What is it?

The Raspberry Pi Home Media Center is a compact and neatly designed hardware project that combines the power of the Raspberry Pi Zero board and the Hi-Fi audio capabilities of the Analog Devices MAX98357A DAC. This versatile media center provides a customizable and fully open-source hardware platform for home entertainment.

With a minimalistic but functional design inspired by commercial audio gear, it offers a seamless user experience. It aimed to support Volumio, Mopidy, or any custom firmware you may come up with.

Why did I build it

I did a few audio projects in the past, some using ESP32, some using larger Orange Pi and Raspberry Pi devices. Each has its pros and cons, and with each iteration, I'm trying to focus on the details that were working best for me while actually using them.

What is special about the Raspberry eco-system is of course its community support. Being a not-so-strong software developer, I often have to rely on the work that other people did and baked into the base Raspbian image. Attaching a DAC, Ethernet, and IR reader is as simple as adding 3 lines into config.txt file. All the device tree definitions, kernel drivers, and dependency packages are already in place, believe it or not.

Sure, compared to the ESP32 platform it is not as lightweight. It requires more power, it takes some time to boot. But when it comes to rapid development, there is nothing like the Raspberry Pi.

Loud Raspberry Media Center uses a dual MAX98357 HiFi DAC with a built-in highly efficient D-class amp to deliver 3 to 5W of music power directly to your speakers. It is not too loud, but it is very simple to use and fun to play with. It powers from a standard USB-C power source, like a phone charger, etc.

Use cases

Loud Raspberry Media Center is a flexible, open-source audio platform designed to fit into both smart homes and custom audio projects.

• Smart Home Audio, TTS & Automation Node Integrates with Home Assistant and Music Assistant for high-quality playback, text-to-speech, and event-driven announcements. Functions as both an audio endpoint and a networked automation node for sensors, triggers, and smart home workflows.
• Multi-Room Audio Infrastructure Use Loud Raspberry Media Center as a Snapclient server and endpoint for perfectly synchronized distributed audio. Ideal for open, vendor-neutral whole-home or commercial audio systems.
• Standalone Network Player & Streaming Hub Run LMS/Squeezelite for a self-contained streaming device supporting Spotify Connect, AirPlay, and Logitech Media Server — no external computer required.
• Embedded Audio Processing & DSP Platform Execute real-time digital signal processing, filtering, effects, or audio analysis directly on-device. Suitable for smart speakers, alert systems, acoustic sensing, and custom audio interfaces.
• Networked Sensor & Interface Controller Combine audio output with GPIO control, sensors, buttons, displays, or actuators. Ideal for interactive installations, smart appliances, voice feedback devices, or industrial status systems.
• Educational Platform for Systems & Networking A practical teaching platform for embedded Linux-style workflows without full SBC overhead — covering networking, streaming protocols, real-time processing, IoT architectures, and open-source audio systems.
• Rapid Prototyping for Connected Products Designed for fast iteration of networked hardware products — from smart audio devices and notification systems to interactive kiosks and connected consumer electronics.
• Open Platform for Custom Products & DIY Builds With fully open firmware and tooling, Loud Raspberry Media Center provides a flexible foundation for personal projects, research platforms, or commercial device development.

Features

	Loud Raspberry Hat	Loud Raspberry Hat 2X	Loud Raspberry Media Center
Image
Compatible with	Every Pi	Raspberry Pi 5	Raspberry Pi Zero (W), Raspberry Pi Zero2 W
DAC	Dual MAX98357 DAC with built in D-Class amp	Quadruple MAX98357 DAC with built in D-Class amp	Dual MAX98357 DAC with built in D-Class amp
Output	5W per channel on 4Ω load (3W on 8Ω)	5W per channel on 4Ω load (3W on 8Ω)	5W per channel on 4Ω load (3W on 8Ω)
IR input	❌	❌	✅
RGB LED	❌	❌	✅
Onboard Serial Bridge	❌	❌	✅
Wizznet W5500 Ethernet	❌	❌	✅
Mechanical dimensions (WxHxD)	65mm x 30mm x 15mm	65mm x 30mm x 15mm	88mm x 38mm x 100mm
Power requirement	5V from the host (up to 2A) or 5V from screw connector (powering host)	5V from the host (up to 4A) or 5V from screw connector (powering host)	5V USB-C power adapter (up to 3A)

⚠️ Loud boards will connect to passive speakers; you can't use headphones or an external amp.

💡 Need to connect an external amp? Check out HiFi Raspberry Hat and HiFi Raspberry Media Center

💡 Need DSP capabilities? Check out Louder Raspberry Hat, Louder Raspberry Hat Plus and Louder Raspberry Media Center

Board Pinout

Audio

Peripheral

How to use

You need nothing more than an SD card with a Raspbian image and a USB-C power brick. You can use any distribution you like. The only change you need to make to enable hardware is to add 3 lines to the /boot/config.txt

dtoverlay=gpio-ir,gpio_pin=23 dtoverlay=w5500 dtoverlay=max98357a,sdmode-pin=4

Hardware

Front	Back	PCB

Please visit the hardware section of the project repo for board schematics and PCB designs. Note that PCBs are shared as multi-layer PDFs as well as Gerber archives.

Power considerations

According to the manufacturer, Raspberry Pi Zero requires at least 1 Amp of 5V line, and each of the Loud Raspberry DAC needs at least 1 Amp extra. With the total budget requirement of 3 Amps, it is within specs for a non-PD USB-C 5V power line. I've decided not to use USB-PD for the Loud model. Just make sure your power adapter is capable of 3 Amps (or keep a reasonable volume if it is not)

USA shipping Update

Due to the new tariffs introduced by the Trump administration, standard shipments are temporarily on hold. However, shipping to the US has now resumed via UPS, though rates are currently quite high. I’ll fully resume regular shipping as soon as the restrictions are lifted.

Sponsorship & Community Support

If you’re working on an open-source project, an educational initiative, or any pro-bono/volunteer effort, feel free to reach out for sponsorship details. I’ll do my best to provide discounts or even free boards.

Custom Design & Consultation

If you’re interested in a custom design based on, or inspired by, my boards, I also offer contract design work and consultation when needed.

Most orders are shipped the next business day morning. All shipments are tracked. Delivery time in the EU is 3-7 days, outside 2-3 weeks, depending on the distance. After 30 days, the package is considered lost - reach out for a refund or replacement.