Hi. I've been building LM386 amps for a while now. They work fine, but i'm wondering if there is a better option. I'm using 8x rechargeable AA batteries (9.6 volts) for power. The amp powers a single speaker, so I am merging the left and right channel (stereo to mono) before it goes into the amp. Is there another chip that might be a bit louder using the same power source?
Also, a couple other related questions:
1) When salvaging used speakers I've been looking for 4"-5" that are at least 8 ohms. I've ignored the watt rating. If i wanted to achieve the best possible sound from a lower powered amp, what would be the optimal ohm/watt rating i should look for?
2) The input jack is 1/8" (headphone). When doing stereo to mono, are resisters really needed or can i just splice the two signals together? If so, what is the recommended value that won't reduce the volume too much?
Thanks in advance,
-Scott
Also, a couple other related questions:
1) When salvaging used speakers I've been looking for 4"-5" that are at least 8 ohms. I've ignored the watt rating. If i wanted to achieve the best possible sound from a lower powered amp, what would be the optimal ohm/watt rating i should look for?
2) The input jack is 1/8" (headphone). When doing stereo to mono, are resisters really needed or can i just splice the two signals together? If so, what is the recommended value that won't reduce the volume too much?
Thanks in advance,
-Scott