Tube Preamp/ McCormack Amp impedance matching


Hi all, the tube preamp in question, (VTL 2.5) has a 200 Ohm output impedance. Amplifier (McCormack DNA-500) has a 10k Ohm input impedance. I think this should be a pretty good combination, impedance-wise. Would you try to do more to optimize the combination with any of the impedance matching devices out there? Or, go as is? I'm aware of 2 impedance matching devices, ATI "The Match-maker" and Burson Audio's AB-160 Buffer.
Thanks.
foster_9
Emerson -- Yes, thanks for reminding me of our conversation about the Blue Jeans cables, which have an extremely low capacitance of 12.2 pf/ft. So I don't think you've got any problem in terms of capacitive loading. Even if you were to have three twenty foot cables loading the same preamp output, their combined capacitive impedance ("reactance") at 20KHz (the worst case frequency) would be around 11,000 ohms, according to my calculations.

However, if the subs really have a 6,000 ohm input impedance, and especially if the VTL 2.5 doesn't separately buffer the two outputs, you've definitely got a problem there.

If there are not separate buffers, the preamp would see a load impedance consisting of 6K, 6K, and 10K in parallel, which is about 2.3K (the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of the three numbers). If there are separate buffers, and if you had one of them driving the two subs, that output would see a load of 3K. Or if you had one of the subs connected to the same output that drives the DNA-500, that output would see a load of 3.75K. All of these numbers are most likely too low to be acceptable.

Let us know the make and model number of the sub, and perhaps one of us will be able to find a definitive indication of its input impedance. And perhaps check with VTL to find out if the two outputs are separately buffered (or if convenient, remove a cover which would allow you to see if the two output jacks for each channel are simply wired together, or if they appear to be coming from separate circuit points).

Regards,
-- Al
Oops! I wasn't thinking too clearly when I wrote the last post. I assume the two subs are on separate channels, so if the two sets of preamp outputs are not separately buffered, they would see 6K in parallel with 10K, or 3.75K on each channel. Still too low for comfort.

If there are separate buffers, each channel of the pair of outputs driving the subs would see 6K, which may also be too low if the preamp output impedance rises significantly above the specified 200 ohms at low frequencies, which it probably does.

Regards,
-- Al
Subs are Earthquake Supervova Mk12IV. I'll see what I can learn on the preamp outputs.
I did some looking, but couldn't find an input impedance spec on the low level inputs of the MKIV's. I think I did see a reference to the MKV's being 6K. So all I can suggest at this point would be to contact Earthquake Sound and ask them, and also to ask VTL if they can tell you what the preamp's output impedance is at the frequency for which it is highest.

Regards,
-- Al
Al, Thanks for everything. I'm now using an ATI MM100 Match Maker between amp and preamp as a work-around of impedance issues and the added subwoofer's impedance. It sounds good so far in the signal chain but I haven't turned on the subs yet.