Vintage Radio Gets New Life as Raspberry Pi-Powered Plex Server

Someone has given a vintage radio from the 1990s a remarkable second life by converting it into a fully functional Plex media server using a Raspberry Pi 4B.

Over on the Raspberry Pi subreddit, user zef37 shared their impressive project that transformed a beloved but non-functional vintage radio into a modern streaming powerhouse. The original unit had suffered from blown capacitors that had rotted holes through the circuit board, making traditional repair impossible.

The project took approximately four days to complete and required multiple trips to the parts store. The gutted radio now houses an impressive array of modern components:

• Raspberry Pi 4B - The brains of the operation
• PCM5122 HiFi I2S DAC - For high-quality audio output
• TPA3116D2 DC12-26V 2x120W amplifier (described as "overkill but on hand")
• Dual 3" 4Ohm 20W speakers for audio playback
• 1602 16x2 LCD display for track information and clock display
• Ultraviolet 5V LED strip for bezel lighting effects
• Fake antenna ("It's fake but had to have it. 😏")

The most creative aspect of the build involves repurposing the radio's original hardware. The tuning dial now controls backlight brightness, the volume knob serves as a general volume control, and the AM/FM mode switch has been converted to toggle the amplifier on and off. The LCD display shows track information when music is playing and switches to a clock display when idle.

According to zef37, the main goal was to preserve the vintage radio's appealing design while transforming it into a modern streaming and speaker system that could also handle server duties. The project demonstrates how vintage electronics can find new purpose in the digital age rather than ending up in landfills.

Future plans for the build include adding weather display functionality and other features to enhance the user experience. This creative repurposing joins other innovative projects like converting a 1995 radio into an internet radio player using an ESP32, showing how makers are breathing new life into vintage hardware.

The project serves as inspiration for anyone looking to combine retro aesthetics with modern functionality, proving that even completely broken vintage electronics can find new purpose with some creativity and modern computing power.