325 mW into 8 Ω — what that means for the audio stage
The LM386MX-1/NOPB: Rated 325 mW per channel into an 8 Ω load, this mono Class AB amplifier delivers enough swing to drive a small speaker or headphone at line-level output — the 325 mW figure is the max output power at 10% THD, so the clean audio power (1% THD) will be lower, typically around 250 mW. Supply range of 4 V to 12 V gives flexibility: at 5 V the output swing is roughly 2.5 V peak, yielding about 390 mW peak into 8 Ω before clipping; at 9 V the headroom nearly doubles, but the 325 mW rating at 8 Ω is the guaranteed minimum across the full voltage range.