LM386 Based Audio Amplifier Circuit

Simple Mic audio amplifier can amplify sound that is given from Microphone. This circuit can be used as “Small mic and loudspeaker system” for a small space like a room. This circuit can also be used in many applications like portable music players, intercoms, radio amplifiers, TV sound systems, Ultrasonic drivers etc. It can also be used as sound sensor for microcontrollers. It is inexpensive, low power operated and only need few components to work. This circuit is based on LM386 IC to amplify sound.

LM386 is a low voltage audio amplifier and frequently used in battery powered music devices like radios, guitars, toys etc. The gain range is 20 to 200, gain is internally set to 20 (without using external component) but can be increased to 200 by using resistor and capacitor between PIN 1 and 8, or just with a capacitor. Voltage gain simply means that Voltage out is 200 times the Voltage IN. LM386 has a wide supply voltage range 4-12v. Below is the Pin diagram of LM386.

Pin description of LM386 is given in the following sections along with the functions of external components used for amplification. So let's start building our simple LM386 based audio amplifier circuit design.

Components Required for LM386 Audio Amplifier Circuit

• IC LM386
• Condensor Mic
• Speaker 8ohm
• Capacitors- 220uF, 10uF (two), 0.1uF, 0.05uF
• Resistor- 10k (two)
• Potentiometer- 100k
• Battery 5-12v

PIN 1 and 8: These are the gain control PINs, internally the gain is set to 20 but it can be increased up to 200 by using a capacitor between PIN 1 and 8. We have used 10uF capacitor C1 to get the highest gain i.e. 200. Gain can be adjusted to any value between 20 to 200 by using proper capacitor.

Pin 2 and 3: These are the input PINs for sound signals. Pin 2 is the negative input terminal, connected to the ground. Pin 3 is the positive input terminal, in which sound signal is fed to be amplified. In our circuit it is connected to the positive terminal of the condenser mic with a 100k potentiometer RV1. Potentiometer acts as volume control knob.

A capacitor C5 of 0.1uF has also been used along with potentiometer, to remove the DC component of input signal and only allow audio (AC component) to be fed into LM386.

Pin 4 and 6: These are the power supply Pins of IC, Pin 6 for is +Vcc and Pin 4 is Ground. The circuit can be powered with voltage between 5-12v.

Pin 5: This is the output PIN, from which we get the amplified sound signal.

The output signal has both AC and DC component, and DC component is undesirable and can’t be fed to Speaker. So to remove this DC component, a capacitor C2 of 220uF has been used. This has the same function as Capacitor C5 (0.1uF) at input side.

Along with this capacitor, a filter circuit of Capacitor C3 (.05uF) and resistor R1 (10k) has been used at the output PIN 5. This filter also called the “Zobel network”, this electronic filter is used to remove the sudden High frequency oscillations or noise.

Pin 7: This is the bypass terminal. It can be left open or can be grounded using a capacitor for stability.

LM386 Audio Amplifier Circuit Diagram 

Below is the schematic diagram given for this LM386 IC based audio amplifier.

Resistor R2 (10k) has been used as a Pull up resistor to connect Condenser mic to the positive supply voltage, to provide the power to the mic. A suitable resistor should be used for proper working of mic, you can look up to datasheet for the value or use a variable resistor and set the proper value.

This LM386 audio amplifier circuit can be also used to record any sound. We just need a 3.5 mm audio plug and a computer with sound recording software. We only need to connect computer’s 3.5mm jack in place of Speaker, using 3.5mm audio plug, and we can easily record our voice or any sound into computer like a professional microphone. [Also check: Simple Audio Amplifier using IC 555]