TL072 — Dual Low-Noise JFET-Input Operational Amplifier

Overview

The TL072 (TL072CP / TL072CD) is an industry-standard low-noise JFET-input dual operational amplifier manufactured by Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics, and ON Semiconductor. Incorporating high-voltage JFET and bipolar transistors on a single monolithic chip, it provides extremely low input bias currents ( $65\text{ pA}$ typical) and input offset currents.

Featuring a high slew rate of 13 V/µs, a 3 MHz gain-bandwidth product, low harmonic distortion ( $0.003\%$ ), and low noise ( $18\text{ nV}/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$ ), the TL072 is ubiquitous in high-fidelity audio preamplifiers, active equalizer filters, audio mixers, modular synthesizers, and guitar effects pedals.

Quick reference


Supply Voltage (`VCC+ / VCC-`)	$\pm 3.0\text{V}$ to $\pm 18.0\text{V}$ (Split) or $+6.0\text{V}$ to $+36.0\text{V}$ (Single)
Gain Bandwidth Product (GBW)	$3.0\text{ MHz}$ typical
Slew Rate	$13.0\text{ V}/\mu\text{s}$ typical
Equivalent Input Noise Voltage	$18\text{ nV}/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$ at $f = 1\text{kHz}$
Input Bias Current	$65\text{ pA}$ typical (JFET input stage)
Quiescent Current	$1.4\text{ mA}$ per amplifier channel
Package	8-pin DIP / SOIC-8 / TSSOP-8

Pinout (DIP-8 Package)

text

             ┌───┴───┐
       1OUT 1│ 1   8 │ VCC+
       1-IN 2│       │ 7 2OUT
       1+IN 3│ TL072 │ 6 2-IN
       VCC- 4│       │ 5 2+IN
             └───────┘

Pin	Name	Type	Description
1	`1OUT`	Output	Amplifier Channel 1 Output
2	`1-IN`	Input	Amplifier Channel 1 Inverting Input
3	`1+IN`	Input	Amplifier Channel 1 Non-Inverting Input
4	`VCC-`	Power	Negative Supply Voltage (or GND in single-supply mode)
5	`2+IN`	Input	Amplifier Channel 2 Non-Inverting Input
6	`2-IN`	Input	Amplifier Channel 2 Inverting Input
7	`2OUT`	Output	Amplifier Channel 2 Output
8	`VCC+`	Power	Positive Supply Voltage (+3.0V to +18.0V DC)

Specifications

Parameter	Symbol	Min	Typ	Max	Unit	Conditions
Supply Voltage	$V_{CC}$	$\pm 3.0$	$\pm 15.0$	$\pm 18.0$	V	Split supply
Input Offset Voltage	$V_{IO}$	—	3.0	6.0	mV	$V_{CC} = \pm 15\text{V}, T_A = 25^\circ\text{C}$
Input Bias Current	$I_{IB}$	—	65	200	pA	$V_{CC} = \pm 15\text{V}$
Large Signal Voltage Gain	$A_{VD}$	25	200	—	V/mV	$V_{CC} = \pm 15\text{V}, R_L = 2\text{k}\Omega$
Common Mode Rejection Ratio	$CMRR$	70	100	—	dB	$V_{CC} = \pm 15\text{V}$
Total Harmonic Distortion	$THD$	—	0.003	—	%	$f = 1\text{kHz}, A_{VD} = 1$

Typical Application Circuit (Inverting Audio Preamplifier)

text

                       +15V [Pin 8: VCC+]
                        │
                        ├─────────────────┐
                        │                 │
  Audio In ───[10µF]───[R_in 10k]──┬─────[R_fb 100k]──┐
                                   │                  │
                                [Pin 2: 1-IN]         │
                                [Pin 1: 1OUT] ────────┴───[10µF]──► Audio Out
                                [Pin 3: 1+IN]
                                   │
                                  GND
                        │
                       -15V [Pin 4: VCC-]

$\text{Voltage Gain:} \quad A_V = -\frac{R_{fb}}{R_{in}} = -\frac{100\text{ k}\Omega}{10\text{ k}\Omega} = -10 \quad (20\text{ dB})$

Common mistakes

Phase Inversion when input voltage approaches negative rail ( $V_{CC-}$ ): JFET-input op-amps like the TL072 exhibit phase inversion if the input voltage falls within approximately $3\text{V}$ of the negative supply rail ( $V_{CC-}$ ). If an input dips too low, the output instantly flips to the positive supply rail.
Operating on single 5V logic supply: The TL072 is not a low-voltage or rail-to-rail op-amp. It requires at least $6\text{V}$ total supply span ( $\pm 3\text{V}$ or $+6\text{V}$ ). Attempting to power a TL072 from a $5\text{V}$ single supply leaves almost zero usable input common-mode range.
Unused second channel inputs left floating: Leaving pins 5, 6, and 7 of the second op-amp floating will cause high-frequency self-oscillation and draw excessive supply current. Connect the unused second channel as a unity-gain buffer ( $2OUT$ connected to $2-IN$ , $2+IN$ connected to ground or virtual ground).

Notes

TL071 vs TL072 vs TL074: TL071 is a single op-amp (DIP-8); TL072 is a dual op-amp (DIP-8); TL074 is a quad op-amp (DIP-14).
TL072 vs TL082 vs NE5532: TL072 is selected for low noise audio; TL082 has higher noise; NE5532 is bipolar (higher drive current into low impedance loads, but higher input bias current).

Interface	Dual Op-Amp Analog Terminals
Package	8-pin DIP / SOIC-8 / TSSOP-8