Adafruit
Adafruit I2S 3W Class D Amplifier Breakout - MAX98357A
The Adafruit MAX98357A I2S Class D Amplifier Breakout is an all-in-one digital audio solution that decodes I2S audio and amplifies it directly to a speaker —...
The Adafruit MAX98357A I2S Class D Amplifier Breakout is an all-in-one digital audio solution that decodes I2S audio and amplifies it directly to a speaker — no separate DAC required. Delivering up to 3.2W into a 4Ω speaker, it's a compact and efficient way to add amplified sound to your Raspberry Pi, Arduino Zero, or any microcontroller with I2S output.
The Class D amplifier design is highly efficient, running from 2.7V to 5.5V DC — perfect for portable and battery-powered projects. It accepts 3.3V or 5V logic I2S input and supports sample rates from 8 kHz to 96 kHz with no MCLK required.
Key Features
- 3.2W Output Power – Drives 4Ω speakers at up to 3.2W (5V supply, 10% THD) or 1.8W into 8Ω
- I2S Digital Audio Input – Accepts standard I2S with 3.3V or 5V logic, no separate DAC needed
- Class D Efficiency – Highly efficient amplifier ideal for battery-powered projects
- Adjustable Gain – Five pin-selectable gain levels: 3 dB, 6 dB, 9 dB (default), 12 dB, and 15 dB
- Mono Channel Selection – Outputs stereo mix (L+R)/2 by default; configurable for left-only or right-only
- Wide Sample Rate Support – 8 kHz to 96 kHz, no MCLK required
- Built-in Protection – Thermal shutdown and over-current protection
- Click & Pop Suppression – Clean audio transitions with minimal artefacts
- 77 dB PSRR – Excellent power supply rejection at 1 kHz
Ideal For
- Raspberry Pi audio projects and media players
- Portable and battery-powered sound systems
- Arduino Zero and other I2S-capable microcontroller projects
- Compact amplified audio where space is limited
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit MAX98357A I2S Amplifier Breakout (assembled and tested)
- 1× 0.1" Header Strip
- 1× 3.5 mm Terminal Block
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine contacts.
- DAC
- A digital-to-analogue converter turns numbers from the microcontroller into a real analogue voltage. It matters if you want to generate simple waveforms, audio-style signals, or variable control voltages rather than just on/off outputs.
- I2S
- I2S is a digital audio interface used to send sound data between chips, such as from a microcontroller to an audio amplifier or DAC. It matters if your project needs cleaner digital audio output than a basic buzzer or PWM signal can provide.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a chip that runs your program and controls connected inputs and outputs. For this product, it is the part that reads buttons and sensors, drives the display and speaker, and communicates over Bluetooth.
- Terminal block
- A connector used to join wires together in a neat, removable, or serviceable way. For this product, it helps split one power input into several outputs without soldering.
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Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
