Overall Summary - The LM386 is a convenient, easy to use, low cost, medium power audio amplifier IC but with limited performance.
 | Low Component Count Audio Power Amplifier IC. |
| Limited Output Voltage Swing Disadvantage - Only 6.5 Vp-p (Optimum would be 12 Vp-p) for Vs = +12 V into an 8 Ohm load. |
| Maximum Output Power = 800 mW (under these conditions) but at 10% distortion (clipping). Linear output requires Pout < 600 mW. |
| Note that this IC can generate AM interference (EMI) without suitable precautions. |
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The series RC network (0.05 µF capacitor and 10 Ohm resistor) is usually adequate to ensure RF stability, but additional measures may be needed (ferrite bead) if this Audio Power IC is used with low RF frequency applications such as AM (medium wave) radios.
Note: For a sine wave signal, the power Pout dissipated in a resistive load RL is equal to Pout = Vp2 // / [ 2 × RL] where Vp = ½ × Vp-p.
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