LM386 Pinout
LM386 Audio Amplifier · Low-voltage audio power amp; single supply 4–12V; drives a small speaker.
| Pin | Name | Type | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GAIN | Control | Gain set (place R/C between this and pin 8 to set gain) |
| 2 | IN− | Input | Inverting input (often grounded) |
| 3 | IN+ | Input | Non-inverting input (signal input) |
| 4 | GND | GND | Ground |
| 5 | VOUT | Output | Output (to speaker, via a DC-blocking capacitor) |
| 6 | VS · V+ | Power | Supply + (4–12V) |
| 7 | BYPASS | Control | Bypass (to ground via a capacitor for noise reduction) |
| 8 | GAIN | Control | Gain set (works with pin 1) |
How to read the LM386 pinout
- 01
Find pin 1
One end of the chip has a half-circle notch or a dot; with the notch facing up, the top-left pin is pin 1.
- 02
Count counter-clockwise
Count counter-clockwise from pin 1: go down the left side first, then up the right side from the bottom.
- 03
Check the table below
Look up each pin's function by number in the table below; power/ground are color-coded, and alternate-function signals are in parentheses.
Frequently asked questions
How do I adjust the gain?
With pins 1 and 8 open the gain is 20 (default); a 10µF capacitor between them raises gain to 200; a series resistor gives intermediate values.
Does the output need a capacitor?
Yes. On a single supply the output has a DC offset, so connect it to the speaker through a DC-blocking capacitor (e.g. 220µF).
Pinout data comes from TI LM386 datasheet (standard DIP-8 numbering). Refer to the actual device datasheet as authoritative for the pinout.