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Small green circuit board with 3.5mm jack and red white RCA connectors

StarTech.com PCM5122 Audio Board (A) sound card

SKU CH-Y2E9-GZWGT

HiFi I²S DAC board for Raspberry Pi models, PCM5122 chip, 32-bit 384 kHz, 3.5 mm jack plus RCA, 40-pin GPIO, onboard EEPROM

  • Interface typeUSB
  • Part type or numberPCM5122 Audio Board (A)
  • Line inRCA
  • SPDIF inRCA
  • SPDIF outRCA
  • Extra portsI2S, RCA, GPIO, I2C
  • Professional stereo DAC with PCM5122 chip for high-fidelity audio
  • 32-bit resolution and 384 kHz sampling for detailed sound reproduction
  • 5 mm headphone jack and RCA connectors for flexible output options
  • Automatic driver loading via onboard EEPROM on Raspberry Pi OS
  • Compatible with Raspberry Pi 5, 4B, 3B+, 3B, Zero W, Zero 2W, Pico W and Pico 2W

Raspberry Pi audio board

The StarTech.com PCM5122 Audio Board (A) is a stereo DAC sound card built around the PCM5122 chip. It connects through the Raspberry Pi 40-pin GPIO header and is compatible with Pi 5, 4B, 3B+, 3B, Zero W, Zero 2W, Pico W and Pico 2W boards. The board provides a 3.5 mm headphone jack and RCA connectors for line-level output. An onboard EEPROM enables automatic driver loading under Raspberry Pi OS.

384 kHz 32-bit headroom

The PCM5122 chip supports sampling frequencies up to 384 kHz and audio data resolution up to 32-bit. This headroom covers high-resolution music files and multi-channel streaming without resampling. The RCA line output and 3.5 mm jack deliver stereo playback to powered speakers or headphones. The I2S digital interface keeps the signal path clean from the processor to the DAC.

Upgrade from onboard audio

This board replaces the Raspberry Pi's built-in PWM or basic HDMI audio with a dedicated I2S DAC. The jump is worthwhile when you need lower noise floor, bit-perfect playback or analogue line-level output for an external amplifier. It does not add microphone input, digital optical output or hardware DSP effects. Builders who need multichannel surround or professional recording interfaces should look elsewhere.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in Internal & USB Sound Cards, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $25.99
Cheaper than about 64% of the 185 comparable items (median $29.99).

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Specifications

Product
Brand nameStarTech.com
Product linePCM5122 Audio Board (A)
Model namePCM5122 Audio Board (A)
Part numberPCM5122 Audio Board (A)
Part type or numberPCM5122 Audio Board (A)
Ports & slots
Interface typeUSB
Extra portsI2S, RCA, GPIO, I2C
Size & build
Product dimensions14.33 in W × 12.83 in H × 9.06 in D
Product weight0.02 lb (0.01 kg)
In the box
In the boxPCM5122 Audio Board (A) x1, 2 × 20pin header x1, Screwdriver x1
More details
Line inRCA
Line outNo
SPDIF inRCA
SPDIF outRCA

Questions about this item

Will the PCM5122 Audio Board (A) work with my Raspberry Pi 4B using the 40-pin GPIO header?

Yes, the board is based on the RPi 40-pin GPIO header and is compatible with Raspberry Pi 4B, 3B+, 3B, Pi 5, Zero W, Zero 2W, Pico W and Pico 2W models.

How can I verify the PCM5122 Audio Board (A) is decoding audio at 384 kHz and 32-bit resolution after setup?

Play a high-resolution test file and check the system audio settings or ALSA mixer to confirm the sample rate shows 384 kHz and bit depth shows 32-bit during playback.

Does the PCM5122 Audio Board (A) package include the 2x20-pin header and a screwdriver, or do I need to buy them separately?

The box contains the PCM5122 Audio Board (A), one 2x20-pin header and one screwdriver, so no extra purchase is required for those items.

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