• Audio Brick Dual DAC prototype

    andriy.malyshenko • 3 hours ago • 0 comments

    I just got my hands on the new Audio Brick prototype, which is the first in the ESP32 family that has two DACs on the board.

    Both DACs use the same I2S bus, so they are exposed as a single device to the application, but having the second DAC has its benefits. The main motivation for this change is to allow flexible configuration based on specific project needs, since each of the 4 channels allows precise filter configuration. This makes possible

    • 2x full-size speakers with EQ correction + more powerful subwoofer channel with filter and gain settings
    • 4x speakers with individual EQ and gain settings to create audio imaging effects
    • Each DAC drives a single channel with double the power
    • Each DAC drivers single speaker in a bi-amp configuration and individual speaker filter settings
    • Both DACs drive a 4-way system with precise high-, low-, and bandpass filters

    At the moment, it will only work with ESPHome/Home Assistant, since no other software I know of would handle two DACs. Therefore, only the ESP32-S3 version is planned.

    Among other improvements, I added a small software-fan connector, so you can gradually switch it on through software if the DAC reports overheating (although it is not easy to achieve with 90% efficiency), and also read back the fan speed.

    Also, I replaced the OLED connector with TFT, looking at the latest changes in the Sendspin component, which allow sending album art and track position information to the device.

    I’m currently in the middle of testing it with the ESPHome component, and will provide a more detailed demonstration later on.

    Availability? I’m planning to launch the dual DAc version together with the standard version, as soon as all Crowd Supply orders are delivered, hopefully in July at the latest.

    Let me know if you’re interested in beta testing!

  • The new Esparagus Audio Brick project is now heading to Crowd Supply!

    andriy.malyshenko • 10/28/2025 at 13:59 • 0 comments

    It’s the next step in the Esparagus Audio Brick - a DIN-rail-mountable, hi-fi audio board built around ESP32 and TAS5825M DAC that integrates perfectly with Home Assistant and ESPHome - Crowd Supply campaign is about to launch.

    If you like what we’ve been building so far, now’s the time to help spread the word — share the campaign page, mention it in your communities, and let others know that open-source audio is moving forward.

    Pre-launch page: https://www.crowdsupply.com/sonocotta/esparagus-audio-brick

    Thanks to everyone who contributed ideas, tested firmware, or helped shape the project so far. This one really grew from the community.

  • Youtube overview of the Brick

    andriy.malyshenko • 10/18/2025 at 12:28 • 0 comments

    Just put together an overview of the Esparagus Audio Brick, a little bit of background, hardware and software overview.

  • Why I Built the Audio Brick

    andriy.malyshenko • 09/09/2025 at 11:22 • 0 comments

    A few years back I was hunting for a reasonably priced I²S DAC with amplified output that could work with an ESP32. There were plenty of DIY projects floating around — usually a dev board wired to an Adafruit module or some random breakout — but after the tenth time re-doing jumper wires and being stuck with a 5 W USB power ceiling, it stopped being fun.

    That led me to the TAS5805M. It was inexpensive, could push way more power than I needed (20–25 W per channel), and the simplest driver fit in a screen of code. I slapped one on a custom board, and suddenly I had a clean, compact ESP32 audio setup that could actually drive real speakers. From there, I retrofitted an old radio, made an internet streaming box, and spun off a bunch of one-off audio toys.

    Fast forward a few iterations: I had the Louder-ESP and Louder Esparagus boards, plus Raspberry Pi hats, and eventually stumbled on the squeezelite-esp32 project. That opened the door to Bluetooth, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and multiroom audio — all running on ESP32. Around the same time, folks in the community suggested integration with Home Assistant and Music Assistant, and that turned out to be a game-changer. Suddenly, automations like “play the morning radio when the kitchen lights turn on” just worked.

    Somewhere along the way, I realized there were still DSP features hidden inside the DAC that weren’t being used. With some custom drivers and later a full ESPHome component port, we unlocked a 15-band EQ, automatic fault handling, and proper gain control. That made the whole thing not just usable, but tunable — you can actually match your amp to your speakers like you’d expect from expensive commercial gear.

    That brings us to today: the Esparagus Audio Brick. It’s compact, DIN-rail mountable, and powers two audio channels each. You can run it stereo, mono, bi-amp, or as a dedicated sub channel, then add more Bricks until your house sings. It supports Home Assistant (Music Assistant, Snapcast, LMS protocol), gets OTA updates, and stays fully open-source.

    I see it as the missing piece between hacky ESP32 dev board setups and overpriced closed-system solutions. It’s built to be hacked, but also solid enough to deploy permanently.