Skip to main content

LM386

Low Voltage Audio Power Amplifier

The LM386 is a low voltage audio power amplifier from Texas Instruments. View the full LM386 datasheet below including electrical characteristics, absolute maximum ratings.

Manufacturer

Texas Instruments

Category

Low Voltage Audio Power Amplifier

Overview

Part: LM386 Low Voltage Audio Power Amplifier from Texas Instruments

Type: Low Voltage Audio Power Amplifier

Description: A low voltage audio power amplifier designed for consumer applications, featuring a wide 4–18 V supply range, internally set gain of 20 (adjustable to 200), and up to 1 W output power.

Operating Conditions:

  • Supply voltage: 4–18 V
  • Operating temperature: 0 to 70 °C
  • Speaker Impedance: 4 Ω
  • Analog input voltage: -0.4 to 0.4 V

Absolute Maximum Ratings:

  • Max supply voltage: 22 V (for LM386N-4), 15 V (for LM386N-1/-3, LM386M-1)
  • Max storage temperature: -65 to 150 °C

Key Specs:

  • Quiescent Current: 4 mA (Typ, V S = 6 V, V IN = 0)
  • Output Power: 325 mW (Typ, V S = 6 V, R L = 8 Ω, THD = 10%)
  • Output Power: 1000 mW (Typ, V S = 16 V, R L = 32 Ω, THD = 10%)
  • Voltage Gain: 26 dB (Typ, V S = 6 V, f = 1 kHz, Pins 1 and 8 Open)
  • Voltage Gain: 46 dB (Typ, V S = 6 V, f = 1 kHz, 10 μF from Pin 1 to 8)
  • Bandwidth: 300 kHz (Typ, V S = 6 V, Pins 1 and 8 Open)
  • Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.2% (Typ, V S = 6 V, R L = 8 Ω, POUT = 125mW, f = 1 kHz, Pins 1 and 8 Open)
  • Power Supply Rejection Ratio: 50 dB (Typ, V S = 6 V, f = 1 kHz, CBYPASS = 10 μF)
  • Input Resistance: 50 kΩ (Typ)

Features:

  • Battery Operation
  • Minimum External Parts
  • Wide Supply Voltage Range: 4 V-12 V or 5 V-18 V
  • Low Quiescent Current Drain: 4 mA
  • Voltage Gains from 20 to 200
  • Ground-Referenced Input
  • Self-Centering Output Quiescent Voltage
  • Low Distortion: 0.2% (AV = 20, VS = 6 V, RL = 8 Ω, PO = 125 mW, f = 1 kHz)
  • Available in 8-Pin MSOP Package

Applications:

  • AM-FM Radio Amplifiers
  • Portable Tape Player Amplifiers
  • Intercoms
  • TV Sound Systems
  • Line Drivers
  • Ultrasonic Drivers
  • Small Servo Drivers
  • Power Converters

Package:

  • PDIP (8)
  • SOIC (8)
  • VSSOP (8)

Features

  • Battery Operation
  • Minimum External Parts
  • Wide Supply Voltage Range: 4 V-12 V or 5 V-18 V
  • Low Quiescent Current Drain: 4 mA
  • Voltage Gains from 20 to 200
  • Ground-Referenced Input
  • Self-Centering Output Quiescent Voltage
  • Low Distortion: 0.2% (AV = 20, VS = 6 V, RL = 8 Ω, PO = 125 mW, f = 1 kHz)
  • Available in 8-Pin MSOP Package

Applications

  • AM-FM Radio Amplifiers
  • Portable Tape Player Amplifiers
  • Intercoms
  • TV Sound Systems
  • Line Drivers
  • Ultrasonic Drivers
  • Small Servo Drivers
  • Power Converters

LM386

SNAS545D - MAY 2004 - REVISED AUGUST 2023

Pin Configuration

Figure 5-1. D Package 8-Pin MSOP Top View

Table 5-1. Pin Functions

PINPINTYPE (1)
NAMENO.
GAIN1-
-INPUT2I
+INPUT3I
GND4P
V OUT5O
V S6P
BYPASS7O
GAIN8-

(1) I = Input, O = Output, P = Power

Table 5-1. Pin Functions

Electrical Characteristics

over operating free-air temperature range (unless otherwise noted)

PARAMETERPARAMETERTEST CONDITIONSMINTYPMAXUNIT
V SOperating Supply VoltageLM386N-1, -3, LM386M-1, LM386MM-1412V
V SOperating Supply VoltageLM386N-4518V
I QQuiescent CurrentV S = 6 V, V IN = 048mA
P OUTOutput PowerV S = 6 V, R L = 8 Ω, THD = 10% (LM386N-1, LM386M-1, LM386MM-1)250325mW
P OUTOutput PowerV S = 9 V, R L = 8 Ω, THD = 10% (LM386N-3)500700mW
P OUTOutput PowerV S = 16 V, R L = 32 Ω, THD = 10% (LM386N-4)7001000mW
A VVoltage GainV S = 6 V, f = 1 kHz26dB
A VVoltage Gain10 μF from Pin 1 to 846dB
BWBandwidthV S = 6 V, Pins 1 and 8 Open300kHz
THDTotal Harmonic DistortionV S = 6 V, R L = 8 Ω, POUT = 125mW f = 1 kHz, Pins 1 and 8 Open0.2%
PSRRPower Supply Rejection RatioV S = 6 V, f = 1 kHz, CBYPASS = 10 μF Pins 1 and 8 Open, Referred to Output50dB
R INInput Resistance50
I BIASInput Bias CurrentV S = 6 V, Pins 2 and 3 Open250nA

Absolute Maximum Ratings

over operating free-air temperature range (unless otherwise noted) (1)

MINMAXUNIT
Supply Voltage, V CCLM386N-1/-3, LM386M-115V
Supply Voltage, V CCLM386N-422V
PackageLM386N1.25W
PackageLM386M0.73W
PackageLM386MM-10.595W
Input Voltage, V IInput Voltage, V I-0.40.4V
Storage temperature, T stgStorage temperature, T stg-65150°C

Recommended Operating Conditions

over operating free-air temperature range (unless otherwise noted)

MINNOMMAXUNIT
V CCSupply Voltage412V
V CCLM386N-4518V
Speaker Impedance4Ω
VIAnalog input voltage-0.40.4V
TAOperating free-air temperature070°C

Thermal Information

THERMAL METRIC (1)LM386 D (SOIC)LM386 DGK (VSSOP)LM386 P (PDIP)UNIT
888
R θJAJunction-to-ambient thermal resistance115.7169.353.4°C/W
R θJC(top)Junction-to-case (top) thermal resistance59.773.142.1°C/W
R θJBJunction-to-board thermal resistance56.2100.230.6°C/W
ψ JTJunction-to-top characterization parameter12.49.219°C/W
ψ JBJunction-to-board characterization parameter55.699.150.5°C/W

Typical Application

Below are shown different setups that show how the LM386 can be implemented in a variety of applications.

Data on this page is extracted from publicly available manufacturer datasheets using automated tools including AI. It may contain errors or omissions. Always verify specifications against the official manufacturer datasheet before making design or purchasing decisions. See our Terms of Service. Rights holders can submit a takedown request.

Get structured datasheet data via API

Get started free