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HiFiBerry DAC+ with wooden case

DGK

September 21, 2015 20:58

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Hello,

i'd like to introduce my HiFiBerry implementation, which is my first project with a single-board computer. It's a music player to stream music from the network to my old hi-fi system. It consists of a Raspberry Pi B+ with a HiFiBerry DAC+. The OS is a stock Raspbian with a MPD server running on it.

The aim wasn't to increase the quality of the audio signal, since i think the HiFiBerry already sounds great. Besides, i don't have a clue of how to design a low noise PSU. Instead, the focus was laid on the construction of a small wooden case with a simple design. The greatest effort was to achieve an acceptable accuracy, because i don't own a CNC milling machine, but only a woodworking router.

I'd be glad if some of you like it, or if i could give suggestions for your own projects.

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9 comments

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team September 22, 2015 05:12

  Wow, this one is looks great! I especially like the wooden buttons.
  
  Best regards
  Daniel
• 0
  
  6515cg December 07, 2015 15:01

  Hello DGK, what kind of display are you using? I'm now testing a PiFace but I think it will not work together with the Hifiberry.

   

  Best regards,

  Ronald

   

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team December 08, 2015 05:54

  It looks like a standard 2x20 character HD44780 compatible display.

  Best regards
  Daniel

• 0
  
  DGK December 21, 2015 09:50

  Yes, it's a 2x16 character HD44780 compatible display. I think a 2x20 character display would be even better, but i just had this one on hand.

  Best regards
  DGK

• 0
  
  Joe Roberts January 03, 2016 18:39

  Very nice indeed! Did you use a CNC router to build the case?

• 0
  
  DGK January 04, 2016 08:56

  Thanks! No, i just used the router in the picture. If you're wondering about the creation of the radii or the cutout for the display: i used a file.

• 0
  
  PeeWee April 12, 2016 18:42

  Hi GDK,
  let me say, that is a very nice work. I never saw a equivalent enclosure. Chapeau!
  I would like to copy your idea and modify it a little bit, because I want include my mini Amp:
  http://www.amazon.de/SMSL-SA-50-Verst%C3%A4rker-Amplifier-Endstufe/dp/B008Y7S1GG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1460483320&sr=8-3&keywords=SMSL+SA-50
  So I will use two 38mm beechen boards for the two case parts and it will be double large.
  I have a lot of questions...
  How did you connect the display to the RasPi through the HifiBerry board?
  Is there any tutorial for this?
  Would this one work?:
  https://www.reichelt.de/LCD-202A-BL/3/index.html?&ACTION=3&LA=446&ARTICLE=53948&artnr=LCD+202A+BL&SEARCH=hd44780
  How are the two halves fixed? Steel pins?
  On picture "innen_lowssuf8.jpg" the lower circuit board: on the 6th line is only the yellow wire soldered, no other connection. Why?
  Could you publish the wiring diagram?
  I´m German. Is it posible to contact me? via peewee(at)kind-of-blue(dot)de

• 0
  
  DGK April 13, 2016 17:33

  Hi PeeWee,
  
  i'm glad you like it. If you build your own, please share some pictures, i'd like to see your version.
  
  If you include your amp, you must have in mind, that wood hasn't the best heat conduction properties. So make sure there is enough venting to keep the amp from overheating.
  
  I just soldered the connections directly to the HifiBerry board. It's not the best way, but i hadn't enough space for a connector. The connections from the RasPi are looped through, so you can use the connections on the HifiBerry just as on the RasPi. Just make sure you don't use the pins blocked by the HifiBerry: https://www.hifiberry.com/guides/gpio-usage-of-the-hifiberry-products/. I hope that is what you meant. I'm not quite sure, which tutorial you're searching for. Since you from germany, i can recomment you this article about LCDs in general: http://www.mikrocontroller.net/articles/AVR-Tutorial:_LCD. For connecting the LCD to the RasPi just google "HD44780 Raspberry". There are plenty of tutorials about it. The display you have chosen should work, like any HD44780 compatible display.
  
  I don't have a wiring diagram. But the layout is not that complex. I just connected the buttons directly to the Pi, with Pullups activated. Furthermore there is just a buffering capacity, the potentiometer for the contrast regulation of the LCD and a transistor for the LED-Backlight. The yellow wire you mean is the connection of the 3,3v rail. It's indeed useless. I just connected it to my board in case i need it.
  
  The two halves are fixed by screws as you can see in the picture i attached. I tightend the screws for the final processing to make sure, that the two halves fit perfectly.
  
  I hope i could answer your questions. If anything isn't clear just ask.
  
  Best Regards
  DGK

   

  

  

  Edited by DGK April 13, 2016 17:35
• 0
  
  PeeWee April 15, 2016 12:43

  Hi DGK,

  thanks a lot for the details.

  You're right, the heat aspect would be a problem.  And I don't want a fan in the case.

  In the meantime, I switched to another idea. I have an unused Apple Cube upstairs in a shelf.

  I will try, to insert the Raspi/HiFiBerry, a 2,5" Harddisk and the mini Amp plus a LCD Display into it.

  I will show some pictures of it soon. 

  Best wishes

  PeeWee