Amped-ESP32-Plus and Loud-ESP32-Plus are now available at Lectronz

Full-size batch of Amped-ESP32-Plus boards finally came from the factory, and they look really nice and sound great.

The main goal for this board to pop-up is to combine the PCM5122 DAC with the TPA3128 amplifier, both being the top-of-the-range models I’m currently using. PCM5122 is a DSP-enabled version of my favourite PCM5100 DAC, so it has digital volume control to start with, so you can listen at low volume without loss of audio resolution; better signal-to-noise figures, and most importantly, BQ-filters, or the possibility of an audio equaliser, although software support is still on the way.

TPA3128 amp is a top-of-the-range model in the TI 31-series amps. Compared to other models, better energy efficiency, power and mute pins – no hum in audio pauses and very low power consumption when idling; possibility to work with 5V power source – convenient if you are developing with USB power only.

This revision using TPA3110 amp, though – I had noise issues with TPA3128 amp in the test batch, so while I was looking for a solution, I switched back to the working solution I had. It requires 9V to work, but in terms of audio quality it is no compromise.

Another board that has just become available is the Loud-ESP32-Plus model (test batch at the moment), which has the MA12070P DAC from Infineon onboard.

Being part of the “Loud” line, no DSP capabilities, apart from basic stuff, like digital volume control and some modulation settings. The super-power of this DAC is efficiency and the possibility to work with small output filters, which translates to high output power – the highest I had on these boards so far – around 60W per channel at 4 Ohm load.

Although this DAC is end-of-life, they are still available in quantities for a reasonable price, so I thought, “Why not?” In the end, why always Texas Instruments DACs? 🙂

Both are now available at Lectronz: Amped-ESP32-Plus and Loud-ESP32-Plus