Op-Amps & ComparatorsActive

NE5532P

Manufacturer: Texas Instruments

Figures from the datasheet: Texas Instruments SLOS075, rev. Rev. K, December 2025

Industry-standard dual low-noise high-speed audio operational amplifier featuring 5 nV/√Hz input noise voltage, 10 MHz unity-gain bandwidth, and 9 V/µs slew rate.

PackagesPDIP-8, SOIC-8
Supply voltage6 – 40 V
Temperature range0 – 70 °C
Official Datasheet (PDF)

Technical Overview

01

Technical Overview

The NE5532 is an internally frequency-compensated dual high-performance low-noise operational amplifier manufactured by Texas Instruments (Document SLOS075K, revised December 2025; originally introduced by Signetics). Housed in standard 8-pin PDIP (P designation) and SOIC (D designation) packages, it has served for decades as the gold standard for high-fidelity audio preamplifiers, professional recording consoles, active equalization filters, and instrumentation systems. The NE5532 combines very low equivalent input noise voltage (5 nV/√Hz typical at 1 kHz) with a wide gain-bandwidth product of 10 MHz, high slew rate of 9 V/µs, and substantial output drive capability (up to ±38 mA short-circuit current into 600 Ω loads). The input stage features low-noise bipolar NPN transistors protected by internal back-to-back clamp diodes, which restrict the differential input voltage to ±0.6 V. Operating from split power supply rails from ±3 V to ±20 V (or single supply from 6 V to 40 V), the NE5532 delivers large open-loop DC voltage gain of 100 V/mV (100 dB) with very low total harmonic distortion (THD < 0.0005% typical). Its low noise, high output swing (typically ±13.5 V into 600 Ω from ±15 V rails), and fast transient settling make it universally chosen for audio summing amplifiers, line drivers, balanced receivers, RIAA turntable phono stages, and low-noise active bandpass filters.

Package Pinout & Alternate Functions

Interactive package pinout and pin mapping for PDIP-8.

Interactive pinout diagramTop

NE5532P: PDIP-8 package illustrationInteractive package pinout and pin mapping for PDIP-8.1: 1OUT2: 1IN-3: 1IN+4: VCC-8: VCC+7: 2OUT6: 2IN-5: 2IN+

Package illustration, not a dimensioned mechanical drawing.

8 / 8 pins
#Pin nameType5V TolerantAlternate functions / details
1OUTanalog out—
Channel 1 output terminal (amplified signal output for op-amp 1)
1IN-analog inNo
Channel 1 inverting input terminal (-)
1IN+analog inNo
Channel 1 non-inverting input terminal (+)
VCC-power in—
Negative power supply rail (typically -12V to -15V in dual-supply audio circuits, or 0V GND in single-supply mode)
2IN+analog inNo
Channel 2 non-inverting input terminal (+)
2IN-analog inNo
Channel 2 inverting input terminal (-)
2OUTanalog out—
Channel 2 output terminal (amplified signal output for op-amp 2)
VCC+power in—
Positive power supply rail (typically +12V to +15V, operating range +3V to +20V)

Key Specifications

Parametric attributes

ParameterMinTypicalMaxUnitTest condition
Input Offset Voltage(VOS)—0.54mVVS = ±15 V, RS = 50 Ω, TA = 25°C
Input Offset Voltage Average Drift(dVOS/dT)—5—µV/°CVS = ±15 V, TA = 0°C to 70°C
Input Bias Current(IB)—200800nAVS = ±15 V, TA = 25°C (flows into NPN input bases)
Input Offset Current(IOS)—10150nAVS = ±15 V, TA = 25°C
Equivalent Input Noise Voltage(Vn)—56nV/√Hzf = 1 kHz, VS = ±15 V, TA = 25°C
Equivalent Input Noise Current(In)—0.7—pA/√Hzf = 1 kHz, VS = ±15 V, TA = 25°C
Gain Bandwidth Product(GBW)910—MHzf = 10 kHz, CL = 100 pF, RL = 600 Ω, TA = 25°C
Slew Rate(SR)59—V/µsVS = ±15 V, RL = 600 Ω, CL = 100 pF, unity gain, TA = 25°C
Large-Signal Open-Loop Voltage Gain(AOL)25100—V/mVVS = ±15 V, VO = ±10 V, RL = 600 Ω, TA = 25°C
Common-Mode Rejection Ratio(CMRR)80100—dBVS = ±15 V, VCM = ±10 V, TA = 25°C
Power Supply Rejection Ratio(PSRR)80100—dBVS = ±5 V to ±15 V, TA = 25°C
Common-Mode Input Voltage Range(VICM)-12±1312VVS = ±15 V, TA = 25°C
Maximum Peak-to-Peak Output Voltage Swing(VOPP)2627—VVS = ±15 V, RL = 600 Ω, TA = 25°C
Output Short-Circuit Current(IOS)1038—mAVS = ±15 V, VO = 0 V, TA = 25°C
Supply Current (Both Amplifiers)(ICC)—816mAVS = ±15 V, VO = 0 V, no load, TA = 25°C

Absolute Maximum Ratings

Max supply voltage (VDD/VCC)44 V
Max input voltage30 V
Junction temperature0 – 70 °C
Storage temperature-65 – 150 °C
ESD rating (HBM)2000 V
Thermal resistance θJA (PDIP-8)85 °C/W
Thermal resistance θJA (SOIC-8)97 °C/W

Hardware Engineering Gotchas

Real-world hardware caveats, PCB layout constraints and silicon errata to know before manufacturing.

Critical

Internal Back-to-Back Input Protection Diodes

The NE5532 input stage incorporates internal back-to-back diodes connected directly across the non-inverting (IN+) and inverting (IN-) input terminals to protect the NPN input transistors from reverse emitter-base breakdown. Consequently, the differential input voltage must never exceed approximately ±0.6 V under normal operation. If the op-amp is operated open-loop, as a comparator, or subjected to large rapid input step voltages without feedback, these diodes will conduct heavily, drawing destructive input currents directly from the signal source.

Mitigation

Never use the NE5532 as a voltage comparator or open-loop threshold detector without current-limiting series resistors. Always ensure closed-loop negative feedback keeps the differential voltage near 0 V. In high-slew-rate or multiplexed audio circuits where momentary differential transients occur, add external series resistors (typically 1 kΩ to 10 kΩ) to the input pins to limit diode conduction current to less than 10 mA.

Warning

Bipolar Input Noise Current with High-Impedance Sources

While the NE5532 has exceptionally low input voltage noise (5 nV/√Hz), its bipolar NPN input transistors draw a substantial input noise current (0.7 pA/√Hz at 1 kHz) alongside an input bias current of 200 nA. When connected to high-impedance signal sources or passive feedback networks with resistances exceeding 10 kΩ, this noise current flowing through the external resistors produces thermal-like voltage noise that completely dominates and negates the amplifier's low-noise advantage.

Mitigation

For source impedances above 10 kΩ (such as high-impedance guitar pickups, piezo sensors, or pH probes), use a low-noise JFET-input operational amplifier like the TL072 or OPA2134 instead of the NE5532. When designing audio circuits for the NE5532, keep feedback resistors and source impedances between 500 Ω and 5 kΩ where voltage noise is the dominant factor.

Warning

Non-Rail-to-Rail Output Headroom and Symmetrical Dual-Rail Requirement

The NE5532 output stage is a classic Class-AB bipolar emitter follower that cannot swing rail-to-rail. Under a typical 600 Ω audio load, the output voltage saturation loss is roughly 1.5 V to 2.0 V from each supply rail (VOH ≤ VCC+ - 2.0 V, VOL ≥ VCC- + 2.0 V). If powered from a single +5 V supply, the linear dynamic range shrinks to less than 1.0 V peak-to-peak, resulting in immediate clipping and severe harmonic distortion on standard line-level audio signals.

Mitigation

Operate the NE5532 from symmetrical dual power supplies between ±12 V and ±15 V for standard professional line-level (+4 dBu / +24 dBu peak) or consumer audio (2 V RMS) headroom. If single-supply operation is mandatory, provide at least +12 V to +24 V, establish an AC-coupled virtual ground reference at VCC/2 using a dedicated low-impedance divider buffer, and include DC-blocking input and output coupling capacitors.

Warning

High-Frequency Parasitic Oscillation from Capacitive Loading

Due to its wide 10 MHz unity-gain bandwidth and high 9 V/µs slew rate, the NE5532 is sensitive to capacitive loading on its output terminals. Driving capacitive cables, shielded audio interconnects, or capacitive filtering loads exceeding 100 pF directly without isolation introduces an additional pole into the open-loop response, eroding the phase margin and triggering high-frequency parasitic oscillation (typically 5 MHz to 12 MHz) and RF heating.

Mitigation

Place a small series isolation resistor (typically 47 Ω to 100 Ω) directly at the NE5532 output pin before connecting to capacitive audio cables, headphones, or low-pass filter capacitors. Always place 100 nF high-frequency ceramic bypass capacitors in close proximity to pins 4 and 8 directly to a low-inductance ground plane.

Cross-Reference & Equivalents

Part number (MPN)ManufacturerCompatibilityElectrical differences / BOM considerations
NE5532APTexas Instrumentspin to pin drop inPremium grade with tighter input offset voltage (2 mV max vs 4 mV max) and guaranteed equivalent input noise voltage testing.
SA5532PTexas Instrumentspin to pin drop inExtended industrial temperature range (-40°C to 85°C) instead of commercial (0°C to 70°C); identical pinout and electrical parameters.
RC4558PTexas Instrumentspin to pin drop inClassic dual general-purpose audio op-amp with lower bandwidth (3 MHz), lower slew rate (1.7 V/µs), and higher input noise (8 nV/√Hz).
LM358PTexas Instrumentspin to pin drop inSingle-supply op-amp with ground-sensing input and low quiescent current, but much lower bandwidth (0.7 MHz) and crossover distortion.
OPA2134PATexas Instrumentspin to pin drop inHigh-performance SoundPlus JFET-input dual op-amp with ultra-low distortion (0.00008%), ultra-low input bias current (5 pA), and rail-to-rail dynamic headroom.

Reference Circuits

NE5532 Ultra-Low-Noise Inverting Microphone Preamplifier

Topology: Single-channel ultra-low-noise inverting preamplifier with -47 V/V (+33.4 dB) gain, 1 kΩ input resistor, 47 kΩ feedback resistor, DC-blocking capacitors, and ±15 V split supply.

Inspect schematicOpen in Web CAD Editor

Official Documentation & Cited Datasheets

Primary semiconductor vendor datasheets, errata, and application notes.

DATASHEETTexas Instruments

NE5532x, SA5532x Dual Low-Noise Operational Amplifiers

Help keep this page accurate

Found a pin, package or parameter that does not match the datasheet? Report it.

Report a problem

Opens a public form on GitHub with this page already filled in; a free GitHub account is needed. How reports and confirmations work

Related components

Texas Instruments

LM358P

Industry-standard dual operational amplifier designed for single-supply (3V to 32V) or split-supply (±1.5V to ±16V) operation with true ground sensing, 0.7MHz bandwidth, and low supply current.

Texas Instruments

LM386N-1

Low-voltage mono audio power amplifier with an internal gain of 20, adjustable to 200, that drives a 4–32 Ω speaker from a 4–12 V supply with a handful of external parts.

Texas Instruments

LM393P

Industry-standard dual differential comparator with open-collector outputs, single-supply (2V to 36V) or dual-supply (±1V to ±18V) operation, low power consumption, and true ground-level sensing.

Texas Instruments

LMC6482AIM/NOPB

Dual CMOS rail-to-rail input and output operational amplifier in SOIC-8, with 20 fA typical input bias current and 82 dB typical CMRR under specified conditions; recommended total supply span is 3.0 V to 15.5 V.