Possible impedance matching issue with subwoofer?

Thanks Al for taking the time to write such an informing response. In my case I noticed a distinct reduction of the sparkle in the highs. So I got a much better sound using the buffer, then I just concluded that it's that impedence issue that I had read about on these forums. Not knowing that it is much more complex then that, I figured the ratio thing was written in stone. So now what comes to mind is the Seierra Audio amps and preamps that have reportably excellent sound that have identical output to input impedence (75 Ohms) and use a BNC coaxial wire to connect them. This effectively is a ratio of only 1:1 yet people say it sounds great. So as you say there is more to it.

Thank you for sticking with this thread and I'm sure that others as well as myself have benefited from this discussion.

Hi All,
While it is true that many manufacturers including ARC do make a balanced designed preamp, they don't conform to the balanced spec. (I'm sure this has a name, I'm not aware of it.) But I was having a similar problem as Grannyring between my ARC REf 3 and my Xilica Crossover. I made a quick call to ARC to see is my suspicions of incompatability were correct. The tech at ARC said, there is no point in even trying to get the two to work together that the ARC preamps could not be configured to work with low impedence input and outputs because of the circuit design. His quick less than two minute explanation was sell your ARC unit and don't purchase another unless the equipment you use are compatible with the ARC design.
A subsequent conversation with the guys from Atamasphere provided me with much of the explanations I outlined above but I did leave out all the technical reasons why tube preamp designs do not conform to the balanced standard that the music industry uses today which prevents impedence matches between equipment. The audio industry has adopted the balanced connector part of the equation and the cables are built correctly by the cable guys, it is the electronics guys who are at fault.
If all audio equipment was built to the balanced specs the music industry uses, we would not have these issues of impedence mismatching. And, I believe the music industry does successfully mix tube gear with solid state with no problems.
Not to sound like I'm picking on the tube manufacturers alone, but shame on the subwoofer guys for not dealing with this problem in their designs as well. If one is going to design products with class D amplifier circuits, then care should be taken to raise the impedence so that it matches so that it conforms with an industry standard as well. One wonders how many subwoofers have received bad reviews or that have had unhappy customers because of an impedence mismatch, and not the design and construction of the woofer itself.

Wanted to update folks on my progress. Well I have two subs now hooked up to my system. I have a/b'd the sound with and without the subs. When I turn the subs off I also remove the ic's from my preamp to compare the sound.

No loss of highs. No loss of bass. No bad anything. So what I feared as an impedance mismatch did not materialize. Most interesting as on paper one would think I could have an issue with impedance between my preamp and sub plate amps.

Al, you certainly got this one correct.