A brief Introduction to Wolfson Audio Card

Hi friends today I have got Wolfson Pi Audio Card delivered, I would like to share information which I have got from internet :

The Wolfson Audio Card extends and enhances the Linux-ready Raspberry Pi’s audio features beyond its native HDMI output with onboard HD audio and a variety of interfaces.The add-on board fits right onto the Pi's P5 pins and carries a Wolfson audio processor that supports high-res audio up to 24-bit / 192KHz, which can be played via a direct connection to an amp over 3.5mm line-out or alternatively via a digital S/PDIF output. Audio recording, meanwhile, comes courtesy of two on board MEMS mics which can be used in things like voice control, a 3.5mm mic jack and a digital S/PDIF input. Together with the audio I/O and digital MEMs microphones, the chip enables a voice controlled wireless home media network capable of running 24-bit “better than CD quality” playback, says Wolfson Microelectronics.

It has following hardware components:

• 3.5mm stereo line-in (for digital audio players and mobile phones)
• 3.5mm stereo line-out (for connecting external stereo amplifiers or powered speakers)
• 3.5mm 4-pole jack (for a headset/boom mic combination for gaming or VoIP)
• 3.5mm mic input (for microphones)
• S/PDIF input
• S/PDIF output
• Speaker outputs (left and right) with Wolfson WM8804 transceiver
• 2x WM7220 Wolfson digital MEMS microphones
• Small pin header for extra function expansion (if they are low cost, already on-chip, and don’t require further components)
• Class D power amplifier for external speakers (with connection to external power source if needed)
• Pins to connect card to RaspPi via P5 pad

Its features are:

• Analogue line‐level output
• Analogue line‐level input
• Digital stereo audio input (SPDIF)
• Digital stereo audio output (SPDIF)
• High quality headphone output, with microphone facility (for headphones with boom microphone)
• Onboard stereo digital microphones
• Ability to play High Definition (HD) Audio
• Arrives bundled with five High Definition Audio files to demonstrate the systems capability.
• Onboard power amplifier for directly driving loudspeakers.

                                                                                     Fig.Showing the inputs to the audio card

Fig. Showing block diagram of WM5102 chip used in Wolfson Pi

It uses WM5102 chip  which is already available in a wide variety of smartphones, tablets, and other portable audio devices, and is already supported by hundreds of applications, says Wolfson. The company is said to have shipped more than two billion audio chips, which are featured in devices such as the Samsung Galaxy line of mobile devices.

Some of the key features which are enabled using this are:

• Play — Play back HD audio files on the Raspberry Pi
• Talk — Build a VoIP conference phone for the PI by hooking up a boom microphone and headset to make hands-free calls
• Record — Record HD audio using any of the microphones or line-in ports, and voice activate projects
• Share — Connect the Pi to the cloud services to stream music around the house, and develop and play multiplayer online games that allow in-game audio via a gaming headset

I am very exited to use this card. I will keep posting updates about it .