Roomie-Pi lets a child choose Spotify music by placing a tagged wooden chip on a Raspberry Pi player instead of using a phone or screen. Its reference design combines an NFC reader, a local tag-to-Spotify-URI mapping, and a speaker; rotating a chip can also trigger next or previous track controls.
How Roomie-Pi works
Maxi Lacher published Roomie-Pi on Hackster.io on May 21, 2025, describing a player built so his four-year-old daughter could start music independently. The project’s core idea is to make music selection physical: each chip represents a Spotify destination, and the child places it on the player to start playback.
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The reference build uses a PN532 NFC reader to identify the tag in a chip. The software matches that tag’s unique ID to a Spotify URI in a local MariaDB database, and Raspotify streams the selected music through the Raspberry Pi’s audio hardware. The tag is therefore an identifier in this design; the local database supplies the mapping to the Spotify URI.
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Each music chip is a 35 mm wooden sandwich made from two discs, with an NTAG215 NFC tag embedded between them. Two small magnets in the chip let the player sense rotation. When the child turns the chip, two Hall-effect sensors detect the direction and trigger previous- or next-song behavior.
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- This is PN532 NFC HAT based on PN532 operating in the 13.56MHz frequency range. NFC (Near Field Communication) is a wire-less technology that allows contactless point-to-point data communication between devices within a short distance of 10 cm. It is widely used in applications such as access control systems, smart tickets, meal cards, etc. Based on the popular NFC controller PN532 with multi-interface options, this HAT will easily enable NFC function for RPi.
- Standard Pi 40PIN GPIO extension header, Compatible with Raspberry Pi series boards ( like Pi 5/ 4B/3B+/3B/2B/A+/Zero W/WH/Zero 2 W/ Pico/Pico 2W, etc.)
- Onboard PN532 chip, supports various NFC/RFID cards like MIFARE/NTAG2xx, etc. Breakout control pins, for easily connecting with host boards like STM32/Ardu.
- Three interface options: I2C, SPI, and UART, configured via jumpers and switches.
- Operating voltage: 3.3V/5V. Factory communication baud rate: 115200 bps. The NFC module operates in the 13.56 MHz band.
Reference hardware and software
- Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
- RPI HiFi HAT TAS5713 and two LuluDa 3 W speakers
- PN532 NFC reader
- Two Hall-effect sensors
- 35 mm wooden chips with NTAG215 tags and two magnets per chip
- 3D-printed enclosure parts
- Raspbian, Raspotify, and a local MariaDB database
Hackster’s project list also includes a 3D printer and hobbyist soldering station. It does not provide a general guarantee that other parts or software versions will work the same way.
How to map a music chip to Spotify
The documented Roomie-Pi approach is to associate a tag’s unique ID with a Spotify URI in a local database. A URI identifies the Spotify item the player should use; the project’s described flow does not require the chip itself to contain the full music selection.
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- 【Direct-Connect HiFi DAC Expansion Board】Seamlessly integrates with Raspberry Pi 5, 4, 3B+, Zero & Zero W via 40-pin GPIO. No soldering or external wiring needed – unlock studio-grade audio at 10% of traditional cost. Features 384kHz/32bit PCM5122 DAC with dual ultra-low jitter oscillators (45.158MHz/49.152MHz).
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- Choose the Spotify destination. Decide which track or other supported Spotify item a chip should represent.
- Read the NFC tag. Use the PN532 reader to obtain the tag’s unique ID.
- Create the local mapping. Store an association between that ID and the Spotify URI in MariaDB, following the Roomie-Pi software implementation.
- Test the interaction. Present the chip to the reader and confirm that the matching URI is selected and playback comes through the connected audio hardware.
The Hackster description establishes this architecture, but does not specify a complete wiring diagram, database schema, or installation commands. Those details should not be guessed from the parts list alone.
Spotify playback options for a Raspberry Pi
Raspotify in the Roomie-Pi reference design
The original Roomie-Pi build documents Raspotify for streaming, alongside the local MariaDB mapping. That is the reference implementation described by the project.
Rank #3
- 【Perfect Fit for Compact Boards】Specifically designed to fit perfectly onto the Raspberry Pi Zero, Zero W, Zero 2, and Zero 2W without overhanging. Maintains full compatibility with all 40-pin Raspberry Pi models, including the Pi 5, Pi 4, and 3B+.
- 【Extensive Software Compatibility】Ready to work with all popular Raspberry Pi music player systems such as Volumio, Moode, RuneAudio, OSMC, PiCorePlayer, and Max2Play, as well as standard operating systems including Raspberry Pi OS, Debian, and Ubuntu.
- 【High-Performance DAC & Amp Combo】Equipped with the PCM5122 32-bit/384kHz high-resolution DAC for exceptional audio clarity, paired with the TPA6133 headphone amplifier that delivers 2.1Vrms output for driving headphones powerfully and cleanly.
- 【Dual Gold-Plated Outputs】Features both RCA left/right jacks and a 3.5mm headphone output, allowing high-quality connection to speakers, amplifiers, or headphones directly from your Raspberry Pi.
- 【Superb Sound, Unbeatable Value】Delivers a remarkably low noise floor and audiophile-grade sound quality that challenges expensive standalone DACs, offering incredible performance and value for DIY audio enthusiasts.
Spotify Soloist as a newer option
Spotify announced Soloist on August 13, 2026, and its documentation describes it as a headless Linux Spotify client aimed at Raspberry Pi-class devices. It can send audio to a local amplifier or DAC or to a Bluetooth speaker, offers command-line controls and an optional WebSocket API, and supports single-track playback from a Spotify URI. Spotify says Soloist supports Free and Premium accounts after setup.
Soloist requires a Spotify API key, which Spotify says each user must generate for themselves; builds expire after 90 days. Soloist is a potential current platform option, not a tested drop-in replacement for Roomie-Pi’s Raspotify setup. A builder considering it should expect to adapt and verify the player software.
Rank #4
- This is a USB sound card/USB audio module with 8Ω 5W Speaker that supports recording and playback, a stereo codec, a built-in microphone, and a speaker. It is suitable for Raspberry Pi/Jetson Nano, driver-free, plug-and-play
- "Listening / Speaking" Two-In-One-- onboard microphone, and speaker header, easy audio input / output. Plug and Play, easy to use--standard USB 2.0 port, driver-free, portable size
- Multiple sampling rates support--supported sampling rates including 8K, 11.025K, 12K, 16K, 22.05K, 24K, 32K, 44.1K, and default 48K (Hz)
- Support Multiple systems--Compatible with mac/Win7/8/8.1/10, Linux, Android, WinCE
How Roomie-Pi compares with other tag-based players
Other open-source projects use the same broad idea—physical identifiers that select Spotify music—but differ in hardware and controls.
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| Design | Board and audio output | Reader and tags | Interaction | Power and enclosure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roomie-Pi (Hackster project) | Raspberry Pi 4 Model B with a TAS5713 HiFi HAT and two speakers | PN532 reader; NTAG215 tags embedded in wooden chips | Place a chip to select music; Hall sensors detect chip rotation for previous/next | 3D-printed enclosure parts; power method not stated in the Hackster project description |
| Spotbox (project documentation) | Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W with Bluetooth audio; its documentation says the board has no audio jack | RC522 RFID scanner and programmable RFID cards | Cards can represent albums or playlists; physical buttons provide play/pause, next, and previous | Power bank; power-bank runtime and enclosure details not stated in the Spotbox documentation |
| NFC Jukebox (project description) | Raspberry Pi 5 with a speaker and a Spotify Connect speaker service | USB NFC/PCSC reader and NTAG215 tags | Tags can identify tracks, albums, or playlists; a Flask application handles the project | Power method and enclosure details not stated in the NFC Jukebox project description |
The Spotbox documentation specifically notes that a Pi Zero 2 W has no audio jack. For wired analog output, it says to choose another Raspberry Pi model or add an external audio interface. Roomie-Pi’s Pi 4 plus audio HAT is a different trade-off: it uses a dedicated DAC/amplifier-style board and adds enclosure and assembly work.
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- S/PDIF(IEC60958-3) interface with 32 to 192kHz sampling rate.
- Optical TOSLINK electric RCA bitperfect output.
- With two low jitter external crystal oscillator and I2S master mode design, the DIGI ONE achieves more accurate audio clocking across different frequency ranges.
- The board adopts a 150M industrial-grade digital signal isolator and a automotive-grade 1W power isolator, providing complete galvanic isolation of DIGI ONE‘s power and digital signals from the Raspberry Pi, thereby ensuring better output signal quality.
- Absolutely support all Raspberry Pi music player system ,such as OSMC, Max2Play, RuneAudio, Volumio, Moode, Pi CorePlayer, Pi MusicBox, OpenELEC, Debian,Raspberry Pi Os, Ubuntu etc.
NTAG215 tags, PN532 readers, and RC522 readers are different parts
An NTAG215 is a contactless tag placed in a card or chip. The PN532 and RC522 are reader modules: they detect compatible tags and pass their identifiers to the player’s software. They are not alternative names for the tag itself.
Roomie-Pi specifies NTAG215 tags with a PN532 reader. Spotbox documents an RC522 RFID scanner, while the NFC Jukebox project specifies a USB NFC/PCSC reader with NTAG215 tags. A tag and reader must be compatible with one another and with the software; the cited projects demonstrate particular combinations, not universal compatibility among all NFC/RFID hardware.
What to consider before building for a child
Roomie-Pi is a maker project, not a documented child-safety-certified product. The available project information reports no independent child-safety certification or laboratory test result. Because its chips contain small magnets and embedded tags, builders should pay particular attention to keeping components securely enclosed and assess the finished object for their intended age group. The project description alone does not establish that a particular build is suitable as a toy.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCan Roomie-Pi become a commercial Spotify product?
Spotify’s Embedded SDK documentation describes Spotify Connect support for compatible speakers and other hardware, but Spotify currently accepts applications only from organizations. The stated route includes a hardware-partner application, agreements, implementation, certification through Certomato, and submission of test devices before launch. That process is relevant to a company product derived from Roomie-Pi; it is not an individual-maker signup path and does not mean the hobby project is Spotify-certified.
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