Ask any competent amateur radio operator about impedance matching.
de KQ2E
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Impedance Matching in the Modern Audio System
Hey everyone, I'm still learning a lot about audio and audio equipment. I know that I am supposed to impedance match my components, but my question is this:
If I will have 1 source (In my case a Bluesound Node 2i streaming DAC) that will have an analog out to an integrated amp, do I need to worry about matching the impedance of the analog out on the DAC to the input on the integrated amp? I can't seem to find the impedance for the analog output on the Bluesound Node 2i, but if I were to find it, how would I know if the input is properly matched on the integrated amp?
If I will have 1 source (In my case a Bluesound Node 2i streaming DAC) that will have an analog out to an integrated amp, do I need to worry about matching the impedance of the analog out on the DAC to the input on the integrated amp? I can't seem to find the impedance for the analog output on the Bluesound Node 2i, but if I were to find it, how would I know if the input is properly matched on the integrated amp?
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I'm using the term "source" here as the opposite of "target" , not as a type of equipment. If you think of this chain: CD Player ---> Preamp ---> Amplifier The CD Player is the source of the preamp. The preamp is the source of the amplifier. The Preamp is the target, or destination of the CD player. The amplifier is the target or destination of the pre. So, yes, you have a solid state source. That means it has an output stage which will handle almost any target impedance. |
Subsonic : Because solid state gear, like your source, can handle a broad range of targets, therefore, you won't have any issues. The problem is when you have a tube source ---> low impedance target. You don't have that. You have a solid state source ----> tube target. That will be fine. If you had a CD player with a tube output stage, then you'd care. Erik |
Thank you for the reply erik_squires, but the integrated amps I am looking at are tube setups. Specifically looking at the Raven Audio Nighthawk, PrimaLuna Prologue, and the Line Magnetic LM-518A. I was hoping that the main impedance matching needed to occur between the pre-amp and the amp - and in the case of an integrated amp that the matching would all have been worked out by the manufacturer within the unit. Do I need to worry about matching the analog out on the Bluesound node 2i to the analog input on the tube amp? |
Hey subsonic, In general this isn't something we worry about with solid state gear. The issue has more to do with tube output stages. They need fairly high impedance targets. A typical situation is a tube pre trying to work with a low impedance amp, or with 2 of them at the same time. Here's a very typical situation: https://www.stereophile.com/content/primaluna-evo-400-preamplifier-measurements Look at how much the output changes from a high to a low impedance output. Compare that to a typical solid state preamp: https://www.stereophile.com/content/pass-laboratories-xp-22-line-preamplifier-measurements So you should be fine. :) Best, E |