22 Watt Audio Amplifier

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The 22 watt amp is easy to build, and very inexpensive. The circuit can be used as a booster in a car audio system, an amp for satellite speakers in a surround sound or home theater system, or as an amp for computer speakers. The circuit is quite compact and uses only about 60 watts. The circuit is not mine, it came from Popular Electronics.

Schematic

Parts

Part	Total Qty.	Description	Substitutions
R1	1	39K 1/4 Watt Resistor
C1,C2	2	10uf 25V Electrolytic Capacitor
C3	1	100uf 25V Electrolytic Capacitor
C4	1	47uf 25V Electrolytic Capacitor
C5	1	0.1uf 25V Ceramic Capacitor
C6	1	2200uf 25V Electrolytic Capacitor
U1	1	TDA1554 Two Channel Audio Amp Chip
MISC	1	Heatsink For U1, Binding Posts (For Output), RCA Jacks (For Input), Wire, Board

Notes

The circuit works best with 4 ohm speakers, but 8 ohm units will do.

The circuit dissipates roughly 28 watts of heat, so a good heatsink is necessary. The chip should run cool enough to touch with the proper heatsink installed.

The circuit operates at 12 Volts at about 5 Amps at full volume. Lower volumes use less current, and therefore produce less heat.

Printed circuit board is preferred, but universal solder or perf board will do. Keep lead length short.

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Comments

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beermug 22 Watt Audio Amplifier Sunday, January 17, 2010 1:03:09 PM

HI: I am using Logitech Z5 speakers on my pc, with on-board Realtek ALC889 audio chip. Im looking to amplify the speakers since the on-board chip doesnt put out much. However the Logitech speakers are a USB device, id like to know if i can use this amp with them somehow, or do you know of an amp i can use ? Thanking You :)

CrazyBone 22 Watt Audio Amplifier Friday, January 15, 2010 10:26:34 PM

Came across this page by googling ta1554q. The IC chip on the amp board I took out of a Boston Acoustics satellite/sub speaker system. I bought just the sub for $.99 at a yard sale, but sounded distorted when I powered it up. disassembled it, found part of the plastic enclosure broken, used the woofer as part of the center channel of my home theater system (sounds awesome 50wrms), and the amp to power the surround tweeters. Bi-amped Infinity 6x9s out of a Caravan, crossed over at 3.5k w/car audio active x-over. Powering it w/18volts, and it hasn't died yet! Laptop power supplies are great for powering devices like this! Find them cheap at thrift stores!

anonymous 22 Watt Audio Amplifier Wednesday, December 09, 2009 2:45:39 PM

Can you please how to connect the heat sink?

Fred 22 Watt Audio Amplifier Sunday, October 25, 2009 5:34:21 AM

Do you still need a PCB?

Bobica 22 Watt Audio Amplifier Sunday, September 27, 2009 2:55:25 PM

Hello, I really like this amp. I want it becose i installed 2*6cm speaker in may backpack and i whan it to powered up. So can this amp powered by 2 9v batteries connected in parallel? I want to play music on it. Sorry for my bad english, im from Croatia. The country bellow slowenia.

sameguy 22 Watt Audio Amplifier Sunday, September 13, 2009 3:38:34 PM

can this amp be used with a microphone?

John 22 Watt Audio Amplifier Wednesday, September 02, 2009 7:13:52 PM

Hi, Im a music lover and also fanatic (beginner) of electronic projects. I was interested in testing a 22 watt audio amplifier as part of 1st trial. Can I ask copy of PCB lay-out if is OK to everybody..

JP 22 Watt Audio Amplifier Saturday, August 22, 2009 12:44:34 AM

How can I insert a volume control ?

Victor G. Saydee 22 Watt Audio Amplifier Tuesday, August 18, 2009 2:46:03 PM

Thank you ever so much for the circuit diagram. I was so worried about what to build for my senior project and fortunately for me, your 22 watt audio amplifier solved it all. I couldn't find TDA1554 so I used TDA1554Q and it worked so well. I also couldn't find the ceramic capacitor (C5) at the power input so I disregarded it. I added LED (as power light), FAN (to cool the IC), DIODE on the positive power line which served as a protection in case polarity is mixed) and it was all so good. It worked very well, so clear and little distortion. Thanks for the good work man...

Heath 22 Watt Audio Amplifier Saturday, August 08, 2009 9:52:56 PM

Just built this circuit as an amplifier to busk with. Having got my electronic qualifications some 25 yrs ago and by shear fluke ending up in management it was fun to use a soldering iron again!!!! also to end up with something that worked at the end was an unexpected bonus. Many thanks and Kind Regards. Heath.

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beermug	22 Watt Audio Amplifier	Sunday, January 17, 2010 1:03:09 PM
HI: I am using Logitech Z5 speakers on my pc, with on-board Realtek ALC889 audio chip. Im looking to amplify the speakers since the on-board chip doesnt put out much. However the Logitech speakers are a USB device, id like to know if i can use this amp with them somehow, or do you know of an amp i can use ? Thanking You :)
CrazyBone	22 Watt Audio Amplifier	Friday, January 15, 2010 10:26:34 PM
Came across this page by googling ta1554q. The IC chip on the amp board I took out of a Boston Acoustics satellite/sub speaker system. I bought just the sub for $.99 at a yard sale, but sounded distorted when I powered it up. disassembled it, found part of the plastic enclosure broken, used the woofer as part of the center channel of my home theater system (sounds awesome 50wrms), and the amp to power the surround tweeters. Bi-amped Infinity 6x9s out of a Caravan, crossed over at 3.5k w/car audio active x-over. Powering it w/18volts, and it hasn't died yet! Laptop power supplies are great for powering devices like this! Find them cheap at thrift stores!
anonymous	22 Watt Audio Amplifier	Wednesday, December 09, 2009 2:45:39 PM
Can you please how to connect the heat sink?
Fred	22 Watt Audio Amplifier	Sunday, October 25, 2009 5:34:21 AM
Do you still need a PCB?
Bobica	22 Watt Audio Amplifier	Sunday, September 27, 2009 2:55:25 PM
Hello, I really like this amp. I want it becose i installed 2*6cm speaker in may backpack and i whan it to powered up. So can this amp powered by 2 9v batteries connected in parallel? I want to play music on it. Sorry for my bad english, im from Croatia. The country bellow slowenia.
sameguy	22 Watt Audio Amplifier	Sunday, September 13, 2009 3:38:34 PM
can this amp be used with a microphone?
John	22 Watt Audio Amplifier	Wednesday, September 02, 2009 7:13:52 PM
Hi, Im a music lover and also fanatic (beginner) of electronic projects. I was interested in testing a 22 watt audio amplifier as part of 1st trial. Can I ask copy of PCB lay-out if is OK to everybody..
JP	22 Watt Audio Amplifier	Saturday, August 22, 2009 12:44:34 AM
How can I insert a volume control ?
Victor G. Saydee	22 Watt Audio Amplifier	Tuesday, August 18, 2009 2:46:03 PM
Thank you ever so much for the circuit diagram. I was so worried about what to build for my senior project and fortunately for me, your 22 watt audio amplifier solved it all. I couldn't find TDA1554 so I used TDA1554Q and it worked so well. I also couldn't find the ceramic capacitor (C5) at the power input so I disregarded it. I added LED (as power light), FAN (to cool the IC), DIODE on the positive power line which served as a protection in case polarity is mixed) and it was all so good. It worked very well, so clear and little distortion. Thanks for the good work man...
Heath	22 Watt Audio Amplifier	Saturday, August 08, 2009 9:52:56 PM
Just built this circuit as an amplifier to busk with. Having got my electronic qualifications some 25 yrs ago and by shear fluke ending up in management it was fun to use a soldering iron again!!!! also to end up with something that worked at the end was an unexpected bonus. Many thanks and Kind Regards. Heath.