The pHAT BEAT is a stereo audio add-on for the Raspberry Pi featuring dual I2S DAC/amplifiers, 16 RGB LEDs, and six tactile buttons. It delivers high-quality, amplified digital audio through two channels at up to 3W per speaker.

The dual rows of eight APA102 RGB LEDs work beautifully as a VU meter, and the six edge-mounted buttons provide convenient playback controls. A DIP switch on the underside lets you toggle between blended mono and stereo output modes.

Key Features

• Stereo I2S Audio – Dual MAX98357A DAC/amplifiers delivering 3W per channel
• Push-Fit Speaker Terminals – Easy clip-in connections for your speakers, no soldering required
• 16 RGB LEDs – APA102 pixels in two rows of eight, ideal as a VU meter or custom display
• 6 Tactile Buttons – Edge-mounted controls for play/pause, rewind, fast-forward, volume, and power
• Mono/Stereo Switch – DIP switch to select blended mono or stereo playback
• One-Line Installer – Software installer configures ALSA audio routing and includes a VU meter plugin

Specifications

• Dimensions – 65 × 30 × 7.5 mm
• Audio DAC – 2× MAX98357A I2S amplifiers
• Output Power – 3W per channel
• LEDs – 16× APA102 RGB pixels
• Buttons – 6× edge-mounted push buttons (GPIO-linked)

Compatibility

• Raspberry Pi 3B+, 3, 2, B+, A+, Zero, and Zero W
• Female header requires soldering

Ideal For

• Desktop internet radios and music streamers
• Airplay or Spotify streaming stations
• VU meter and audio visualisation projects
• Pairing with Speaker pHAT, Picade HAT, Drum HAT, or Piano HAT

Resources

• pHAT BEAT Pinout
• Python Library (GitHub)