This is a compact dual-channel power amplifier module that delivers 38 W per channel into 4-ohm speakers using STMicroelectronics' STA540 audio amplifier IC.
The design does not require a bootstrap capacitor or a Boucherot network, which keeps the external parts count low. An internally fixed gain of 20 dB sets the amplification stage without external gain-setting resistors. A standby function also lets the board be powered down into a low-current state without removing the main supply.
Power, audio, and speaker connections are all made through screw terminals, so the board can be wired into an enclosure without soldering. A power LED (D1) driven from the supply rail confirms that VCC is present. The STA540 itself includes a set of protection and diagnostic features: a clip detector, short-circuit detection at turn-on, a thermal shutdown warning, and AC/DC output short-circuit protection. Figure 1 shows the assembled board.
Specs and Features
Supply voltage: 18 V DC (22 V DC for 8-ohm loads)
Load impedance: 4 ohms (2 channels)
Key IC: STA540, 4-channel Class-AB audio power amplifier
Fixed internal gain: 20 dB, no external gain-setting network required
THD: 10% at 1 kHz
Short-circuit output current: 4 A
AC/DC output short-circuit protection
Soft short-circuit check at turn-on
Thermal cutoff / limiter to prevent chip overheating
CMOS-compatible standby function, no audible pop on standby transitions
PCB dimensions: 53.34 mm x 38.10 mm
PCB mounting holes: 4 x 4 mm
How It Works
The STA540 is a 4-channel, Class-AB audio amplifier built around four internal operational amplifier stages (A1 through A4), each driving one of the IC's four outputs. On this board the four internal channels are paired to form two bridged, single-ended output pairs (OUT1/OUT2 and OUT3/OUT4), each feeding one of the two speaker terminals, LS1 and LS2. Audio is applied differentially through IN1/IN2 and IN3/IN4. These inputs are coupled through the 470 nF film capacitors C3 and C6 from the CN2 and CN4 input headers.
The standby pin (ST-BY) is pulled through R1 and switched through CN3. This lets an external 5 V signal put the amplifier into a low-power state without disconnecting VCC. Because the STA540 needs no external bootstrap or Boucherot components to drive its outputs, only a few parts remain: C1, C2, C4, C5, and the LED current-limiting resistor R2. Together, these support supply filtering, soft-start, and the power-present indicator.