The two amplifier chips use the 3V + 5V + GND power pin at the 'top' of the 2x20 header. If using 3W speakers, you can draw a significant amount of current, over 1.5 Amps! Make sure you power your Pi with a good wall adapter like our 2.4A microUSB power plug.

Alternatively, if you really need a lot of power, use a 5V 4A power adapter and then a DC to micro USB adapter


The Bonnet uses 3 data pins and they cannot be changed! Pins #18, #19 and #21 are used. All other pins are available
The GAIN pads above the Right speaker output connection set the default gain amplifier gain 6dB, because the left and center pads are pre-connected with a jumper. If you cut that jumper, the gain becomes 9dB. If you cut the jumper and then connect the center and right pads, the gain is 3dB. (Connecting all three pads together still selects 6dB.)
This is the fun part, you get stereo output - one left and one right channel. Each one is Bridge-Tied-Load so do not connect both outputs together to get more volume!
You can use the JST 4-pin plug in the center if you're going to just plug in one of our enclosed speaker kits:

OR
You can use the terminal block spots on the left & right to connect regular speaker cones. You'll need to solder wires on and such but this way you can use whatever speaker you like! We suggest 8 ohm 1W or 4 ohm 3W. For louder audio, but more power usage, use the 4 ohm speakers. For quieter audio, but less power usage, use the 8 ohm speakers


You can also use other 'audio' devices like sonic transducers! These are devices you can put down onto a surface like a table, to make it into a speaker.

Page last edited April 07, 2025
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