7 W per channel into 8 Ω — the output that defines the load
The TDA7266 delivers 7 W per channel into an 8 Ω load from a single supply rail spanning 3 V to 18 V. That 7 W x 2 at 8 Ω is the headline rating — it sets the speaker impedance and the minimum supply voltage needed to reach full output before clipping. Below 12 V the available swing drops, so the actual output power scales with the rail.
Class AB topology with built-in protection
Class AB operation keeps crossover distortion low while maintaining better efficiency than pure Class A — a reasonable trade-off for a stereo amp in a through-hole package that runs warm but does not need a fan. The die integrates mute, standby, short-circuit, and thermal protection, so the amplifier shuts itself down before the output stage or load sees damage from a sustained fault. The Multiwatt-15 package (vertical, bent and staggered leads) is a through-hole power package with a metal tab for heatsinking; the tab is typically connected to the negative supply or ground, so the thermal interface to the heatsink must be electrically isolated unless the chassis is at the same potential.
Active production, ROHS3 compliant — no end-of-life concern
There is no NRND flag, no last-time-buy notice, and no official successor — this part remains in the catalog for new designs and replacement builds alike. The ROHS3 declaration covers the full substance restriction, so it passes EU and UKCA environmental requirements without an exemption.