Final

 Design  Report  
EEL  4924  Electrical  Engineering  Design  

Wireless  Speakers  
 

Team  Members:  

Lawrence  Pham       lpham6@ufl.edu  

Baotung  Tran       baotung@ufl.edu  

Project  Abstract  
Our  project  is  to  design  and  construct  a  2.4  GHz  wireless  system,  to  transmit  stereo  audio  from  a  
3.5  mm  jack  to  play  on  a  pair  of  speakers.  The  transmitter  will  convert  the  audio  from  analog  to  digital  
with   an   Analog-­‐to-­‐Digital   Converter   (ADC)   and   transmit   this   digital   data   via   a   2.4GHz   transmitter.   The  
receiver  will  receive  the  digital  data  with  minimal  loss,  and  reconstruct  the  analog  signal  with  a  Digital-­‐
to-­‐Analog   Converter   (DAC).   The   receiver   will   pass   this   audio   signal   through   an   audio   equalizer   to   control  
the  frequency  response  of  the  low,  mid  and  high  bands.  A  power  amplifier  will  then  be  used  to  amplify  
the   audio   signal   and   play   it   though   passive   speakers.   The   project   will   also   include   an   audio   visualizer  
synchronized  with  the  audio  signal.  The  audio  visualizer  will  be  controlled  via  bandpass  filters  in  series  
with  peak  detectors  for  each  band  of  the  audio  visualizer.  The  receiver  system  will  be  stationary  while  
the  transmitter  will  be  aimed  for  portability.  

   
Table  of  Contents  
Project  Abstract  ............................................................................................................................................  1  
Project  Features/Objective  ..........................................................................................................................  3  
System  Overview  ..........................................................................................................................................  4  
Schematics  .................................................................................................................................................  10  
Project  Responsibilities  ..............................................................................................................................  15  
Projected  Timeline  .....................................................................................................................................  15  
Conclusion  ..................................................................................................................................................  16  
Future  Work  ...............................................................................................................................................  16  
 

List  of  Tables  and  Figures  

   

Figure  1  -­‐  Transmitter  Design  .......................................................................................................................  4  

Figure  2  -­‐  Overall  receiver  design  .................................................................................................................  5  

Figure  3  -­‐  Visualizer  Design  ..........................................................................................................................  8  

Figure  4  -­‐  Voltage  Regulator  Schematic  .....................................................................................................  10  

Figure  5  -­‐  Wireless  Schematic  ....................................................................................................................  10  

Figure  6  -­‐  Audio  Codec  ...............................................................................................................................  11  

Figure  7  -­‐  Equalizer  Schematic  ...................................................................................................................  12  

Figure  8  -­‐  Power  Amplifier  .........................................................................................................................  13  

Figure  9  -­‐  Audio  Visualizer  ..........................................................................................................................  14  

Figure  10  -­‐  Project  Responsibilities  ............................................................................................................  15  

Figure  11  -­‐  Gnatt  Chart  ...............................................................................................................................  15  

 
  

Project  Features/Objective  
The  purpose  of  this  project  is  to  allow  the  wireless  transmission  of  stereo  audio  from  a  3.5mm  
source,  (ie.  mp3  player,  phone,  computer,  etc)  to  a  pair  of  passive  speakers.  This  project  will  also  include  
an   audio   equalizer   to   boost/cut   low,   mid,   and   high   bands   of   the   audio   to   match   the   frequency   response  
of  the  speakers,  and  the  user’s  personal  tastes  at  the  receiver.  The  receiver  end  of  the  wireless  speakers  
will   also   include   an   audio   visualizer   rendered   in   real   time   and   synchronized   with   the   audio   played  
through  the  speakers.  

The  main  objectives  for  this  project  are:  

- Effectively   transmit   and   receive   high   quality   audio   (128   kbps)   from   a   3.5mm   jack   and   play  
through  speakers  wirelessly  
- Low  power  transmitter  so  that  it  can  be  powered  with  9V  battery  and  be  small  and  portable  
- Design  an  audio  equalizer  that  can  weaken  and  strengthen  low,  mid  and  high  frequency  bands  
by   at   least   +/-­‐10   dB,   by   passing   the   audio   signal   through   3   parallel   active   filters   and   then   a  
summer  to  restore  the  audio  signal.  
- Produce  enough  power  to  speakers  to  have  “loud”  music  while  limiting  noise  and  distortion  
- Design  an  audio  visualizer  that  will  be  controlled  by  the  MSP430  using  analog  band  pass  filters  
and  peak  detectors.  
 

 
  

System  Overview  
The  system  will  first  convert  the  analog  music  to  digital  using  a  stereo  audio  codec  
(TLV320AIC3204).  This  data  will  be  transmitted  wirelessly  to  the  receiver.  The  receiver  will  then  convert  
the  digital  data  back  to  an  analog  signal.  The  low,  mid  and  high  frequencies  will  be  adjusted  by  a  3  band  
equalizer  and  passed  in  parallel  to  the  power  amplifier  and  visualizer,  so  that  adjustments  in  the  audio  
can  be  heard  and  seen  simultaneously.  

Transmitter

Low  Noise  Voltage  

Device  with  3.5  mm  jack Regulator

ADC  (Stereo) Transmitter  Module Range  Extender

TLV320AIC3101 CC8520 CC2590

F IGURE   1   -­‐   T RANSMITTER   D ESIGN  

 
 Receiver

Bass,  Mid,  Treble  

Low  Noise  Voltage   Control
Regulator

Range  Extender Receiver  Module DAC  (Stereo)

Audio  Equalizer
CC2590 CC8520 TLV320AIC3204

Power  Amplifier

Speakers

MSP430
Audio  
Visualizer

F IGURE   2   -­‐   O VERALL  RECEIVER  DESIGN  

   

Wireless  Link:  

The  wireless  link  between  the  transmitter  and  receiver  will  use  Texas  Instrument’s  
PurePath  Wireless  Audio  Solution.  The  transmitter  and  receiver  will  use  TI’s  CC8520  
System-­‐on-­‐a-­‐Chip  (SoC)  to  stream  stereo  audio  to  speakers.  Other  possible  solutions  to  
wireless  stream  audio  are  Nordic  Semiconductor’s  nRF24Z1  or  Xbee  RF  modules.  The  TI  
solution  was  chosen  based  on  its  higher  range  and  faster  streaming  capabilities.  

Pros:    

• Faster  streaming  rate  

•  Has  an  longer  range  with  increased  transmit  power  and  sensitivity  from  FEM  
• Made  for  streaming  audio  –  frequency  hopping,    bit  error  correction,  coexistence  with  other  2.4  
GHz  standards  
•  Can  operate  autonomously  –  lower  cost  and  less  real  estate  on  board  design    
The  CC8520  can  communicate  through  SPI  or  I2C  to  the  stereo  audio  codec,  ADC/DAC,  (TLV320AIC3204)  
and  generate  the  clocks  for  the  I2S  protocol  to  stream  the  audio.  

ADC/DAC  

The  TLV320AIC3204  is  used  to  convert  the  audio  into  digital  and  back  again.  The  audio  codec  also  has  a  
built  in  headphone  amplifier,  so  we  can  use  this  to  create  an  extra  pair  of  wireless  headsets.  

The  audio  codec  uses  the  I2S  protocol  to  transfer  the  music  signal.  The  left  channel  is  sent  on  the  low  of  
the  WCLK  and  the  right  channel  is  sent  on  the  high  of  the  WCLK.  

The  TL1936A-­‐33  is  used  as  the  voltage  regulator  for  both  the  transmitter  and  receiver.  The  low  noise  
and  ability  to  use  a  high  input  voltage  (+20V)  is  needed,  because  the  power  amplifier    requires  a  large  
voltage.  

  Audio  Amplifier:  

The  audio  amplifier  is  constructed  using  a  chip  amplifier.  The  chip  amplifier  produces  the  best  sound  per  
area.  The  goals  of  the  amplifier  are  to  provide  sufficient  power  to  8  ohm  speakers.      

• TDA  1517    
o Pros:  Simplicity  (few  external  components),  single  rail  low  power  
requirement,  small  heat  sink  requirement,  reasonably  low  THD    
o Cons:  Little  flexibility,  low  power  output  (6W),  high  THD  at  max  output  
The  layout  of  the  audio  amplifier  required  special  attention  to  the  signal  paths  and  the  grounding,  noise  
can  be  easily  introduced.  

Audio  Equalizer  

The  audio  equalizer  is    made  with  active  bandpass  filters  and  a  summer  to  
boost/cut  the  low,  mid,  and  high  frequencies.  There  is  an  input  buffer  to  
increase  the  stability  and  the  boost/cut  is  adjusted  with  a  potentiometer  
(knob).  The  rotational  potentiometer  is  chosen  because  it  will  give  a  more  
intuitive  feel  for  adjusting  the  frequencies  and  seeing  them  on  the  
visualizer  versus  a  digital  one  with  buttons.  A  sliding  potentiometer  was  
also  considered,  but  it  is  redundant  with  the  visualizer.    

Audio  Visualizer  

The  audio  visualizer  design  will  not  consist  of  a  LCD  but  a  7  column  LED  panel.  We  plan  on  using  the  
MSGEQ7  IC,  which  detects  peaks  of  7  different  frequency  bands  and  outputs  a  DC  representation  of  the  
amplitude  to  a  multiplexer  that  is  strobed.  We  used  the  MSP430  to  send  the  strobe  and  reset  signals  to  
the  MSGEQ7.  We  then  used  the  MSP430  to  trigger  darlington  pairs  to  turn  on  different  LED  drivers  at  
different  times  to  display  each  band.  Below  is  a  overview  of  the  design.    

 
  

F IGURE   3   -­‐   V ISUALIZER   D ESIGN  

The  main  gripe  that  we  had  about  the  visualizer  design  was  how  we  were  turning  on  the  LEDS.  
I  would  of  liked  to  use  the  darlington  pair  array  to  turn  on  certain  LED  segments  each  clock,  but  the  
LED  drivers  were  diretly  connected  to  the  anodes  of  the  LEDs,  which  made  it  impossible  to  turn  on  the  
LED  segments  individually.  Therefore,  we  had  to  turn  on  the  LED  drivers  individually,  which  added  an  
extra  6  ICs  to  the  schematics.  This  design  was  very  inefficient  and  drew  a  lot  more  current.  There  was  
also  additional  leakage  current  which  made  the  LED  segments  flicker  quite  a  bit.  Overall  though,  the  
performance  of  the  visualizer  worked  out  well,  and  displayed  all  the  frequencies  correctly.  

MSGEQ7:  

 
  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Schematics  

 
F IGURE   4   -­‐   V OLTAGE   R EGULATOR   S CHEMATIC  

 
VCC
VCC

R1 *
Res1 19 28
10k GND GND
18 27
GND GND
17
D1 VCC
16 26
LED0 VBAT AD2
SCL 15 25 DIN
SCL AD1
SDA 14 24 DOUT
SDA AD0
13 23 WCLK
GPIO12 WCLK
12 22 BCLK
GPIO13 BCLK
11 21 MCLK
PAEN MCLK
10 20
EN RSTN
VCC
GND GND
XANTN
XANTP

GPIO1
GPIO2
GPIO3
MOSI
SCLK

MISO

VCC R3
CSN

Res3
P1 1K
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

1 2
3 4 CC8520 Module
CSN SCLK RSTN
5 6
RSTN MOSI
7 8
MISO
MOSI
SCLK
MISO

9 10
CSN

RST

Prog

GND

 
F IGURE   5   -­‐   W IRELESS   S CHEMATIC  
 VCC

C1 C2 Cio

DOUT
Cap SemiCap SemiCap Semi

DIN
10u 1u .1u

WCLK
MCLK
BCLK

DOUT/MFP2

SCLK/MFP3
DIN/MFP2
GND

OVIDD
IOVSS
WCLK
MCLK
BCLK
VCC
VCC

AUDIO CODEC scl_pup

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
VCC VCC Res3 sda_pup
10K Res3
32 9 10K SCL
GPIO/MFP5 SCL/SSZ
RST 31 10 SDA
/RESET SDA/MOSI
30 11
LDOSELECT MISO/MFP4
29 12 C4
DVDD SPI_SELECT
28 13 IN_L
DVSS IN1_L
27 14
HPR IN1_R Cap Semi
26 15
LDOIN IN1_L 1u
25 16
HPL IN2_R
C5 C6
Cap Semi
Cap Semi
MICBIAS

10uF 1u C7
IN3_R
IN3_L
AVdd

AVss

IN_R
LOR
LOL

REF
HP_R
HP_L

Cap Semi
DVDD_C 1u
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17

Cap Semi tlv3204

10u

CAvdd C9 REF_C GND

Cap Semi Cap Semi Cap Semi
10u 1u 100pF
R or L
Res3
0
GND GND
GND SGND GND
GND

F IGURE   6   -­‐   A UDIO   C ODEC  

  

 
F IGURE   7   -­‐   E QUALIZER   S CHEMATIC  

P9  IS   NOT  A  HEADER  SCHEM  PART ,  ITS  OWN  CUSTOM  MADE  SCHEM  PART  
  

EQ_OUT1

low1
Volume Control C1
100k

Cap2 TDA1517
22u
1
2 C2
3
4 Cap2 VCC
5 2200u
S_GND
6
7
8 C3 C4
EQ_OUT2
9 C5 C6 Cap2 Cap2
low1 VCC TDA 1517 Cap2 Cap2 100u 1u
Volume ControlC72 GND S_GND 1000u 1000u
100k GND GND
S?
Cap2
22u SW-PB
C8 GND GND
Cap2
10u
LS? LS?
S_GND Speaker Speaker
GND
 
F IGURE   8   -­‐   P OWER   A MPLIFIER  
  
F IGURE   9   -­‐   A UDIO   V ISUALIZER  

   
Project  Responsibilities  
The  following  breaks  down  project  responsibilities  for  the  team.  

  Lawrence  Pham   Baotung  Tran  

PCB  Design   70%   30%  
Audio  Amplifier   80%   20%  
Audio  Equalizer   70%   30%  
Audio  Visualizer   20%   80%  
Assembly  and  Construction   50%   50%  
Testing  and  Debugging   50%   50%  
Housing   20%   80%  
 

F IGURE   10   -­‐   P ROJECT   R ESPONSIBILITIES  

Projected  Timeline  
The  following  is  a  tentative  schedule  for  the  project  

F IGURE   11   -­‐   G NATT   C HART    

 Cost  of  Project  
The  total  cost  of  the  materials  of  the  project  is  50  dollars.    
- LEDs:  5  dollars  

- RF  Module:  5  dollars  
- Housing:  10  dollars  
- Amplifier/OpAmps:  5  dollars  
- Discrete  Components  (R,C,etc)  :  15  dollars  

Conclusion  
 

•Project  completed  successfully  

•Not  very  user  friendly,  need  to  adjust  volume  on  both  amplifier  and  audio  source  
accordingly  

•Equalizer  is  spotty,  need  to  adjust  design  

•Extra  boards  (old)+  headphone  amplifier  so  also  have  wireless  headphones  
(extra  boards  have  a  small  spur  problem  so  a  little  bit  extra  noise)  

•Visualizer  has  some  leakage  current  going  from  breadboard  to  pcb.  Slight  dim  of  
LEDs  that  are  not  supposed  to  be  on.    

Future  Work  
 

•Use  of  CC853X  for  2.1  or  quadrophonic  audio  streaming    

•Use  CC2591  (FEM)  to  increase  sensitivity  and  range    

•Use  of  differential  line  audio  output  on  TLV320AIC3204  

•Use  rechargeable  Lithium  Ion  batteries  

•4  layer  pcb  design  with  better  layout  and  use  of  audio  detect  pins  
•Use  of  different  method  for  driving  LEDs.  Very  inefficient  the  way  the  design  is  
currently  implemented.