Build Instructions - Gocika MP3 Players

Tools Required

Soldering Iron 25–40W with fine tip (recommended: Hakko FX-888D)
Solder 60/40 or 63/37 rosin-core, 0.6–0.8mm diameter
Multimeter For continuity checks and voltage verification
Tweezers Fine-tip for placing small SMD components
Phillips Screwdriver PH0 or PH1 for enclosure assembly
Helping Hands / PCB Holder Optional but recommended
Flux Pen Optional — helps with tricky joints

Safety First

Ventilate your workspace Solder fumes are harmful — work near an open window or use a fume extractor
Anti-static precautions Touch a grounded metal object or use an ESD wrist strap before handling the PCB
Check polarity before powering on Reversed battery polarity can permanently damage the board
Never charge an unassembled battery Fully assemble and verify the board before first charge

💡 Pro Tip: Read through all steps once before starting. Understanding the full picture makes assembly much smoother.

Version 01

Classic Player — Assembly Guide

The simplest of the three kits. If you've soldered before, this build takes about 60 minutes. Perfect for beginners.

🕑 ~60 min

⭐ Beginner

🔨 18 solder joints

Download PDF Guide

📦 Kit Contents Checklist

1x Main PCB (Classic v1.2)

1x ESP32-WROOM-32 Module

1x PCM5102A DAC Breakout

1x 2.0" IPS Color LCD (ST7789)

1x MicroSD Card Holder

1x 3.5mm Stereo Jack

5x Tactile Push Buttons

1x USB-C Power Connector

1x 5V Power Regulator

1x Slide Power Switch

1x Acrylic Enclosure (4 pieces)

4x M2 Screws + Standoffs

1x Resistor Pack (assorted)

1x Capacitor Pack (assorted)

1x USB-C Cable (included)

1x MicroSD Card (8 GB, sample tracks)

Inspect and Prepare Your Components

Before soldering anything, lay out all components and check them against the kit contents list above. Identify each component by comparing it to the reference photos in your PDF guide.

Use the PCB silkscreen labels (printed on the board) to identify component positions. Each part has a reference designator (e.g., R1, C3, U1).

All components present and accounted for PCB inspected for any visible damage Workspace clean and anti-static precautions taken

Solder Passive Components (Resistors & Capacitors)

Start with the smallest, flattest components first — resistors and capacitors. Insert each component into its marked holes, bend the leads slightly on the back to hold it in place, then solder.

Soldering Order (low to high profile)

1. Resistors (R1–R8)    — lying flat, 0.25W
2. Ceramic capacitors   — C1, C2, C4, C6
3. Electrolytic caps    — C3, C5 (check polarity!)
4. Crystal oscillator   — Y1

Polarity warning: Electrolytic capacitors have a positive (+) and negative (−) leg. The longer leg is positive. Match it to the “+” marking on the PCB.

All resistors soldered (R1–R8) Ceramic capacitors soldered Electrolytic capacitors soldered (polarity verified)

Solder the PCM5102A DAC Module

The PCM5102A DAC breakout board plugs into the 8-pin header on the PCB marked J2. First solder the 8-pin female header onto the main PCB, then press the DAC module into it. Do not solder the DAC module itself — it is removable.

Main PCB (top view)

J2
DAC Header

J1
OLED

U1
ESP32

8-pin female header soldered at J2 DAC module seated firmly in header No solder bridges visible between DAC pins

Solder the ESP32 Module

The ESP32-WROOM-32 is the brain of your player. It mounts to the castellated pads along the edge of the PCB at position U1. Apply a small amount of solder to each pad on the PCB first (tinning), then position the ESP32 and reflow each joint.

Use a little flux on the castellated pads before soldering — it makes clean joints much easier to achieve. Work from one corner, solder diagonally opposite corner to lock alignment, then complete the rest.

ESP32 aligned with silkscreen outline All castellated pads soldered (34 total) No solder bridges between adjacent pads (inspect with magnifier)

Solder Buttons, Switch & Audio Jack

Mount the five tactile push buttons into their marked positions (SW1–SW5), the slide switch at SW6, and the 3.5mm stereo audio jack at J3. These are through-hole components — push firmly until flush with the PCB, then solder from the back.

Ref	Function	Location
SW1	Play / Pause	Center
SW2	Next Track	Right
SW3	Previous Track	Left
SW4	Volume Up	Top
SW5	Volume Down	Bottom
SW6	Power On/Off	Side edge

All 5 buttons seated flush and soldered Power slide switch soldered at SW6 3.5mm audio jack soldered at J3

Attach the 2" IPS Color LCD Display

The 2.0" IPS LCD connects to the 7-pin header at J1. Solder the 7-pin female header onto the PCB first, then plug the display module in. Ensure the VCC and GND pins are correctly oriented — consult the silkscreen label before connecting.

The LCD uses SPI communication. The pin order on J1 is: VCC, GND, CS, RESET, DC, MOSI, SCLK. Double-check against the PDF reference diagram before powering on.

7-pin header soldered at J1 LCD display connected (pin order verified) Display shows image right-side up on power-on

Connect USB-C Power

The Classic Player is USB powered — no battery required. Solder the USB-C connector to pads VBUS and GND on the board edge. Add the 5V regulator at U2 to provide stable power to the ESP32 and display.

Use a standard 5V USB-C power adapter or connect directly to a PC USB port. The player will power on as soon as USB is plugged in (after the power switch is on).

USB-C connector soldered to VBUS and GND pads 5V regulator soldered at U2 No exposed wire strands touching other components

Continuity Check & First Power-On

Before powering on, use your multimeter in continuity mode to check the main power rails. Place probes on the GND and 5V pads — if you hear a beep, there is a short circuit. Trace and fix it before proceeding.

Multimeter Tests

Test 1: GND ↔ GND        — expect: continuous (beep OK)
Test 2: GND ↔ 5V        — expect: NO continuity (beep = short!)
Test 3: USB-C GND ↔ VBUS — expect: NO continuity unpowered

If tests pass, insert the MicroSD card loaded with MP3 files, plug in USB-C power, slide the power switch to ON, and the 2" LCD display should light up within 2 seconds.

Continuity checks passed (no shorts) MicroSD card inserted 2" LCD displays startup screen on USB power-on Audio plays through headphones

Assemble the Acrylic Enclosure

Your kit includes a 4-piece laser-cut acrylic enclosure. Use the M2 brass standoffs to mount the PCB inside, then snap the acrylic panels together and secure with the M2 screws. The OLED and buttons align with the cutouts in the front panel.

Remove the protective film from the acrylic panels before assembly — peel from both sides for a crystal-clear finish.

Protective film removed from all acrylic panels PCB mounted on standoffs inside enclosure All 4 screws tightened Buttons and OLED accessible through cutouts

✔

Build Complete — Enjoy Your Classic Player!

Congratulations! Your Gocika Classic Player is fully assembled. Plug in via USB-C to power it up. Load your music onto a MicroSD card (FAT32 format, folders for albums) and enjoy crystal-clear audio on the 2" color screen.

← Back to Product Page Download PDF

Want more features?

Version 02

Web Radio — Assembly Guide

Builds on the Classic with the addition of Wi-Fi internet radio and 15 preset stations. No battery — USB powered. Intermediate level — estimated 2 hours.

🕑 ~2 hrs

⭐ Intermediate

🔨 32 solder joints

Download PDF Guide

📦 Kit Contents Checklist

1x Main PCB (Web Radio v2.1)

1x ESP32-S3-WROOM Module

1x PCM5102A DAC Breakout

1x 2.0" IPS Color LCD (ST7789)

1x Wi-Fi PCB Trace Antenna

1x MicroSD Card Holder

1x 3.5mm Stereo Jack

1x Rotary Encoder + Knob

4x Tactile Push Buttons

1x USB-C Power Connector

1x 5V Power Regulator

1x Slide Power Switch

1x ABS Enclosure (pre-cut)

1x MicroSD Card (8 GB)

15x Pre-loaded radio station URLs

Inspect Components & Review the PCB Layout

The Web Radio PCB is larger than the Classic and has two zones: the Audio Zone (left side) and the Wi-Fi / Streaming Zone (right side). No FM/AM tuner is present on this board — all radio is handled over the internet via Wi-Fi.

All components present per checklist PCB layout reviewed (audio zone vs radio zone) PDF guide open to Radio Edition section

Solder Passive Components

Follow the same low-to-high profile approach as the Classic. The Web Radio has additional decoupling capacitors for the Wi-Fi power supply rails — refer to the component map in your PDF.

Soldering Order

1. Resistors (R1–R12)
2. Ceramic capacitors (C1–C8)
3. Electrolytic caps (C9–C12) — check polarity!
4. 5V Power regulator (U2)
5. Inductors L1–L2 (Wi-Fi supply filters)

The RDA5807M is a small QFN IC. Apply flux generously, tack one corner, verify alignment, then drag-solder the remaining pads. Wick away any bridges immediately.

All resistors soldered All capacitors soldered (polarity verified) 5V regulator soldered at U2 Inductors L1–L2 soldered

Mount the ESP32-S3 Module

The ESP32-S3 is more capable than the Classic's ESP32, with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Solder it to the castellated pads at U1. The integrated PCB antenna must be oriented so it faces outward — do not place any metal directly over the antenna area.

The silkscreen shows a keep-out zone marked "ANTENNA AREA" near U1. Make sure no wires or components are routed through this zone.

ESP32-S3 aligned correctly (antenna facing outward) All castellated pads soldered No metal in antenna keep-out zone

Solder the DAC, Display Header & MicroSD Socket

Solder the PCM5102A DAC header at J2, the 14-pin FPC connector for the color LCD at J1, and the push-in MicroSD socket at J4. The FPC connector has a small locking tab — lift it before inserting the ribbon, then press it down to lock.

DAC header soldered at J2 14-pin FPC connector soldered at J1 MicroSD socket soldered at J4

Mount Rotary Encoder, Buttons & Audio Jack

The Radio Edition uses a rotary encoder (with push button) for volume and station tuning, plus 4 function buttons. Solder the encoder at ENC1, the 4 buttons at SW1–SW4, and the audio jack at J3.

Ref	Function
ENC1 rotate	Volume up/down & station tuning
ENC1 press	Toggle MP3 / Radio mode
SW1	Play / Pause
SW2	Next / Seek+
SW3	Previous / Seek−
SW4	Save Station Preset

Rotary encoder soldered at ENC1 All 4 buttons soldered Audio jack soldered at J3

Connect USB-C Power

The Web Radio is USB powered — no battery required. Solder the USB-C connector to the VBUS / GND pads and wire the 5V regulator output to the main power rail. The device powers on instantly when USB-C is plugged in.

USB-C connector soldered (VBUS / GND) 5V regulator output verified with multimeter No exposed wire strands near other components

Connect to the Built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot & Web Control App

After passing the continuity checks, plug in USB-C power. The LCD displays the Gocika logo within 2 seconds. The ESP32-S3 automatically broadcasts its own Wi-Fi hotspot — no external router needed. Connect your phone directly to the player and open the mobile control app.

Wi-Fi Hotspot Credentials

SSID     : ESP32-MP3-Player
Password : mp3player123
App URL  : http://192.168.4.1

Connection Procedure

1. Power on the Web Radio player via USB-C
2. On your phone → Settings → Wi-Fi
3. Connect to: ESP32-MP3-Player
   Password:   mp3player123
4. Open mobile browser → go to: http://192.168.4.1
5. The Mobile Web Control App loads automatically
6. Browse stations, add custom stream URLs, adjust volume

The control app works on any device with a browser — phone, tablet, or laptop. No app download required. Once on the same Wi-Fi network as the player, just navigate to http://192.168.4.1.

Continuity checks passed LCD displays startup screen on USB power Phone connected to ESP32-MP3-Player Wi-Fi Mobile Web Control App loads at http://192.168.4.1 15 preset web radio stations visible in the app Custom stream URL successfully added and played

Assemble the ABS Enclosure

The Web Radio ships with a pre-cut ABS plastic enclosure with a slot for the rotary encoder knob and cutouts for the buttons and USB-C port. Mount the PCB on the provided standoffs, attach the knob to the encoder shaft, and close the enclosure with the 6 included screws.

PCB mounted on standoffs USB-C port accessible through enclosure cutout Knob fitted to encoder shaft All 6 enclosure screws tightened

✔

Build Complete — Your Web Radio is Ready!

You now have a fully functional MP3 player with live internet radio streaming via Wi-Fi. 15 stations are pre-loaded — browse, save extra favourites, and add your own custom stream URLs through the settings menu.

← Back to Product Page Download PDF

Want the ultimate experience?

Version 03

Future Player — Assembly Guide

The flagship build. Large touchscreen, Bluetooth 5.0, DSP equalizer, and album art. Estimated 3 hours for experienced builders.

🕑 ~3 hrs

⭐ Advanced

🔨 48 solder joints

Download PDF Guide

📦 Kit Contents Checklist

1x Main PCB (Future v3.0)

1x ESP32-S3 Dual-Core Module

1x ES9023 Hi-Res DAC Breakout

1x 3.5" IPS Touch LCD (480x320)

1x Touch Controller IC (FT6206)

1x Bluetooth 5.0 Module (BT832)

1x RDA5807M FM/AM Tuner IC

1x Wi-Fi PCB Antenna

1x MicroSD Card Holder (high-speed)

1x 3.5mm + Optical Audio Outputs

1x Rotary Encoder + Aluminium Knob

2x Side Tactile Buttons

1x 5000mAh Li-Po Battery

1x USB-C PD Charging Module

1x Aluminium + Acrylic Enclosure Kit

1x MicroSD Card (16 GB)

Study the PCB Zones Before Starting

The Future Player PCB is the most complex of the three. It is divided into four zones: Audio Processing, Connectivity (Wi-Fi + BT), Display & Touch, and Power Management. Take 10 minutes to review the full schematic in your PDF before picking up your iron.

This build has some fine-pitch SMD components. If you have a hot-air rework station, use it for the ES9023 DAC and FT6206 touch controller. A fine-tip iron with flux works too, but takes more care.

PCB zones reviewed Full schematic studied in PDF All components verified present

Solder Fine-Pitch ICs First (ES9023 & FT6206)

Solder the fine-pitch ICs before the through-hole components, while the PCB is flat and easy to work with. Apply flux to the pads, tack two opposite corners, verify alignment under magnification, then complete all pins using the drag-solder technique.

IC Soldering Sequence

1. ES9023 DAC (SSOP-20 at U2)    — Audio zone
2. FT6206 Touch Controller       — Display zone
3. Power management ICs (U4/U5)  — Power zone
4. BT832 Bluetooth module        — Connectivity zone

ES9023 soldered (no bridges, inspect under magnifier) FT6206 touch IC soldered Power management ICs soldered BT832 Bluetooth module soldered

Solder Passive Components & Remaining SMD Parts

Follow the same low-profile-first approach. The Future Player has additional filter components for the hi-res audio path — precision resistors marked with an orange dot on the component tape are part of the DAC output filter and must be placed exactly as marked.

Precision resistors (orange dot): These are 0.1% tolerance parts for the audio filter. Do not substitute them with the general resistors. They are pre-sorted in the kit with orange tape.

All standard resistors soldered (R1–R18) Precision resistors (orange dot) placed correctly All capacitors soldered Inductors and ferrite beads soldered

Mount the ESP32-S3 Dual-Core Module

The Future Player uses the higher-spec ESP32-S3 in dual-core configuration running at 240MHz. Solder to castellated pads at U1 using the same technique as the Radio Edition. This module also handles all Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, touch screen processing, and audio decoding concurrently.

ESP32-S3 aligned (antenna facing outward) All pads soldered, no bridges Antenna keep-out zone clear

Install the 3.5” Touchscreen Display

The large IPS touchscreen connects via a 40-pin FPC ribbon cable to connector J1 and a separate 6-pin FPC for the touch digitizer to J2. Both connectors have flip-lock tabs. Route the cables carefully — do not crease them sharply.

Leave the display connected but not mounted in the enclosure during first power-on testing. This lets you confirm it works before final assembly.

40-pin FPC connector (J1) soldered and display ribbon locked 6-pin touch FPC (J2) soldered and digitizer ribbon locked No sharp creases in ribbon cables

Solder Audio Outputs, Controls & Power

Solder the 3.5mm jack at J3, the optical TOSLINK output at J4, the rotary encoder at ENC1, and 2 side buttons. Connect the 5000mAh battery and USB-C PD charging module to the power pads.

3.5mm jack soldered at J3 Optical output soldered at J4 Rotary encoder soldered at ENC1 2 side buttons soldered Battery connected (polarity verified) USB-C PD charging module wired

Continuity Check, First Boot & Feature Verification

Run full continuity checks, then power on. The touchscreen should display the Gocika splash screen in vivid color within 3 seconds. Verify all features using the checklist below before final enclosure assembly.

Continuity tests passed (no shorts) Touchscreen displays correctly, touch responds MP3 playback working, album art displays Wi-Fi connects, web radio streams Bluetooth pairs with wireless headphones Equalizer adjustments audible Waveform visualizer animating

Assemble the Aluminium + Acrylic Enclosure

The Future Player uses a premium aluminium frame with a clear acrylic front panel (to show off your build!). The display mounts behind the acrylic with four M2 screws. The aluminium frame halves clip together and are secured with 8 countersunk M2.5 screws on the sides.

Apply the included screen protector film to the acrylic front panel before assembly — it prevents scratches during use.

Screen protector applied to acrylic front panel Display mounted behind acrylic with M2 screws Aluminium frame halves assembled All 8 side screws tightened evenly All controls accessible and responsive

✔

Build Complete — Welcome to the Future!

You've built the most advanced DIY portable player available. With up to 40 hours of playback, hi-res audio, Bluetooth 5.0, and a stunning large display, your Future Player is ready for anything.

← Back to Product Page Download PDF

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