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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
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
"Do I need to worry about matching the analog out on the Bluesound node 2i to the analog input on the tube amp?"

No.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,172 posts
 
Yes not a concern typically with all ss gear.
erik_squires
16,041 posts
 
Hi OP:
The issue is generally that Tube OUTPUT stages can't drive a low impedance input.
Your streamer is solid state, therefore it has a solid state OUTPUT stage that feeds the integrated. That the pre/integrated is tube doesn't matter for the sake of the advice I posted.

Best,
E
subsonic1050 OP
8 posts
 
Why do people keep referring to SS gear? My source is digital to analog, but the preamp and amp are both tube?
erik_squires
16,041 posts
 
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
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