from a server (on your pc or from the internet) The list of available music sources is right up to date & impressive (eg lastFM, Pandora, BBC listen again, shoutcast, RadioIO, Live365) It will play you music collection in any flavour you choose. My favourite is flac but mp3, ogg & most others are supported.

The case, after much research, I chose as genus pr1i. It fits my design criteria perfectly and looks cool into the bargain. The amp I chose as sonic audio's tamp. Low power, efficient, compact and sounds great. To power it all up I chose a mini ITX supply, which powers all devices simultaneously.

To summarise, it may seem onerous to collect all the components, ebay is an excellent source, however the results, if you are a music addict like me, will never leave you wanting.

Update, cleaned up front fascia with a dremel drill & added a theatrical lighting gel filter with some acetate behind for rigidity.

Step 1 Gathering Materials

- Slimdevices Squeezebox 3 site (£200 new, £70-£150 recent ebay winning prices)
- Sonic T-AMP new model tamp (£30 on ebay)
- Genus Pr1i DAB radio case (appears on ebay occasionally) (recently £10 + £8 p&p on ebay)
- mini ITX power supply (serach ebay for mini ITX EPIA) + 12v switched mode supply (£30-£40 new)
- audio & power cables(rs componets, farnell etc)
- mounting posts (rs componets, farnell etc) maplin
- display perspex (this is to filter squeezebox display, I've not sourced a suitable filter yet)
- mains power connector & lead rs componets, farnell etc maplin

Comments

[Dungeonbrownies]

very expsnsive, but amazing results. good job bro

[Williz]

Awesome but expensive...

[waldy]

Thanks, yes expensive, squeezebox is worth the money though, If the analog/ digital inputs are brought to the back of the case, it could double to play on your hifi

[Flea]

I would definitely do this since I have all the parts except the squeezebox3, but it's sooo expensive ($300). Can you put the prices in next to the product names?

[waldy]

Hi, after the festive haze, I've read your reply properly! You have the same case? If not which one do you have? regards Waldy

[waldy]

Hi, thanks, I would suggest purchasing second hand on ebay, so it's difficult to price. Put the product in ebay search & see what available. It took me a couple of years to get to this stage, with an early prototype, so I guess patience is the key. Maybe there are ways to cut costs. If you can get hold or or have a wired only squeezebox, you could run it via ethernet utp, or I have heared that you can add a mini pci wireless card (China ebay) Good luck with this.

[GorillazMiko]

Awesome, cool idea, I might do this if I can... Great Instructable! :-)

[waldy]

thanks, good luck & let me know how you get on

[robodud3]

i love the wholl boom box and mash up here but wouldnt it just be easyer 2 hook up the squeez box 2 some nice external speakers by the way im a HUGE pandora user i use it all the time it is constanly playing whill im on the computer like now and i even have it on my igoogle page

[waldy]

Hi, forgot to mention, I use it in the kitchen when I'm cooking, in the study when I'm er.. working (sometimes), but more likely getting distracted by Instructables, and in the bathroom when I'm having a bath etc, so it had to be as compact as possible & easily portable.

[waldy]

Hi, I love Pandora too, I've heard that folk say it's music output is too 'same'e'. but I reckon its just limited by the users imagination. Love to get new music idea's there too. Just think, press of a favourite button & your playing Pandora's quick mix instantly, no computer required. Your quite right, adding a couple of speakers would be way easier & would certainly do the job. I wanted this to look smart though, as I take it out the house sometimes and be very robust. A lot of effort, granted, but I use it all the time now, & feel it was well worth it.