Pimoroni Pirate Radio - Pi Zero W Project Kit

Build your own internet-connected radio with the Pimoroni Pirate Radio Kit. It includes a Pi Zero W, the pHAT BEAT DAC and stereo amplifier, a 5W speaker, and a retro blue acrylic enclosure. Just add a micro-SD card and USB power supply — assembly takes around 30 minutes.

The pHAT BEAT features dual I2S DAC/amplifiers (MAX98357A) delivering 3W per channel, 16 APA102 RGB LEDs arranged as a VU meter, and 6 edge-mounted buttons for playback control. A DIP switch lets you blend to mono for single-speaker use. Three ready-made software projects are available: internet radio, Spotify streaming, and AirPlay speaker.

Key Features

• Dual I2S DAC/Amplifiers – MAX98357A, 3W per channel
• 16 RGB LEDs – APA102 pixels in 2 rows of 8 for VU meter display
• 6 Edge Buttons – Built-in playback and volume controls
• Mono/Stereo Switch – DIP switch for blended mono or stereo modes
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth – Via Pi Zero W, no USB dongle needed
• Retro Enclosure – 3-layer blue acrylic housing

Package Contents

• 1× Raspberry Pi Zero W
• 1× pHAT BEAT DAC and stereo amp
• 1× Male 2×20 pin header
• 1× Female 2×20 pin header
• 1× 5W 4Ω speaker with pre-soldered wires
• 1× Blue acrylic enclosure
• 1× 50 cm USB A to micro-B cable
• 1× USB A (female) to micro-B (male) adaptor
• 1× Mini to full-size HDMI adaptor
• 1× Sticker sheet

Resources

• Assembly Guide
• Internet Radio Project (GitHub)
• Spotify Streaming Guide
• AirPlay Speaker Guide
• Python Library and Installer (GitHub)