Why Beatnik?

  • Because planned obsolescence sucks. We make things fundamentaly different.

Upcyle. Update. Change & Repair.

  • Upcyle Speakers & Revicers

    Use any existing speakers or reciver.
    Broken? Just replace the speaker not the entire system. No need to buy speakers from us.

  • Raspberry Pi, Soundcard, Power Supply & Case

    Use existing singleboard computers (pi), soundcards, & power supplies you already have.
    If a component breaks. Just replace the broken part instead of the whole product.

    No need to buy Computers or Soundcards from us.

  • Software & OS

    Update the software & operating system (OS) using SD Cards. If something is outdated or deprecated, just update or replace the software completly.

    Fully open source code, so it can be updated, maintained and hosted by anyone.

    No need to buy software from us.

  • No vendor lock-in possible.

    We break the black box & show you what's inside.

  • Then we (or you) put it in a box again. A box you can control, open, modify & adapt to your needs.

Designed, Developed & Assembled in Bern, Switzerland.

Made by Individuals (mainly in Europe).

We combine & curate excellent open source software that already exists. And we add our own open source stuff. Some Software, some Hardware, some Docs.

Hardware Dependecies:

  • Raspberry Pi 🇬🇧

    We're basing everything on Raspberry Pi, as it is the most open hardware development plattform we know. The Raspberry Pi Foundation is located in Britain.

  • Hifi Berry 🇨🇭

    Hifi Berry produces finest Audio Hardware that is optimized for Raspberry Pi. They follow a very open approach to Hardware & a excellent price/quality ratio. Based in Switzerland.

  • Various 🌐

    PCB Components, Power supplies, Screws etc. come from all over the world. Mainly China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan & the US.

Software Dependencies:

  • Snapcast 🇩🇪

    Handles Multi Room Audio Sync. The Heart ♥ of Beatnik Pi. No Snapcast, no Beatnik. Built & maintained in Germany .

  • Shairport-Sync 🇮🇪

    Enabling AirPlay & Airplay 2. Also core. Irish.

  • Librespot 🇫🇷 & 🇳🇱 & 🇺🇸

    Enablig Spotify Connect. Made in France & the Netherlands (?). Raspoity (optimzation for Raspi) is US.

  • Mopidy 🇳🇴

    CLI Music Player. Complicated but powerful stuff from Norway.

  • CamillaDSP 🇸🇪

    Dignal Signal Processing from Sweden. To make it sound right.

  • MPD 🇩🇪

    Core Linux Music Player Deamon maintained in Germany.

Who?

My name is Jonathan Gerber. Most people call me Johnny. I founded Beatnik.  I work and live in Bern, Switzerland.

Beatnik is independent. I'm develpoing &  financing this project as private person & my company "Byrds & Bytes GmbH" supports Beatnik with infrastructure & a legal framework until it is self sufficient.

Get in touch

In my opinion

How we build & consume technology matters.

Developers should care. Consumers should care too.