[WeebLabs]

Thank you! I will soon be producing a comprehensive introductory video on YouTube, which should make things more accessible.

There will also be an official plug-and-play custom board that includes all of the relevant IO, connectors and codecs.

[kcoul]

In the meantime, what would you recommend (if there's anything off-the-shelf that would work in a plug-and-play manner?)

I had a project in mind that was waiting for something like this! :)

[WeebLabs]

For USB input and SPDIF output, all that you need is a TOSLINK TX module(s) or a couple of capacitors and a resistor if you want coaxial SPDIF. For I2S output, the PCM5102A modules that you find on Amazon work very well, with very reasonable performance (SNR >100dB, THD+N ~95dB).

For 2.1 configurations in a pinch, the firmware includes a software DAC that's more than adequate to drive a subwoofer, so only one external DAC is needed.

[ssl-3]

Maybe start by omitting the part in the first paragraph about how it acts as a USB sound card. :)

I mean, I know what you meant, but that's pretty misleading phrasing for many people.

It's not much of a stretch to think that most people interpret a "USB sound card" as a thing with analog audio on one side and USB on the other side. But other than the subwoofer output, we don't have any analog IO on a Pico running this firmware.

[ThatMedicIsASpy]

https://sonocotta.com/amped-esp32/

It is not 100% plug and play as you can choose your own software.

[skybrian]

Uh, some people like videos but I'd really rather have a web page with all the steps laid out and still photos. (And maybe links to the video, too?)

A custom board sounds great, too.

[WeebLabs]

There is a comprehensive readme on the repository but I will soon be adding a simplified "Getting Started" section.

[skybrian]

Glad to hear it!