Project description

Overview 

Here is the detailed description of the smart jukebox that is based on ESP32, Unlike most of the jukebox our there this one supports the Micro SD card, buttons, BLE along with Wifi all enabled in a compact PCB. Using this the final product is without the messy wires and form factor is also reasonable. 

In this particular Jukebox device, it reads the data directly from the Micro SD card and the output is via the inbuilt speaker or via 3.5 mm hack. The physical buttons on the device helps to navigate through songs/ tracks. 

Why ESP32-LyraT Mini? 

Most DIY audio projects use an Arduino or bare ESP32 paired with a separate MP3 decoder module like the DFPlayer. This works, but adds complexity and limits audio quality. The ESP32-LyraT Mini integrates everything: 

ES8311 audio codec — clean stereo output 

Onboard push buttons — direct GPIO-mapped controls 

MicroSD slot — no external module needed 

Built-in amplifier output — drives speakers directly 

Wi-Fi + Bluetooth® capable — for future wireless expansion 

The PCB design is clean, compact, and purpose-built for audio — which is exactly what a jukebox needs. 

How It Works 

On boot, the firmware initializes the audio codec and mounts the MicroSD card. It scans the card for .mp3 or .wav files and builds a playlist automatically. The onboard buttons are mapped to playback controls — press to skip, hold to adjust volume. Audio streams directly from the SD card to the codec and out through the speaker terminals. 

Signal flow: MicroSD Card → ESP32 Firmware → ES8311 Codec → Speaker / Audio Output 

Hardware Requirements

ESP32-LyraT Mini v1.2 — Main controller and audio development board

MicroSD Card — Stores MP3/audio files

4Ω 3W Speaker — Used for sound output

5V Power Supply — Provides power to the system

Jumper/Connecting Wires — For hardware connections

PCB & Assembly Notes 

The ESP32-LyraT Mini is a well-designed board that fits cleanly into a custom enclosure. For this project, PCBWay fabricated the supporting boards used in the enclosure and power distribution stage. The quality of the boards was excellent — clean traces, proper soldermask, and accurate dimensions that matched the design files perfectly. 

If you plan to expand this project into a full product — adding custom control boards, an amplifier stage, or a custom ESP32 module — PCBWay's fabrication and assembly services make it straightforward to move from prototype to production. 

Firmware & Setup 

1. Format MicroSD card as FAT32 
2. Copy .mp3 files to the root directory 
3. Flash the firmware using ESP-IDF or Arduino IDE with ESP32 board support 
4. Connect speaker to the terminal block on the board 
5. Power on — playback starts automatically 
6. The firmware uses Espressif's ESP-ADF (Audio Development Framework), which provides stable audio pipeline management, codec drivers, and SD card support out of the box. 

Troubleshooting 

• No audio output Check that the speaker is connected to the correct terminal block (marked on the PCB). Also confirm the volume is not set to zero in firmware — the ES8311 codec has software-controlled volume. 
• MicroSD card not detected Format the card as FAT32 (not exFAT). Cards larger than 32GB may need manual FAT32 formatting using a tool like Rufus or guiformat on Windows. 
• Audio is distorted or clipping Reduce the codec output gain in firmware. Driving the output too high with a low-impedance speaker causes distortion at the amplifier stage. 
• Buttons not responding The onboard buttons on the LyraT Mini are active LOW. Make sure the firmware initializes them with internal pull-up resistors enabled. 
• Board not recognized by computer Use a data-capable USB cable. Many cheap USB cables are charge-only and will not allow firmware flashing. 

Possible Expansions 

1. Add an OLED display to show track name and playback status 
2. Enable Bluetooth A2DP to stream audio from a phone 
3. Add a web interface over Wi-Fi for remote track control 
4. Build a custom PCB enclosure with integrated buttons and display 

For teams looking to take this further into a commercial audio product — integrating custom PCB layouts, power management circuits, or a polished enclosure — Embedded Software Development Services can bridge the gap between a working prototype and a production-ready device.