I would like to request some input on an issue I seem to be facing with this [url="http://www.geeetech.com/wiki/index.php/VS1053_MP3_breakout_board_with_SD_card"]VS1053 based board here[/url]. In a nutshell, I'm working on a home project based on an ESP8266 NodeMCU, which I programmed to stream MP3 real time from internet radio stations, directly to the board I mentioned. After a lot of programming and debugging, the stream now works perfectly and I can listen to it using headphones without issues. When I use the headphones, the sound quality is great and the volume is really loud at the highest setting.
However, this project is not for a headphone, so right now, I'm in the process of moving this thing to a custom radio shell, and I would use a 2.1 Speaker system, with its existing Class D amplifier to play the music. However, when I connect the input jack of sound system (which is the input of the amplifier) to the VS1053 board output, the sound coming from the speaker is barely audible. Even if I turn the pot of the amplifier to the max, I can only hear it clearly if I'm within the same room. Which is a bit weird, since connecting the sound system input to my phone output or a laptop playing some MP3s or pretty much everying else, yields a very clear and loud sound from the same system.
Some other info about the amplifier board: It seems to have a high performance stereo amplifier chip, which is unfortunately covered by a big heatsink, so I don't know the exact type. It also has another amplifier chip (TDA2822), which I can only assume acts as a pre-amp in this circuit. Also, since this is the stock amplifier that was installed in the box of the subwoofer, it is proven to be the correct one for the system. This circuit is powered with 9V.
Things I've tried so far:
- Check power supplies => even with stable and plentiful power, the same issue happens. Power supplies of the sound system (9V) and the NodeMCU / VS1053 (5V, 2A) are completely isolated.
- Briefly connect board GND instead of "GBUF" to the input of the amplifier, along with L/R => sound gets loud, but also VERY distorted and somehwat slowed down (????). To be fair, this confuses me, especially the latter part.
So to sum it up:
Connecting VS1053 to headphones -> clear audio, good loudness.
Connecting VS1053 to 2.1 external amp and speakers -> clear, but barely audible audio.
Connecting any other sound output I know to 2.1 external amp and speakers -> clear and earth-shakingly loud music
Now, I did hear that since the VS1053 is meant to have a headphone output therefore VBUF (+1.23V?) is connected to the SPK jack, along L and R instead of GND. However, could this cause this problem at all? If I understand correctly, it would more likely cause noise/distortion on the output from the speakers, something that I don't seem to have at all. Any pointers on how to fix this problem would be really appreciated... Thanks in advance!
I'll try and reproduce the circuit you refer to and see how that goes.