RPI3B + HiFiBerry DAC + MPI5001 HDMI Display

[u/mistifyGreenFlash]

On and off I've been trying to build a Spotify Connect display on a RPI - for years. The screen was too small, the case didn't fit, the driver problematic, the program was never satisfying.

Enter 2026, saw the Spotify Car Thing craze and my interest returned. This time I went for a MPI5001 5" Display that I could buy at a nice price, and particularly the vendor also sold a fitting case. With RPI mounting holes! Almost by chance I took a RPI3B (the 4 was in use) that had a HiFiBerry DAC+ on it. Bought me a nice 2.5a power supply and nylon standoffs for the mounting.

I stopped fighting with Python and vibed it using the Car Thing as base. Having such nice DAC in there I got carried away and I revived my LMS server for digital files and I added an option for that too. And built some options for random music etc.

I'm quite satisifed now! I'd eventually try to improve the cabling, angle connectors and such.

[u/mixlplex]

This is what I've been thinking of doing since my Squeezebox died. Can you put your code in GitHub with a link? Thanks!

[u/mistifyGreenFlash → u/mixlplex]

Oh that's a good idea! Let me see if I can clean up the credentials and such and git it to see if it's of use for anyone.

[u/mistifyGreenFlash → u/mixlplex]

https://github.com/cdsaenz/carthing-rpi here's the repo archive, this is Claude (over days on end! :D ) so any Claude will be happy to take over. Possibilities are a lot indeed. I'd work a bit on the icons. Maybe the Spotify device selection could be expanded (now it only changes from local to last used that doesn't work much) .

There's a lot of personal quirks like pressing the brighness icon once will brighten down or up the screen, and long press will darken it 100%. Tapping the album cover will take you to the "Library" area. Tapping the album name will play that whole album, same for Artist.

Feel free to fork, copy, modify, etc, hope it helps!

[u/OneToCrowOn]

Nice. Looks great. I'm using a Home Assistant dashboard right now because I wanted a calendar display too. Hifiberry is a great choice too.

[u/mistifyGreenFlash → u/OneToCrowOn]

Thanks! I had a HA server on the RPI but I didn't use it much, but it's always in my mind. Very cool technology.

[u/Teddys_lies]

Very nice. I'm still using Lyrion + Squeezebox but this looks great!

[u/mistifyGreenFlash → u/Teddys_lies]

Yeah, I have a Squeezebox classic, I love it. LMS is a great thing, happy it got renewed support. The LMS Player was an afterthought (the idea that I did in a Pi Zero was just showing the Spotify playing track name) with the DAC being there, to play some music locally. Gee I'd love to have a Squeezebox touch too :)