element14 Community
element14 Community
    Register Log In
  • Site
  • Search
  • Log In Register
  • Community Hub
    Community Hub
    • What's New on element14
    • Feedback and Support
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Personal Blogs
    • Members Area
    • Achievement Levels
  • Learn
    Learn
    • Ask an Expert
    • eBooks
    • element14 presents
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Spotlight
    • STEM Academy
    • Webinars, Training and Events
    • Learning Groups
  • Technologies
    Technologies
    • 3D Printing
    • FPGA
    • Industrial Automation
    • Internet of Things
    • Power & Energy
    • Sensors
    • Technology Groups
  • Challenges & Projects
    Challenges & Projects
    • Design Challenges
    • element14 presents Projects
    • Project14
    • Arduino Projects
    • Raspberry Pi Projects
    • Project Groups
  • Products
    Products
    • Arduino
    • Avnet & Tria Boards Community
    • Dev Tools
    • Manufacturers
    • Multicomp Pro
    • Product Groups
    • Raspberry Pi
    • RoadTests & Reviews
  • About Us
  • Store
    Store
    • Visit Your Store
    • Choose another store...
      • Europe
      •  Austria (German)
      •  Belgium (Dutch, French)
      •  Bulgaria (Bulgarian)
      •  Czech Republic (Czech)
      •  Denmark (Danish)
      •  Estonia (Estonian)
      •  Finland (Finnish)
      •  France (French)
      •  Germany (German)
      •  Hungary (Hungarian)
      •  Ireland
      •  Israel
      •  Italy (Italian)
      •  Latvia (Latvian)
      •  
      •  Lithuania (Lithuanian)
      •  Netherlands (Dutch)
      •  Norway (Norwegian)
      •  Poland (Polish)
      •  Portugal (Portuguese)
      •  Romania (Romanian)
      •  Russia (Russian)
      •  Slovakia (Slovak)
      •  Slovenia (Slovenian)
      •  Spain (Spanish)
      •  Sweden (Swedish)
      •  Switzerland(German, French)
      •  Turkey (Turkish)
      •  United Kingdom
      • Asia Pacific
      •  Australia
      •  China
      •  Hong Kong
      •  India
      • Japan
      •  Korea (Korean)
      •  Malaysia
      •  New Zealand
      •  Philippines
      •  Singapore
      •  Taiwan
      •  Thailand (Thai)
      • Vietnam
      • Americas
      •  Brazil (Portuguese)
      •  Canada
      •  Mexico (Spanish)
      •  United States
      Can't find the country/region you're looking for? Visit our export site or find a local distributor.
  • Translate
  • Profile
  • Settings
Experts, Learning and Guidance
  • Technologies
  • More
Experts, Learning and Guidance
Ask an Expert Forum Help selecting an amplifier IC
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • Documents
  • Leaderboard
  • Files
  • Members
  • Mentions
  • Sub-Groups
  • Tags
  • More
  • Cancel
  • New
Join Experts, Learning and Guidance to participate - click to join for free!
Actions
  • Share
  • More
  • Cancel
Forum Thread Details
  • Replies 28 replies
  • Subscribers 306 subscribers
  • Views 4072 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related
See a helpful answer?

Be sure to click 'more' and select 'suggest as answer'!

If you're the thread creator, be sure to click 'more' then 'Verify as Answer'!

Help selecting an amplifier IC

jimmy5893
jimmy5893 over 5 years ago

I am working on a project with 2 other classmates of mine. We are using the analog devices ADAU1701 DSP to process audio from a device using a 3.5 mm jack. We are not using the development board, so we need to find an amplifier IC. I am looking for an IC that can provide enough power for most headphones. I have seen all sorts of numbers floating around so I am confused about what would be appropriate. The supply voltage to the IC is 8V DC max. It also can't be too hard to solder on to a PCB. I could use some help.

 

I initially was looking at TI for chips and I noticed that a lot of their "hi-fi" chips only output 0.1w or less at 16 or 32 ohms. This confused me because I have a dedicated amp (liquid spark) for my planar magnetic headphones which is a Fostex T60rp (modded), and it outputs 1.3W at 50 ohms. Some other forums said that 1 to 2 milliwatts are enough because most headphones have a sensitivity of 90-115 dB/mW. 

  • Sign in to reply
  • Cancel

Top Replies

  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 5 years ago +4
    Hi Jimmy, I recently ordered in a couple of these and found them to work pretty good: https://www.ebay.com/itm/LM386-MINI-Mono-Amplifier-Module-3V-12V-US-Seller-Fast-Shipping/111745624072?ssPageName=STRK…
  • shabaz
    shabaz over 5 years ago +4
    Hi Jimmy, A few milliwatts or low tens of milliwatts is sufficient for typical headphones or earphones. Mobile phones only output a few tens of mW to the headphone socket, and that's good enough for typical…
  • jimmy5893
    jimmy5893 over 5 years ago in reply to jw0752 +2
    Thank you, I will look into it. From the data sheet of the LM386, it can provide 325mW at 6V. So is an amplifier chip that has between 100mW and 500mW adequate for most headphones? One other thing is that…
Parents
  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 5 years ago

    Hi Jimmy,

     

    I recently ordered in a couple of these and found them to work pretty good:

     

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/LM386-MINI-Mono-Amplifier-Module-3V-12V-US-Seller-Fast-Shipping/111745624072?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

     

    The jack in the illustration is actually the input. The speaker is output on a couple header pins. If you are talking stereo you would have to use two of the boards. I don't know if you are suppose to build the amp yourself but in either case the LM386 is pretty widely used for low power headphone applications.

     

    John

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +4 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Cancel
Reply
  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 5 years ago

    Hi Jimmy,

     

    I recently ordered in a couple of these and found them to work pretty good:

     

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/LM386-MINI-Mono-Amplifier-Module-3V-12V-US-Seller-Fast-Shipping/111745624072?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

     

    The jack in the illustration is actually the input. The speaker is output on a couple header pins. If you are talking stereo you would have to use two of the boards. I don't know if you are suppose to build the amp yourself but in either case the LM386 is pretty widely used for low power headphone applications.

     

    John

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +4 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Cancel
Children
  • jimmy5893
    jimmy5893 over 5 years ago in reply to jw0752

    Thank you, I will look into it. From the data sheet of the LM386, it can provide 325mW at 6V. So is an amplifier chip that has between 100mW and 500mW adequate for most headphones?

     

    One other thing is that I'm not sure If I can use that module, only because we are making our own PCB. I'm not sure how to attach the module. Unless I can?

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +2 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Cancel
element14 Community

element14 is the first online community specifically for engineers. Connect with your peers and get expert answers to your questions.

  • Members
  • Learn
  • Technologies
  • Challenges & Projects
  • Products
  • Store
  • About Us
  • Feedback & Support
  • FAQs
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal and Copyright Notices
  • Sitemap
  • Cookies

An Avnet Company © 2025 Premier Farnell Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Premier Farnell Ltd, registered in England and Wales (no 00876412), registered office: Farnell House, Forge Lane, Leeds LS12 2NE.

ICP 备案号 10220084.

Follow element14

  • X
  • Facebook
  • linkedin
  • YouTube