LM380 Audio Power Amplifier ICs, DIP-8 and DIP-14

LM380 audio power amplifier ICs: identify the package and selected device

Shop loose LM380-family analog audio power-amplifier chips, especially LM380N in a 14-pin dual-in-line package and LM380N-8 in an 8-pin dual-in-line package. These are components for a designed mono audio amplifier circuit, not assembled amplifier boards, stereo receivers or complete speakers. The collection also contains multi-model listings where LM380 is just one selectable option, an LM386-based populated board, and several unrelated products. Read the selected variant before buying: a listing title that contains LM380 does not mean every option ships an LM380.

What is actually listed here?

• LM380N, DIP-14: dedicated LM380N listings offer 2-, 5-, 10- and 1-to-20-piece packs; another presents selections marked 5PCS, 10PCS, 30PCS, 50PCS and 100PCS LM380N. A listing headline mentioning a 20-piece choice does not by itself create that option if its live variant list lacks it. The 14-lead device is a loose through-hole IC, requiring an appropriate circuit board, power supply, external parts and thermal design.
• LM380N-8, DIP-8: separate pages offer 1-, 5-, 10- or 50-piece LM380N-8 options, and some multi-model pages provide a five- or ten-piece choice. The “-8” option has a different lead count and physical layout from LM380N DIP-14. Match your PCB footprint and the correct package-specific pin assignments; do not use a DIP-14 drawing for a DIP-8 part.
• Other selectable chips: some products offer LM386N-1, LM386N-4, LM376N, LM358P or LM387N beside LM380N-8. Other pages pair LM380N with LM370N, LM556CN, LM3900N, LM723CN, LM324N, LM339N, LM2907N, PIC16F630, CD4030BE, LF347N, optocouplers, logic ICs or controllers. Each choice is its named device, not an assorted LM380 kit. Similar number sequences do not make different parts interchangeable.
• LM386 assembled module: one product here explicitly describes a populated LM386 mono board, with a 10 kΩ adjustment potentiometer, speaker terminal and board-level 5–12 V supply claim, in 1-, 2- or 5-board variants. It is not an LM380 IC and its 5–12 V description must not be applied to loose LM380 devices. Its title advertises “200 Times Gain” while its detailed text describes a 20-times circuit: the gain setting is inconsistent, so confirm the actual board configuration before relying on either figure.
• Unrelated listings: an LM555CN timer listing and an LM5101AMR/LM3578AMX choice page do not offer LM380 in their visible variants. Two GODIAG GT107/GT105 II DSG gearbox data-adapter products are automotive test/programming accessories, not audio power-amplifier ICs; their country choices identify their own offer rather than different LM380 packages. Their specifications, claimed vehicle support and 12 V input have no relevance to an LM380 circuit.

Understanding the LM380's role in an audio chain

An LM380-type power-amplifier IC takes a suitable analog audio signal and provides an amplified output stage when implemented with the correct supporting circuitry. The bare DIP part has no Bluetooth receiver, USB decoder, digital-to-analog converter, tone control, volume knob, speaker terminals or power supply built into a finished board. Mono ICs do not become stereo just because a listing shows several pieces; a stereo design requires two appropriately designed channels. Do not infer that the input accepts digital I2S, USB or microphone-level sources without a suitable upstream circuit.

In a working design, signal level, input biasing, grounding, output coupling or load topology, supply bypassing, PCB layout and heat removal affect noise, distortion and achievable output. A loose chip is not a guaranteed drop-in replacement for a finished LM386 board, nor is LM386N a pin-compatible substitute for LM380N merely because both are audio-related and offered in DIP packages. The correct source of electrical limits and application-circuit details is the datasheet for the exact marking and package received.

Package and pinout are purchasing decisions

The DIP-14 LM380N and DIP-8 LM380N-8 differ physically. Count pins, confirm the full suffix and orientation mark, and check the intended board's socket or footprint before placing a multi-pack order. A product field labelled “DIP,” “logic IC,” “drive IC” or “voltage regulator” is a generic seller category, not evidence of LM380 pin function. It is particularly risky on mixed-model pages where one option is a regulator or logic device and another is an audio chip. For a repair, verify the removed part's full marking, case dimensions, pin-one position and board schematic; a matching numeral in an online title is not enough.

Quantity and package must both match. For example, the same combined listing can carry “LM380N DIP-14” and “LM370N” variants, while another has “LM380N-8 DIP-8” alongside PCA9515D and NCP1393B. “5PCS” or “10PCS” refers to the selected component on that listing; it does not mean five different named chips are included. Default-title products inherit their advertised pack count from that individual product's title, so inspect its description and option before purchasing.

Electrical and thermal design checks

Generic fields such as “supply voltage: international standard” give no actionable electrical limit. Do not pick a supply from these fields or borrow the LM386 module's 5–12 V range. Use the exact LM380/LM380N-8 manufacturer's specifications to establish allowable supply, load impedance, quiescent current, output swing, power dissipation, operating temperature and whether the implementation needs an output capacitor or other external parts. Different manufacturers, revisions and package thermal resistances may have different ratings. No board or supply is included with a loose IC unless the exact product says otherwise.

Speaker output depends on available supply voltage and current, speaker impedance, distortion threshold, heat flow and circuit construction. A chip name alone does not establish a universal continuous-wattage rating. Ensure the chosen load and thermal path keep junction temperature within its specified limit at the expected duty cycle; mounting a DIP-8 and a DIP-14 into otherwise similar designs does not make their heat-handling identical. A protection claim on another amplifier module does not confer a verified protection feature on these loose ICs. Power down and confirm the specific circuit's polarity and connections before assembly or replacement; this collection description is a selection guide, not a universal wiring schematic.

Choose the right item in five checks

1. Device: select the actual variant marked LM380N or LM380N-8. LM386, LM358, LM370, LM555 and the many other listed identifiers are separate devices with different functions or specifications.
2. Package: match DIP-14 against DIP-14, or DIP-8 against DIP-8; confirm pinout and manufacturer suffix against the circuit. Treat the loose device and the populated LM386 board as different purchasing categories.
3. Quantity: read the selected option's 1PCS, 2PCS, 5PCS, 10PCS, 20PCS, 30PCS, 50PCS or 100PCS label as applicable, not the largest range in the product title.
4. Application conditions: use a verified datasheet and your own schematic for supply range, speaker load, bypassing and thermal dissipation. Seller text saying “international standard” or “new original” is not a substitute for an electrical specification or traceable authenticity check.
5. Delivery form: decide whether you need a loose amplifier IC for assembly/repair or an assembled LM386 board. Neither a GODIAG DSG adapter nor a timer or logic-chip variant can serve as an LM380 amplifier.

Frequently asked questions

Are LM380N and LM380N-8 the same physical part? No. Listings distinguish a 14-pin LM380N and an 8-pin LM380N-8. Verify the specific pinout, package and operating ratings for the actual manufacturer and board before substituting.

Does the listing title guarantee LM380 in every pack? No. Many titles concatenate all available models. An LM380N-8 option supplies that selected type and quantity; an LM358P, IL300-F or other option supplies that other type instead.

Is the 5–12 V amplifier board built with LM380? No. The listed populated board identifies LM386. Its onboard potentiometer and board voltage are specific to that module, not properties of LM380N chips.

Does an LM380 IC drive stereo speakers directly? It is a mono power-amplifier component. A stereo system requires correctly designed separate channels and appropriate supporting circuitry; do not equate a two-piece chip pack with a finished stereo amplifier.

Why are gearbox tools visible in this collection? The current collection also includes GODIAG DSG data-adapter products. They are unrelated to LM380 audio design. Check the selected product before checkout rather than using the collection label as evidence of its function.

Published seller claims about origin, quality or certifications are not independently established for every offered variant. Prioritize the exact product selection and the datasheet corresponding to the delivered device and package.