Designing PCB footprint / integration for PAM8403 miniature digital amplifier board

[kill moran]

Hello DipTrace community,

I’m currently working on a small audio project and planning to include the PAM8403 miniature digital amplifier board (from EasyElecModule) as the audio amplification module.
Here is the product link for reference:
https://easyelecmodule.com/miniature-di ... d-pam8403/

My goal is to design a custom PCB that hosts this module (or integrates its functionality) and interfaces cleanly with my audio signals, power supply, and speakers. I’d like to ask for advice, tips, or existing footprints / library components people might already have for this module.

What I have / plan so far

The PAM8403 board is small (≈22 mm × 18 mm as given by the vendor) and operates from ~2.5 V to 5.5 V.
easyelecmodule

It has pins: VCC, GND, L_IN, R_IN, L_OUT+, L_OUT–, R_OUT+, R_OUT–.
easyelecmodule

I plan to power it via 5 V (USB or regulator) and feed audio from a microcontroller or audio source.

I want to embed it in a compact enclosure, so fitting its footprint accurately is important.

What I need / questions

Footprint / library component availability

Does anyone already have a DipTrace component or footprint for the PAM8403 board (as a module)?

If not, what is the best practice to create a module footprint (through-hole / surface pads) that matches the board?

Should I treat the amplifier board as a “daughter-board” and place it via mounting holes / headers, or integrate its circuit fully into my main board?

Layout and routing tips

How to route signal traces (audio in, audio out) to minimize noise / interference, especially around the switching parts of the amplifier?

Should I separate analog and digital ground, or use star ground, etc.?

Any recommendations on decoupling capacitors, filtering, or power supply layout when using the PAM8403?

Thermal / mechanical considerations

Though the PAM8403 is efficient (class D) and may not produce much heat under moderate loads, are there special layout practices to help thermal dissipation or reduce interference?

For tight spaces, is it acceptable to place it directly on my PCB (i.e. replicate its schematic) instead of using the prebuilt module?

Integration & performance trade-offs

Would integrating the amplifier chip directly (rather than using the module) yield benefits (size, performance)?

Are there pitfalls or performance issues people have faced when embedding such amplifier modules into custom PCBs?

Validation / testing tips

Any tips on how to validate that the footprint and wiring are correct before powering up (especially to avoid shorting or damaging the amplifier)?

What test signals / methods are good to check distortion, stability, noise in such a setup?

If you already have tried embedding a PAM8403 (or similar class-D amplifier) in DipTrace or in your projects, I’d be grateful for any shared footprints, layout examples, or lessons learned.

Thank you in advance!