WM8960 Audio Board Stereo CODEC I2S/I2C Low Power Play/Record

WM8960 Audio Board Product Overview

When adding audio I/O to a Raspberry Pi, RDK X5, or other embedded board, designers typically focus on three things: whether it can drive speakers directly without an external amplifier, whether microphone recording quality meets voice interaction requirements, and whether driver and software support are comprehensive. The Waveshare WM8960 Audio Board was built for exactly that requirement.

Based on the Cirrus Logic WM8960 low-power stereo CODEC, the WM8960 Audio Board uses I2C for control and I2S for audio data transfer. It features two high-quality MEMS silicon microphones supporting left/right channel stereo recording without external earphones. The WM8960 Audio Board also includes a standard 3.5mm 4-segment earphone jack and dual-channel speaker interface that directly drives 8Ω speakers (1W per channel BTL), eliminating the need for an external amplifier. DAC SNR is 98dB and ADC SNR is 94dB, supporting common sampling rates of 8/11.025/22.05/44.1/48KHz with stereo and 3D surround sound effects.

The WM8960 Audio Board is available in two form factors: the Audio HAT version based on the Raspberry Pi 40-pin GPIO header for Raspberry Pi series boards and VisionFive 2; and the general module version with a 4PIN interface (2.0mm pitch) and 8Ω 5W speaker for STM32 and other embedded platforms. Both versions of the WM8960 Audio Board include comprehensive development resources: user manual, schematic, Python/STM32 demo code, and Linux drivers.

WM8960 Audio Board Applications

Raspberry Pi audio sound card expansion and Hi-Fi music playback

Embedded voice interaction terminals and voice assistants

AI voice recognition and recording application development

Smart home control panel voice modules

STM32 embedded audio capture and playback

3D surround sound development and audio algorithm validation

FAQ:

Q: Can the module directly drive speakers?
A: Yes. The WM8960 Audio Board integrates a Class-D speaker driver providing 1W per channel for 8Ω loads, driving speakers directly without an external amplifier.

Q: What is the difference between HAT and general module versions?
A: The WM8960 Audio Board HAT version uses the Raspberry Pi 40-pin GPIO header with Linux drivers and Python examples for Raspberry Pi and RDK platforms. The WM8960 Audio Board general module uses a 4PIN interface (2.0mm pitch) with STM32 playback/recording programs, better suited for embedded system integration.

QIXINWEI (Shenzhen Qixinwei Technology Co., Ltd.) stocks these parts with same-week shipment from Shenzhen, and offers BOM sourcing plus PCBA customization from prototype to production. Share your BOM and we'll flag cross-references and long-lead items before they stall your build.