inexpensive but ROBUST little amps suggestions needed

[Head_Unit]

This is for a friend teaching Physics who wants to get further into waves and audio. She thinks the students should be able to use online tone generators from Chromebooks, buy 3.5 mm to RCA adaptors, then some kind of small amp to power speakers:
- This could be any manner of speakers, including handmade stuff, which could have crazy impedance = "robust" is a must
- Students could get careless and short the outputs hence again the "robust" requirement.
- They might build something with a low or difficult impedance.
- Doesn't need much power, even like 10W is sufficient.
- Compact and light is important
- Low price is always budget-friendly
- MUST include power supply and cord already, life is too short.

I have an Aiyima A07 I got from Amazon for a friend's place, $70 with wall wart included, seems good. But I have no idea how good the protection circuitry is...

 

[Steven Holt]

Take a look at the Lepai/Lepy amp, should be available on Amazon, or check PartsExpress.

 

[fpitas]

Amazon.com : lepai lp-2020a

 

[Zapper]

This is for a friend teaching Physics who wants to get further into waves and audio. She thinks the students should be able to use online tone generators from Chromebooks, buy 3.5 mm to RCA adaptors, then some kind of small amp to power speakers:
- This could be any manner of speakers, including handmade stuff, which could have crazy impedance = "robust" is a must
- Students could get careless and short the outputs hence again the "robust" requirement.
- They might build something with a low or difficult impedance.
- Doesn't need much power, even like 10W is sufficient.
- Compact and light is important
- Low price is always budget-friendly
- MUST include power supply and cord already, life is too short.

I have an Aiyima A07 I got from Amazon for a friend's place, $70 with wall wart included, seems good. But I have no idea how good the protection circuitry is...

LP-2020TI:

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Lepai LP-2020TI Digital Hi-Fi Audio Mini Class D Stereo Amplifier with Power SupplyLepai LP-2020TI Digital Hi-Fi Audio Mini Class D Stereo Amplifier with Power SupplyMaking a name for itselfFitted with a Texas Instruments Incorporated TPA3118 Class D amplifier chip, this mini amp produces...

www.parts-express.com

There is a cheaper version LP-2020AD but it uses a chip of unknown quality from an unknown manufacturer. The TI chip is probably more robust.

 

[fpitas]

They are notorious for turn on and turn off pops. But hopefully that doesn't matter.

 

[Head_Unit]

LP-2020TI:

Hey $35, not bad!

 

[Zapper]

From the TPA3118 datasheet:
Integrated Self-Protection Circuits Including Overvoltage, Undervoltage, Overtemperature, DCDetect, and Short Circuit With Error Reporting