2 watt Stereo audio amplifier

A general purpose audio power amplifier is a must have for the electronics amateur. It's not a good thing to use your HiFi set for an experiment, when there's a risk of blowing its transistor out. Amplifier for your experiments should be simple in construction, durable, and easy to repair. Also a portable, low power consuming, battery operable one will be suitable. Taking the considerations above, I gave you the PCB design for the TBA820M based amplifier. It is rated for 2 Watts of RMS power output (16W PMPO) but gives even two times more if you cool it well by some tricks. I've been using this circuit for over ten years and personally still surprised by its durability, thinking of how many short circuits and overdrives it is subjected. More: I did not know if TBA820M is still manufactured (my IC's are made by SGS-Thomson), so it may be obsolete in your country and hard to find. But if you find it in a local electronics shop, purchase a dozen, they will worth it. A simplified, scaled down version of this circuit may be used anywhere, where a power amplifier is needed.

Technical datas:

Supply voltage: 3 to 16 Volts
Load impedance: 4 to 16 Ohms
Power output: 2 Watts RMS
Gain: 40 dB (x100)

Here is the PCB design for two channels on it. I tried to make it as small as possible but volume control potentiometer took a lot of space. In a special design, area it's occupied may be omitted. Also usage of high quality small sized capacitors may help you to reduce the circuit size further. You may download this PCB design as a TIFF file which is prepared to be printed at 300 DPI. You may refer to my PCB Design Page for more details on how to create your own PCBs. After the etching process of the PCB, solder all of the components on. Please use IC sockets in order to be able to change TBA820M's if you blow them out somehow. Here is a photo of the completed circuit, ready to serve for years.

The TBA820M audio power amplifier circuit is designed to provide a reliable and efficient solution for audio amplification needs, especially for hobbyists and electronics enthusiasts. The circuit operates within a supply voltage range of 3 to 16 volts, making it versatile for various applications. It is capable of driving load impedances from 4 to 16 ohms, which allows compatibility with a wide range of speakers.

The amplifier delivers a power output of 2 watts RMS, which can be increased under optimal cooling conditions, suggesting that thermal management is a significant factor in achieving enhanced performance. The gain of the amplifier is set at 40 dB (approximately x100), ensuring sufficient amplification for most audio signals.

The PCB design accommodates two channels, making it suitable for stereo applications. While the design prioritizes compactness, the inclusion of a volume control potentiometer necessitates additional space on the board. For applications where size is critical, alternative designs can be considered that may omit the volume control or utilize smaller, high-quality capacitors to further minimize the footprint.

To facilitate maintenance and upgrades, the use of IC sockets for the TBA820M is recommended. This allows for easy replacement in the event of component failure. The provided PCB design is prepared for high-resolution printing at 300 DPI, ensuring precision in the etching process. Following the etching, careful soldering of components is essential to achieve a robust and durable assembly capable of withstanding the rigors of experimental use. The circuit has demonstrated longevity and resilience, making it a valuable addition to any electronics toolkit.A general purpose audio power amplifier is a must have for the electronics amateur. It's not a good thing to use your HiFi set for an experiment, when there's a risk of blowing it's transistor out. Amplifier for your experiments should be simple in construction, durable, and easy to repair. Also a portable, low power consumpting, battery operateable one will be suitable. Taking the considerations above, I gave you the PCB design for the TBA820M based amplifier. It is rated for 2Watts of RMS power output (16W PMPO) but gives even two times more if you cool it well by some tricks.

I've been using this circuit for over ten years and personally still surprised by it's durability, thinking of how many short circuits and overdrives it is subjected. I did not know if TBA820M is still manufactured (my IC's are made by SGS-Thomson), so it may be obsolete in your country and hard to find. But if you find it in a local electronics shop, purchase a dozen, they will worth it. A simplified, scaled down version of this circuit may be used anywhere, where a power amplifier is needed.

Technical datas: Supply voltage : 3 to 16 Volts Load impedance : 4 TO 16 Ohms Power output : 2 Watts RMS Gain : 40 dB (x100) Here is the PCB design for two channels on it. I tried to make it as small as possible but volume control potentiometer took a lot of space. In a special design, area it's occupied may be omitted. Also usage of high quality small sized capacitors may help you to reduce the circuit size further. You may download this PCB design as a TIFF file which is prepared to be printed at 300DPI. You may refer to my PCB Design Page for more details on how to create your own PCB's. After the etching process of the PCB, solder all of the components on. Please use IC sockets in order to be able to change TBA820M's if you blow them out somehow. Here is a photo of the completed circuit, ready to serve for years. 🔗 External reference