Why replace perfectly good speakers? This ESP32-powered board adds wireless streaming, DSP audio processing and smart home connectivity to existing passive speakers.
Sonocotta has introduced the Louder ESP32 Mini, an ESP32-based audio board that upgrades conventional passive speakers with wireless audio streaming and smart home connectivity without replacing their existing speaker drivers. The compact module replaces the speaker terminal, adding wireless streaming capability while preserving the speaker’s original acoustic performance.
The board is available in 42 × 42mm and 52 × 52mm versions, making it compatible with a wide range of bookshelf and passive speakers. Installation involves replacing the speaker terminal, connecting the internal speaker wires to onboard connectors and securing the module using the original mounting screws.
At its core is an ESP32-S3-WROOM-N8R8 module featuring 8MB Flash and 8MB PSRAM, providing sufficient memory for wireless audio streaming and buffering. Audio output is handled by a TAS5805M Class-D amplifier with an integrated digital signal processor (DSP), which performs equalisation, dynamic range compression, FIR filtering and automatic gain limiting in hardware. This reduces the processing load on the microcontroller while improving audio performance.
The module supports multiple software options. Users can install ESPHome for Home Assistant integration, Squeezelite-ESP32 for Spotify Connect, AirPlay and Bluetooth audio, or Snapclient for synchronised multi-room playback. Developers can also build custom firmware using the Arduino IDE or PlatformIO.
Designed for DIY enthusiasts, makers and embedded developers, the board offers a practical way to modernise existing passive speakers instead of replacing them. By combining wireless connectivity, hardware-based audio processing and support for popular smart home platforms, it provides an affordable upgrade path for home audio systems and custom IoT audio projects.
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