SendspinZero-Source with USB host support

[N3WWN]

Hi!

I'm not sure if this is possible with an ESP32, but I have a turntable with built-in USB. It is intended to be plugged into your computer so you can record your vinyl as MP3s or whatever.

My idea is to be able to plug the USB cable into the SendspinZero-Source. The ESP32 would be the host and the turntable would appear as a USB audio device. This way, we can keep the signal path digital as long as possible...

In other words:

A:vinyl -> D:USB ADC in record player -> D:SendspinZero-Source -> D:MusicAssistant -> A:SendspinZero output

versus

A:vinyl -> A:phono out -> A:phono preamp -> A:line out -> D:SendspinZero-Source -> D:MusicAssistant -> A:SendspinZero output

Is that doable?

(This is kind of like #45 , but not on the ESP32-S31)

Thanks!

-Rich

[Hedda]

Also see indirectly related discussion here:

• Could the new ESP32-S31 be a perfect fit for future Sendspin Audio Receivers? - A new MCU SoC platform base for building embedded Sendspin client hardware #45

FYI, this could be possible in the not so distant future because an initial pull request for USB Audio Class (UAC) host support was merged into mainstream ESPHome about two weeks ago so that means experimental support is now in ESPHome 2026.11.0b1 (Beta 1) and should be included in the upcoming ESPHome 2026.11 version scheduled for release before the end of this month.

Sound like it will initially use microphone audio path in ESPHome instead of the Audio ADC Core path which could make it limited:

• https://next.esphome.io/components/microphone/usb_audio/

• https://next.esphome.io/components/speaker/usb_audio/

Check out these links and discussions for more informaiton:

• USB UAC Support esphome/feature-requests#2842

  • [usb_audio] Add USB Audio Class (UAC) host support esphome/esphome#11728

    • [microphone] Pass each audio buffer as an AudioCapture esphome/esphome#21645

      • https://beta.esphome.io/changelog/2026.11.0/

Should also be noted though that (as mentioned in #45 ) only the new ESP32-S31 is the only MCU in the ESP32-series that support USB Audio Class 2.0 which is required for higher bitrate and resolution, as all other ESP32 chips only support USB Audio Class 1.0 (a.k.a. USB Audio Class 1)

• https://itigic.com/usb-audio-class-what-it-is-for-and-where-it-is-used/

• https://addictedtoaudio.com.au/blogs/how-things-work/what-class-is-my-usb-audio

PS: Also be aware that ESP32-S31 is not yet mature or feature complete in mainstream ESPHome, however they are making good progress!

All in all this sounds very promising (pun intended 😉 )

PPS: Off-topic but the ESPHome developer community has recently also begun making progress in Bluetooth A2DP Output and Sink A2DP capabilities which was also mentioned in the ESP32-S31 discussion here -> #45

[Hedda]

Would be very cool if could combine such a setup a DIY soundcard made with Raspberry Pi Pico with DSPi firmware as USB sound card:

• https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/introducing-dspi-a-powerful-user-friendly-and-open-source-dsp-for-less-than-a-cup-of-coffee.69343/

DSPi firmware project also has optional support to use PCM1808 ADC module on Pico 2 (I2S Input) for analogue line-in level input as well:

• https://github.com/WeebLabs/DSPi

Personally l am also looking forward to being able to test connecting inexpensive USB UAC hardware like interface adapters from Behringer which feature both audio output and line-level audio input:

• Behringer UFO202 https://www.behringer.com/en/products/0805-AAF
• Behringer UCA222 (replaces the UCA202) https://www.behringer.com/en/products/0805-AAG
• Behringer UCA202 https://www.behringer.com/en/products/0805-AAC