For those who appreciate the charm of classic music players, modern technology is offering exciting ways to recreate and enhance these timeless designs. Makers are blending retro inspiration with accessible tools to bring unique projects to life, like this DIY CD deck built by Zach McKennedy. Zach’s creation, inspired by the iconic Beosound 9000 from Bang & Olufsen, uses a Raspberry Pi 4 to handle its user interface and audio playback. The UI is powered by Python, using the Eel library to integrate a local web-based front end, while python-vlc and pycdio manage audio playback and CD controls. The deck uses a Schiit Modi DAC for high-quality audio output and a Pioneer BDR-XD08G USB CD drive, accommodating up to six CDs at once. It features an automatic CD changer controlled by a Raspberry Pi Pico, which manages NEMA 17 stepper motors via TMC2209 Silent Stepper drivers. A potentiometer paired with an ADS1115 16-bit ADC ensures precise tracking of the CD carriage position, even after the device is powered off.
Currently, only the code for this project is available as McKennedy plans to share more build details soon. This open-source project is a blend of modern components and thoughtful design, offering enthusiasts a chance to build their own high-quality CD deck. For those interested, the project code is available on GitHub. This DIY deck would be a great project for Audiophiles who want to mix music players with some modern tech.
