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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? 
subsonic1050
erik_squires
16,041 posts
 
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
subsonic1050 OP
8 posts
 
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?
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
In general this isn't something we worry about with solid state gear.
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