I have been an observer of the PICLIST for many months whilst working on
my first PIC project, and am now seeking some help ...

I am wanting to use a 16C84 to provide volume control to a simple audio
amplifier (microphone input, speaker output).

I already have the 16C84 connected to an LCD driver using an I2C (IIC)
bus, and an elegant solution seems to be to use an I2C audio preamp.

I have a list of some possible devices (from an I2C databook):

        TDA 8405
        TDA 8420        *
        TDA 8421
        TDA 8425        *
        TEA 6100
        TEA 6300
        TEA 6310T

The trouble now is finding a (UK) supplier. Some of these devices have far
more functions than I need (I only want [mono] volume control!).
The only one I have managed to locate is the TEA 6300 (which has many
features and a large price tag [8 pounds]). The *'d items are the
simplest, most suitable and hopefully cheapest [around 2 pounds?].

Does anyone know where (in the UK) I could get these?

Alternatively, can anyone suggest any other methods for providing volume
control?

I thought of using an I2C DAC and using a voltage-controlled amplifier.
I have very limited I/O left on the 16C84 (only 1 or 2 pins) so I2C is
preferable (already implemented).
If (as I suspect) anyone has already come up with a solution to this
problem their advice will be greatly appreciated.

(Volume control can be fairly crude, say minimum 8 levels (3bit), with
muting option preferable)

Thanks,

Richard Smith
Cambridge, UK