Getting the most output from your ruby

[MikeH]

I was looking over the LM386 datasheet, but I couldn't find anything about speaker resistance vs. output power.  Generally things put out more power when speaker resistance is lowered; is there anything on the datasheet to indicate if a ruby could operate on a 2 ohm speaker load?  I already run mine at 14V, which is dangerously close to the V limit, is that also to be considered when lowering the speaker load?

[MikeH]

Oh yeah, here's the datasheet:

http://cache.national.com/ds/LM/LM386.pdf

[MikeH]

[netnut]

I have never run any at 2 ohm, but I can tell at 4 ohms you will need a heat sink if you expect to enjoy something coming out of the chip other than smoke for any length of time.

Your best bet is to:
a. run the most efficient speakers as possible: look for a sensitivity > 92db @ 1watt.
b. get the "n4" version that will run at 16v.
c. make a dual mono version. keep this one over 8 ohms, mono amps "see" half the actual speaker impedance. Heat sink highly recommended.
d. All of the above

I successfully built "d" and ran it into a Jensen C12R 8ohm. I ran of a 12v gel cell battery like those from a home alarm backup. It is plenty loud.