SpeakerPhat Audio Only

Looking to use SpeakerPhat for audio only (no LEDs) with a Pi Zero W and need to use wires to connect them due to height contraint. What pins are absolutely necessary for this? From the pinout diagram, it looks like:

2: 5V,
12: BCM18,
35: BCM19,
40: BCM21

Is this correct? Does ground need to be connected as well; if so, which?

Correct- if you’re not using the LEDs you might be able to get away with just using physical pin 39 for ground.

Thanks! Will give it a try with just the 5 pins once the SpeakerPhat arrives: 2, 12, 35, 39, 40.

No luck getting audio out. Made sure to use spacer nuts, soldered two wires on, connected pins 2, 12, 35, 39 and 40, installed speakerphat software; even tried secondary ground 9 and stopping pulseaudio. Anything else I might be missing? Is the SpeakerPhat fairly reliable?

Got audio working. Weak solder for one of the speaker contacts. Getting some crackling and popping sounds and will check the board for solutions

A newer Speaker pHAT should have a basic circuit in place to stop popping, try soldering physical pin #17 (the 3.3v pin) and that should clear up the pops. This could also be the source of the crackling. I need to update Pinout.xyz with this pin!