This is a high fidelity external USB Soundcard / USB Headphones project that can be built for your PC or Mac. It is based on the latest PCM2706 IC which functions as a high quality, crystal clear 16-BIT Stereo DAC. It is a single chip digital-to-analog converter that offers two D/A output stereo channels, digital S/PDIF output and requires very few external components. PCM2706 includes integrated USB 1.0 & USB 2.0 compliant interface controller and it is conveniently powered directly from USB connection. PCM2706 is a USB plug-and-play device and does not require any driver installation under Windows XP and Mac OSX.

PCM2706 chip also provides seven functions that are controlled with tactile switches. It provides volume (up / down), Play, Stop, Previous Track & Next Track controls. These functions do not need any software or driver installation and work instantly after connecting PCM2706 to a computer's USB connector.

This project includes double-sided 65 mm x 43 mm PCB layout in the PDF format which you may use to transfer to your printed circuit board. Once you will have PCB ready, soldering PCM2706 chip is not that difficult as it may seem.