Hi guys,

today is my long-awaited SOLDERING DAY! I received the PCBs last weekend and today I received all the components from DigiKey (the only international distributor that sells AKM parts, AFAIK)!

Here's the package:

Here's the content:

You may see that I already cataloged the bags with the names of the components name in the schematic/layout.

And here's the PCB:

FRONT

BACK

You can see that the text near the pinouts is too small, names like SDA/SCL are quite visible but some other that are more complicated (MCLK, BICK, etc) are not that readable.

I also made some little "mistakes"; I'd actually call them "components mis-selection" rather than mistakes. The thing is that I read on the interwebz that bipolarized capacitors are better for AC coupling audio applications, so I wanted to buy bipolarized aluminum electrolyic caps for inputs and outputs couplings.

I placed 4mm diameter 10 uF caps packages for the inputs, and 3mm diameter 1 uF caps packages for the outputs, but I could only find 5mm diameter 1 uF BIPOLAR caps, while I managed to find 4mm 10 uF bipolars. So, in the end, I'll use bipolar caps on the inputs and standard caps for the outputs. Next revision will host 5mm diameter caps on both inputs and outputs because the "audio grade" nichicon bipolar caps can be found in that size only.

Revision 2 TO DO list:

• Change input/output AC coupling caps package to host bigger (5mm) bipolar caps
• Increase pinout silkscreen text size to be readable

If I detect any error (I really hope not) after the first prototype has been built I'll report everything here.

I'll spend my free time at work to lay down an API to use the AK4558 with the Teensy Audio Library.

Stay tuned,

Mick