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Unleashing The LM386
Unleashing The LM386
Av ,1 =
2 Z 15
150 + Z 18
Here Z1-5 and Z1-8 are the impedances between the respective pins. This equation describes the
feedback path from the output to the emitter of the input stage, where the factor 2 is due to the
differential input stage. Z1-5 must also include the built-in 15k resistor which is in parallel to
external circuitry, and likewise Z1-8 should include the built-in 1.35k resistor. Thus, without
external components, it has a gain of Av = 2 15k /(150 + 1350) = 20 or 26 dB and with a large
capacitor between pins 1 and 8 it has a gain of Av = 2 15k / 150 = 200 or 46 dB.
The application note of the LM386 suggests a bass boost by connecting 10k in series with 33nF
between pins 1 and 5 with pin 8 open, while a common set of values among radio amateurs is in
the order of 2.2k and 4.7nF. The effect is a roll-off at frequencies above 1-2 kHz. The effect can
be analysed with the gain equation above by inserting 2.2e3 + 1/(j2f4.7e-9) in parallel to the 15k
internal feedback resistor. I use Matlab for this kind of analysis.
Additional Gain
The LM386 data sheet says Gain control can also be achieved by capacitively coupling a resistor
from pin 1 to ground. The effect of a low value resistor here is to decrease feedback and
increase gain. JF1OZL has measured the gain with various resistors and by going as low as to a
3.3 ohms resistor, he got 74 dB, see http://www.intio.or.jp/jf10zl/LM386.htm. In this case, the
feedback consists of a division between the Z1-5 and the Z1-gnd impedances, indicating that the
gain is found from the equation of an inverting feedback amplifier:
Av , 2 =
A0
Z
15
Z 1 gnd
Z 1 gnd
1 + A0
Z 15
The approximation is in the case that the open-loop gain, Ao, is much larger than the closed-loop
gain, Av,2. This will give a gain of 15000/3.3 = 4546 = 73.2 dB which is close enough to JF1OZLs
measurement. Such a high gain requires careful circuit layout with attention to ground loops and
proper decoupling, or the amplifier will oscillate. I have measured a gain of over 80 dB in a welldecoupled circuit, but then the amplifier is at the verge of self-oscillation.
Measurements
Measurements were made for this circuit with an LM386-N1 with date code 99 from National
Semiconductors at a supply voltage of 9 Volts, no output load, and no input coupling capacitor. In
this circuit, the DC resistance of the 1 mH inductor of about 2 ohms, and the equivalent series
resistance of about 0.5 ohms of the 100 F capacitor play a role and must be accounted for. The
upper curve is with no series resistance except for those of the inductor and capacitor, the middle
curve is with a total resistance of 10 ohms, i.e. 10-2-0.5=7.5 ohms series resistance, and the
lower one is for the pot at its maximum value of 200 ohms.
Discussion
I tried different LM386-N1s in this circuit and found that the peak gain of the highest curve would
vary. Another chip with date code 99 gave 2 dB more gain, while a third one with date code 92
had 7 dB lower gain. I also tried a surface mount LM386-M1 dated 93 which had 5 dB less gain.
In all cases, the gain at 1 kHz hardly changed at all. Also, the peak gain is sensitive to output
load. The peak value of the highest curve would fall by 8 dB with a 32 ohm load, while hardly
changing at all at 1 kHz. These results suggest that the gain, Av,2 depends on the open-loop gain,
and that the open-loop gain varies from batch to batch.
The muting of the amplifier by means of pin 7 (SPRAT no. 113, Winter 2002/3, pp18-20), is still
possible, but only if pin 7 is connected to Vcc. Grounding of pin 7 will only mute the amplifier in
the basic 26 and 46 dB circuits, while the amplifier of Fig. 1 will instead output a low-level low
frequency noise.
I also tried to find the gain equation for the circuit in Fig. 1 and my guess was Av = Av ,1 + Av , 2 .
However, this equation overestimates gain by something like 8 dB except for the peak of the
highest curve. Maybe some readers who are more into the inner workings of this amplifier can
come up with a better equation.
In summary, addition of a few components to the basic LM386 amplifier results in a response
which is fine for CW reception with a peak in the 500 Hz range. The amplifier also has enough
gain for a direct conversion receiver with a passive mixer like the Pixie 2, that it in many cases it
can drive a loudspeaker. Hopefully, the circuit can benefit other direct conversion receivers also.