Streaming amplifier for the desk
A streaming amplifier with AirPlay, Bluetooth, internet radio and two AUX inputs. It has a wide 4.58″ colour display, a USB switch for two PCs, and everything is controlled with buttons.
AirPlay and Bluetooth on one button
Press to switch between AirPlay and Bluetooth. Hold to pair a new phone.
Six radio favourites
The radio button steps through six favourites. Hold for 3 seconds to save the station that is playing.
Two PCs on one button
Press to select USB, press again to switch between PC 1 and PC 2. Keyboard, mouse and audio follow along.
2 × 50 W
Enough for a pair of bookshelf speakers on the desk. Headphone output at the front, and the speakers switch off when you plug in.
Double-press for night
Double-press the power button to start night mode in the house or the room via Home Assistant or Homey. The display shows the automation while it runs.
16 standby screens
Clocks, VU meters, radio dial, weather and calendar from Home Assistant. Choose on the device, in the app or on the web.
4.58″ colour display, 960 × 320
One surface
The display is a 4.58″ strip behind smoked acrylic in a champagne aluminium front plate. You only see what is lit.
Bent, not bolted
The enclosure is bent from a single sheet of aluminium, with rounded edges along the top and bottom and the seams underneath. The front is milled from 3 mm aluminium, with engraved text.
Connections at the back
Speaker posts L/R, AUX 1 and 2, USB to PC 1 and PC 2, LAN, 24 V in and a rocker switch. Four USB-A ports sit on the left side.
From source to speaker
Source
- AirPlay
- Bluetooth
- Radio
- AUX 1 / 2
Raspberry Pi 4
- Skjold OS
- Receives the music
- Volume and equaliser
DAC
- Digital to analogue
- PCM5102
Amplifier
- Class D
- 2 × 50 W
Speakers
- Speaker posts L / R
- Headphones at the front
Sources
AirPlay 2
From iPhone, iPad and Mac. With AirPlay 2, several rooms can play at once.
Bluetooth
From any phone. Hold AIR / BT to pair a new phone.
Spotify Connect
Pick Skjold in the Spotify app. The music streams directly, and you can put your phone away.
Internet radio
Six favourites, one for each press of the radio button.
AUX 1 · AUX 2
3.5 mm inputs at the back, for a turntable, TV or another source. S1 only.
USB audio from PC
Skjold becomes your PC’s sound card with one press of USB. S1 only.
Share keyboard and mouse with your PC
S1 has a built-in USB switch. Keyboard, mouse and anything else you plug into the four USB-A ports on the left side follow along when you press USB: to PC 1 or PC 2. Two built-in USB sound cards make Skjold the sound card for both PCs.
Integrations with Lyrion, Home Assistant, Homey and Spotify
Lyrion
Skjold shows up as a player in Lyrion, with radio, favourites, local files and synchronised groups across rooms. Skjold connects to an existing Lyrion server, or can run the server itself.
Home Assistant
Skjold is discovered automatically as a media player with source, volume and on/off. It can be used in automations, for example radio when you get home.
Homey
Skjold appears as its own device with its own icon, and can be controlled in Flows: start a favourite, switch source or turn the volume down.
Spotify
Skjold is a Spotify Connect speaker. It requires Spotify Premium.
Technical specifications
- Size
- 224 × 183 × 50 mm (case 224 × 180 × 49.6 + 3 mm front plate)
- Enclosure
- Aluminium 1.5 mm, R9 along top and bottom, black, bent sheet metal. The seams are underneath.
- Front
- CNC-milled aluminium 3 mm, champagne, laser-engraved text. Smoked acrylic display window.
- Amplifier
- TPA3116D2 class D, 2 × 50 W @ 4 Ω, 24 V
- DAC
- PCM5102 I²S DAC
- Display
- 4.58″ colour display, 960 × 320, wide strip
- Computer
- Raspberry Pi 4
- Inputs
- AUX 1, AUX 2 (3.5 mm), USB audio from PC 1 and PC 2, LAN, Wi-Fi
- Outputs
- Speaker posts L/R, 3.5 mm headphones at the front (speakers mute when plugged in)
- USB
- 2 built-in USB sound cards (PC 1 and PC 2) and a USB switch with 4 USB-A on the left side
- Power
- 24 V in, rocker switch at the back
- Controls
- Volume wheel with press, 4 metal buttons with white LED ring (BT/AirPlay, AUX, RADIO, USB), power button with LED ring
Not for sale yet
There are no finished units to buy yet. Leave your name and email, and I will let you know if there is a small batch or a kit.