SparkFun Audio Codec Breakout - WM8960 with Headers (Qwiic)

The SparkFun WM8960 Audio Codec Breakout is a high-quality stereo codec that combines low power consumption with a 1W Stereo Class D speaker driver and headphone drivers. This stereo audio ADC and DAC operates using I²S, a standard audio data protocol. It is packed with advanced features, including on-chip digital signal processing for automatic level control (ALC) for line or microphone input, programmable gain amplifier (PGA), pop and click suppression, and the ability to configure I²S settings and analog audio path through software using I²C. This version comes with pre-soldered male headers for quick and easy setup.

The SparkFun WM8960 Audio Codec Breakout offers six flexible analog input pins. These pins allow for a range of sound source signal types to be internally routed to the ADC inputs, including line level and microphone level (balanced and unbalanced) sources. This flexibility means it can accept audio from a variety of sources such as your computer's sound card, your smartphone's headphone output, electret microphones, and MEMs microphones. The flexible analog signal routing includes PGAs and multiple boost stages, allowing it to accept a wide range of audio signal levels.

With its efficient class-D driver, the SparkFun WM8960 Audio Codec Breakout generates low heat and offers long battery life. It can drive 8Ω speakers at up to 1W per channel, making it ideal for portable audio applications. Alternatively, the audio codec can be used to drive 16Ω headphones with up to 40mW output power.

The SparkFun WM8960 Audio Codec Breakout also boasts a 3D enhancement feature. This feature artificially increases the separation between the left and right channels, creating the impression of a room filled with sound coming from all directions. An extensive Arduino Library has been written to allow easy control of all the audio codec's features, from simple volume control to 3D-enhanced audio playback.

The WM8960 pins are conveniently broken out along the edge of the PCB with 2.54mm-spaced pins for breadboard connection. The inclusion of the Qwiic system saves you the hassle of manually wiring the I²C port when configuring the audio codec's settings. A power LED (PWR) is included on the board to indicate when power is applied to the audio CODEC through 3.3V. The board also features a built-in XC6222 3.3V/700mA voltage regulator to regulate the voltage for the analog circuit.

The SparkFun WM8960 Audio Codec Breakout is a great choice for projects that require the encoding or decoding of audio signals. It's a fantastic addition to your next portable digital player or immersive VR game.

The SparkFun Qwiic Connect System is an ecosystem of I²C sensors, actuators, shields, and cables designed to make prototyping faster and less prone to error. All Qwiic-enabled boards use a common 1mm pitch, 4-pin JST connector. This design reduces the amount of required PCB space and ensures connections are always correctly oriented.