The Texas Instruments TPA6132A2RTER is a Class AB stereo headphone amplifier in the DirectPath™ series, delivering 25 mW per channel into a 16 Ω load from a 2.3 V to 5.5 V supply. It integrates depop circuitry to eliminate power-on clicks and accepts differential inputs for common-mode noise rejection — useful in portable audio where the ground plane is shared with a switching regulator or digital core. The 16-WQFN (3x3 mm) package fits tight layouts on media players, smartphone audio daughterboards, or portable gaming hardware.
Depop and differential inputs — click-free startup and noise rejection
Depop ramps the output bias voltage slowly at power-on, preventing the audible pop that occurs when a DC-coupled amplifier connects to headphones. The differential inputs reject ground noise picked up between the audio codec and the amplifier — a common issue in two-layer PCBs where the analog return path shares a via with a digital return. Shutdown mode (pin-controlled) drops quiescent current to near zero, extending battery life in devices that pause audio between tracks.
Lifecycle and sourcing
The TPA6132A2RTER is listed as Active and ROHS3 compliant. No end-of-life notice or successor has been issued. For production builds or repair stock, the part is sourced to order through independent distribution.