This guide goes through all the steps to stream music from an analog vinyl player (or any other RCA source) to your Sonos system, by using a Raspberry Pi.
The guide is based on this Instructable guide: https://www.instructables.com/Add-Aux-to-Sonos-Using-Raspberry-Pi/. But I've spent time simplifying the process, wrapping everything in a docker-compose.yml and creating a pre-built Raspberry Pi image where everything is set up using a systemd service.
To stream the sound from a vinyl record player to the Sonos speakers, you will need:
- 1x RaspberryPi (with USB Type-A)
- 1x RaspberryPi power adapter (adjusted to the RaspberryPi you're using)
- 1x 8GB MicroSD card
- 1x SD card reader/adapter (if your computer doesn't already support it)
- 1x Behringer U-PHONE UFO202
DarkIce is a live audio streamer. It records audio from an audio interface (e.g. sound card), encodes it and sends it to a streaming server. This software is used to read the vinyl signals coming from the U-PHONE UFO202.
Icecast is a streaming media server which we will use to stream the live audio from Darkice and broadcast it out in our local network. This is what the Sonos speakers will pick up and play.
URL: https://icecast.org
Note This section uses my pre-built Raspberry Pi image. If you wish to use the default Raspberry Pi image and set up the service yourself, that is also possible. This can be done by flashing the SD card with the default RPi image, clone down this repository on the RPi,
cdinto the repo, install docker by executinginstall-docker.shand setting up the service by runningsetup-service.sh.
Start by downloading the pre-built Raspberry Pi image here: https://github.com/maxvfischer/sonos-streaming/suites/17721720018/artifacts/1014666374
This image was built using pi-gen, by executing build-pi-image.sh inside a GitHub Action pipeline (https://github.com/maxvfischer/sonos-streaming/actions/runs/6682008698/job/18156701236).
The image will automatically start the systemd service sonos-streaming on boot up, starting the streaming by executing docker-compose.yml.
As both pi-gen and GitHub Actions apply compression, you will need to decompress it twice until you have the raw image file image_2023-10-29-sonos-streaming.img.
The Raspberry Pi Installer is a software developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation to simplify the installation of the Raspberry Pi OS to a microSD card.
Download the Raspberry Pi Installer on your computer by following the instructions on this website: https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/
After you've downloaded, installed and started the installer, you should see a page similar to this:
Start of by inserting the microSD card you're planing to use into the computer.
Then click on CHOOSE OS and choose Use custom at the very bottom. Look for and choose the downloaded Raspberry Pi image.
After that, click on CHOOSE STORAGE and choose the microSD card you just inserted.
Before installing the OS, we want to change some configurations. This is done by clicking on the cogwheel in the lower right corner.
Do the following:
- Check
Enable SSHandUse password authentication. - Check
Set username and passwordand choose whatever username and password you want to use to log into the Raspberry Pi. - Check
Configure wireless LANand fill in the name of the wifi your Sonos speakers are connected to, as well as the wifi password (this is very important, if done incorrectly, the speakers won't find the music stream).
Then click SAVE.
To install the OS to the microSD card, click WRITE. You might get prompted with a warning saying that all existing data will be erasted. If you're fine with this and want to proceed installing the OS, click YES.
The installation should take approx. 5-10 minutes.
When the installation is done, remove the microSD card from your computer and insert it into the Raspberry Pi.
Start of by connecting the USB from Behringer U-PHONE UFO202 to the Raspberry Pi.
Then connect the red and white RCA cable from the vinyl player to the equivalent input on the Behringer U-PHONE UFO202. Red to input red, white to input white.
Finally, connect the power cable to the Raspberry Pi.
Make sure that you have the Sonos app installer on your phone. It can be found in the App store. Also make sure that your Sonos system is properly set up and that you can control your speakers from your app.
Sorry about the language in the upcoming images. I wasn't able to change the language in my app from Swedish to English.
Open the Sonos app and click on the Music icon in the botton navigation bar. Then Click Add a Service, scroll down and click on TuneIn (not TunIn (New), but the old one). Then follow the instructions to add TunIn to your app.
When added correctly, TunIn should show up under your Services. Click on it, then click on My radio stations
Click on the three dots in the top right corner, then on Add a new radio station.
Fill in the following in the prompt:
- Streaming-URL: http://raspberrypi.local:8000/rapi.mp3
- Station name: Vinyl
Your vinal streaming station should now show up under My radio stations. You can now click on the Vinyl station, check the speakers you want to play the music from, put on a vinyl on your record player and enjoy.
