Sonocotta HiFi-ESP32 + W5500: Wired Audio Streaming IoT Gateway

ESP32 HiFi audio board with W5500 Ethernet for stable wired streaming, smart-home alerts, and multi-room IoT audio applications.

COMPONENTS Hardware components

WIZnet - W5500

x 1

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Author (Sonocotta)

Turning the HiFi-ESP32 board into a reliable network audio player with WIZnet W5500 Ethernet

🧩 COMPONENTS

Type	Component	Description
MCU	Sonocotta HiFi-ESP32 (ESP32-WROVER/S3)	8 MB PSRAM, integrated 32-bit PCM5100A DAC
Ethernet	W5500 Module (SPI Interface)	10/100 Mbps hardware TCP/IP Ethernet controller
Power	USB-C 5 V input with analog LDO regulator	Noise-isolated power for DAC section
Software	ESPHome / Squeezelite-ESP32 / Arduino	Supports both Wi-Fi and Ethernet streaming
Accessories	3D-printed case, RJ-45 connector, line-out cables	Case needs a small cutout for Ethernet port

🎯 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

1️⃣ Overview

The Sonocotta HiFi-ESP32 is an ESP32-based high-fidelity audio board featuring a 32-bit stereo DAC (PCM5100A).
While Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built-in, adding a WIZnet W5500 via SPI transforms it into a wired network audio gateway.

For environments where Wi-Fi congestion causes jitter or dropouts, this combination provides exceptional reliability for streaming or multi-room setups.

2️⃣ Design Highlights

SPI Interface: ESP32 ↔ W5500 (MOSI / MISO / CLK / CS)

Expansion Header: On-board header supports direct W5500 module connection

Power Isolation: Separate analog/digital grounds and LDO filtering reduce DAC noise

Buffering: 8 MB PSRAM allows stable network-to-audio streaming buffers

Case Consideration: Requires custom slot for the RJ-45 connector

⚙️ Engineering Tip
When integrating the W5500, start with SPI clock ≤ 40 MHz to avoid timing interference with the DAC’s I2S stream.

3️⃣ Firmware Example (ESPHome Configuration)

ethernet:
  type: W5500
  mosi_pin: GPIO23
  miso_pin: GPIO19
  clk_pin: GPIO18
  cs_pin: GPIO5
  irq_pin: GPIO35
  reset_pin: GPIO21
  manual_ip:
    static_ip: 192.168.1.50
    gateway: 192.168.1.1
    subnet: 255.255.255.0

Works seamlessly with Home Assistant through ESPHome integration

Squeezelite-ESP32 firmware adds support for Spotify, AirPlay, and Bluetooth playback

4️⃣ Use Cases

Scenario	Description
Smart-Home Audio	Integrate with Home Assistant to play voice notifications or TTS via Ethernet
Multi-Room Streaming	Stable, synchronized audio playback using wired W5500 connection
Audio System Upgrade	Add HiFi-ESP32 as a network input for amplifiers or powered speakers
Educational / Maker Use	Ideal for learning Ethernet, SPI, and streaming audio implementation

📡 NETWORK BLOCK DIAGRAM

[Home Assistant / LMS Server]
          │
       (Ethernet)
          │
     [W5500 Module]
          │ (SPI)
     [HiFi-ESP32 Board]
          │ (I2S)
     [PCM5100A DAC]
          │ (Line Out)
      [Amplifier / Speaker]

📘 Which device is right for me

📘 Which s/w is right for me

Feature	Description
Board	Sonocotta HiFi-ESP32
Supported IDEs	PlatformIO, Arduino, ESPHome, Home Assistant
Multimedia Firmware	Squeezelite-ESP32 (LMS / Spotify / AirPlay / Bluetooth)
Network	Wi-Fi + optional Ethernet (W5500)
Flashing Options	Web Installer, ESP Audio Dock Installer
Use Cases	Audio streaming, smart home voice alerts, multi-room playback

PlatformIO allows tight integration of ESP32 I²S, SPI, and DAC driver tuning—ideal for testing audio timing, jitter, or low-noise power design.

When using the PCM5100A DAC, defining I2S_DATA, I2S_LRCK, and I2S_BCK pins is enough to get clean sound output immediately(Arduino IDE).

WEB

Play hourly chimes or bedtime messages automatically through Home Assistant automations.(ESPHome + Home Assistant)

📘 REFERENCE LINKS

🔗 Sonocotta HiFi-ESP32 on Tindie

🔗 HiFi-ESP32 Documentation – Sonocotta Site

🔗 Squeezelite-ESP32 GitHub

🔗 WIZnet W5500 Product Page

🔗 ESP32 + W5500 Tutorial – Mischianti.org

💬 COMMENTS

The HiFi-ESP32’s analog section offers impressively clean line-out performance, making it a great board for audio noise evaluation.

When using W5500, case modification is required, and SPI CSn handling must be properly configured to prevent bus conflicts.

Sonocotta also supports open-source and educational projects — contact them for community discounts or sponsorship.

🏷️ TAGS

ESP32 W5500 Audio SmartHome Ethernet IoT Streaming

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