Adafruit Stereo 2.1W Class D Audio Amplifier - TPA2012

This incredibly small stereo amplifier packs a punch, delivering 2 x 2.1W into 4 ohm impedance speakers. Its class D controller runs efficiently on 2.7V-5.5VDC, achieving 89% efficiency with an 8Ω speaker at 1.5 Watt, making it ideal for battery-powered setups. With built-in thermal and over-current protection, it stays cool even under load.

Featuring differential inputs through 1.0uF capacitors and bridge-tied outputs, the amplifier can directly drive speakers, emitting a ~300KHz square wave PWM that gets averaged out by the speaker coil. A fully assembled breakout board is included with a dual mini DIP switch for adjusting gain and 3.5mm screw-terminal blocks for easy speaker connectivity.

Specifications include output power of 2.1W at 4Ω and 1.4W at 8Ω with a 5V supply. It offers four pin-selectable gains: 6dB, 12dB, 18dB, and 24dB. Additional features like excellent click-and-pop suppression, thermal shutdown protection, and low current draw make it a significant upgrade over basic amps.