I would like to make the speakers MUCH louder than what I've been able to produce so far.
I've taken output from the arduio and run it through a LM386 chip (following the curcuit with the datasheet of the LM386 with the capacitor between pins 1 & 8) and have been able to get the output into the "ok" range. I was hoping a gain of about 200 would about blow out my speaker - but only acheived enough volume that I know the circuit was correct (or close). I've also tried a TDA7267 with about the same results. I would like to get about double the volume that I can get with my 2" speaker.
Should I run the output of the Arduino through an op-amp before the LM386?, or take the output of the LM386 and run it through an op-amp? Or should I maybe look another direction.
In the event you hadn't picked up on the sublet hints from above - I barley know what I'm talking about. So please keep you answers tuned for the simple so I don't have to ask another dumb followup question.
What are you using to power the amps? 5V?
That will limit the power out.
Power = (V^2)/R, so with 8 ohm speaker you can only get ~3W with voltage swinging from 0 to 5V.
You want more power, you need to raise the supply voltage.
Hi,
A simple solution is a set of cheap "computer speakers". Feed the Arduino output pin into both channels. or do two separate signals to two channels??
that's kind of what I thought - but I don't understand how these "cheep pc speakers" which use the same power supply, or my remote doorbell which uses 2 D-size batteries produce much more volume. I think I will have take one apart when my wife is not looking. I will also include a output jack with output to both channels.
What is the sensitivity of your 2" driver? Looking at all the options on mouser, their is a huge range from 80dB up to 92dB. That would make a big difference in the loudness.
