Hi all,
I worked on something fun over the holidays and decided to make a kit out of it with the parts I have kicking around. If there is interest, I will get more kits together after this batch.
Here is a blurb from the webstore (shameless copy/paste
):
New product for 2013: USB-DAC!
"As its name suggest, the Whistle Rock Audio USB-DAC is a simple and compact USB audio DAC. It is the easiest way to add a quality audio output to your MAC or PC (no drivers needed!). Whether it's to replace your average built-in audio sound card or add an extra stereo output to your computer, the USB-DAC will fit the bill.
Connectivity on the USB-DAC is straight forward: a Mini-B USB connector on one end and a standard 3.5mm audio output jack on the other. The USB connection interfaces with the host computer and provides power to the device. The audio output jack lets the DAC drive headphones (down to 32 ohms) directly or feed a line level input with the necessary adapters. An optional SPDIF digital output is also available on a two-pin header.
The heart of the USB-DAC is the Texas Instruments PCM2704C, a wonder chip which can deliver up to 16bit/48KHz audio quality and can sound better than many 24bit/96KHz internal sound cards (the kind built-in to the computer's motherboard and ridden with high-frequency electrical noise!). The PCM2704C is USB 2.0 compliant and implements TI's SpAct™ which recovers the audio sampling clock from the USB packets and utilizes an on-chip analog PLL to minimize clock jitter during playback. The TI chip also provides a minimal HID interface that allows the USB-DAC to control the playback volume and sound mute functions at the host OS mixer level. Three on-board tactile switches provide access to these functions for the user's convenience.
Small and light, the USB-DAC is also ideal for mobile use. The surface mount parts keep it compact while saving PCB real-estate. In fact, the finished module only measures 2.575" x 1" with a overall height of 0.325"."
This kit is great for those looking to get into SMT DIY projects. It's simple and useful. Especially the on-board media controls! Super handy
Click here to learn more about the USB-DAC.
Cheers,
Mike