PCM5102 pHAT I2S Sound Card for Raspberry Pi

Overview

This PCM5102A I2S stereo Sound Card for Raspberry Pi converts digital I2S audio into high-quality analog stereo line output. It is mechanically designed for Raspberry Pi but also work with any other 3.3V development module with I2S output, for example ESP32 boards, RP2040 boards, STM32 boards.

The Sound Card for Raspberry Pi is based on the PCM5102A stereo digital-to-analog converter. It accepts standard I2S / PCM digital audio signals and provides left and right analog audio output through the onboard 3.5mm audio jack. Additional L, G, and R solder pads are also available for direct wiring into another audio circuit.

This module is suitable for projects where a microcontroller or Raspberry Pi needs better audio output than simple PWM audio or low-quality onboard analog audio. It is intended for line-level output and should normally be connected to powered speakers, an amplifier input, headphones with a suitable headphone amplifier, or other audio equipment with line input.

Typical applications

• Raspberry Pi audio output projects
• ESP32 I2S audio projects
• RP2040 and STM32 digital audio projects
• Internet radio projects
• Music player projects
• Audio output for embedded Linux systems
• Digital audio experiments and prototypes
• DIY speaker systems with a separate amplifier
• High-quality stereo line output for microcontroller projects

Key features

• PCM5102A stereo DAC module
• I2S / PCM digital audio input
• Stereo analog line output
• Onboard 3.5mm audio jack
• Additional L, G, and R output pads for direct wiring
• Supports common I2S audio sources such as Raspberry Pi and ESP32
• Supports 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit audio data
• Supports sample rates from 8kHz up to 384kHz when supported by the audio source and software
• No external master clock required in typical I2S use
• Built-in PLL inside the PCM5102A
• Low-noise stereo DAC for improved sound quality compared with simple PWM audio
• Selectable configuration pins for filter, de-emphasis, audio format, and mute control
• Compact breakout module with clearly marked pins

Technical specifications

Pin description

Basic I2S connection overview

Raspberry Pi notes

• This module can be used with the Raspberry Pi I2S audio interface when the correct software overlay and audio configuration are used.
• The Raspberry Pi provides the required I2S signals through its GPIO header.
• The module output is analog stereo line output, not amplified speaker output.
• For speaker use, connect the output to a suitable stereo amplifier module or powered speakers.

ESP32 and microcontroller notes

• The ESP32 can generate I2S audio signals and is commonly used with PCM5102A DAC modules.
• The controller must provide BCK, LCK, and DIN signals.
• The exact GPIO pins depend on the board and software configuration.
• Audio playback requires software support for I2S output.

Configuration pin overview

Important notes

• This is a DAC module, not a speaker amplifier - the 3.5mm jack provides stereo line-level audio output only.
• Do not connect passive speakers or headphones directly to the line output.
• The actual usable audio resolution and sample rate depend on the audio source, software, and I2S configuration.