Easy

Simple Transistor Audio Amplifier

A single transistor can amplify a weak audio signal enough to be heard through a small speaker. The foundation of every amplifier, reduced to its essentials.

Circuit Diagram

+9V audio in (phone jack) C coupling Q1 BC547 B C → speaker E → GND 47K bias SPEAKER Single-transistor common-emitter audio amplifier

How to Build It

  1. Place the BC547 transistor on the breadboard.
  2. Connect a bias resistor from the positive rail (9V) to the transistor's base.
  3. Feed the incoming audio signal through a capacitor into the base (the capacitor blocks DC, passes only the signal).
  4. Connect the collector to the speaker, and the speaker's other terminal to the positive rail.
  5. Connect the emitter to GND.
  6. Feed in a small audio signal (from a phone, via a jack cable) — the speaker should play it back, louder than the input.

Bill of Materials

ProductCodeQty
Speaker cable KAB0352 1
Capacitor (electrolytic/ceramic/SMD/film) 1
Resistor DR47K-8/9 1
Transistor (incl. IGBT) 1
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