Need a small audio amplifier recomendation.

norton9478

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I am certain this has been asked before but:

I need to amply line level audio to speaker level for an arcade application I am working on. It can be mono or stereo.

In the past, I always just took apart self powered computer speakers. But this time I need a smaller footprint. Something smaller than 2"x@2" with low clearance.

The potentiometer will be mounted externally, so that's not an issue with space.

Does anybody have any recommendations with a pre-assembled item or Kit?

Does anybody have any recommendations on a chipset?

I was looking at the following:

LM386N-3-ND
http://www.national.com/ds/LM/LM386.pdf

It's rated at 8 ohm... Can I use it with 4 ohm speakers? Should I just put a 3 watt, 4 ohm resistor in line with the speaker?

Any help would be great.
 
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The company I buy some of my PIC development gear from has lots of little accessory boards available. One of them is a small audio amp based on the LM386. I have not used this one, but what is nice is that they provide schematics for the boards.

http://www.mikroe.com/en/tools/audioamp/

They have a distributor in the US if you end up wanting to buy the built board from them, but it is $18 and you could probably build one easy enough. I have no idea how loud this thing will go, etc. You could always throw one together on a proto board to play with it.
 
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if removed from its aliminum frame a old mr do amp would work well..

ive also used these in the past but quality is krap.. youll almost always have to recap it right after installation as the caps trend to blow up upon powerup...***have not bought form this seller, those look like nichicon caps and its prebhably a good amp**
http://cgi.ebay.com/Arcade-Mame-Mon...mQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_15?hash=item2ea95070e3

somewhere somepklace i do have a nos mr do amp and one of those cheapie amps thats bee recapped with good used caps but it would take me awhile to find em
 
The LM386 makes a great headphone amp, or even small portable amp. But I think I'd want something a little beefier for an arcade project.

How much are you looking to spend? How hi-fi? How loud?
 
just enough to power arcade speakers....

I do not even need them to be as loud as "Arcade" level.

Since it will be in my home.
 
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