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Great reason to pay attention to impedance matching

107.142.146.197

E-Stat

A

In Reply to: RE: "What amps on the market today use 600 ohms?" posted by Steve O on December 25, 2024 at 19:01:24

because it really does matter. If using balanced, he made a poor choice given the 2:1 ratio. On the other hand, I agree with JA that 274:1 works fine!

The speaker to amplifier relationship is every bit as important. The Sanders hybrid electrostat has a Scream Machine roller coaster impedance curve and has special needs itself. Fortunately, my stats don't exhibit such a ride. Similarly, tube power amps work well driving them with their tame impedance curve. :)

Follow Ups:

Now you know: there are indeed amps out there with low impedance inputs - Steve O 05:23:49 12/26/24 (6)
You probably know that 600Ω is a "professional" standard and I'd assume that's one reason Stereophile tests with this loading.* It's unfortunate that a consumer needs to check for this type of compatibility in today's plug-n-play environment. It's not like this is some subtle sonic difference. ARC really should be more up-front regarding the (lack of) compatibility of their products with professional standards. At any rate, no ARC preamps for my friend - one lifetime.

*I've got old VOMs with dB scales where "0dB" is defined as the voltage that produces 1mW into a 600Ω load.
- RE: Now you know: there are indeed amps out there with low impedance inputs - Tre' 07:16:01 12/26/24 (0)
  .
  Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
  "Still Working the Problem"
  - https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/understanding-impeda (Open in New Window)
- Yes - E-Stat 06:02:54 12/26/24 (4)
  600 ohms was used in telephone industry. No need for that today.
  
  There have always been compatibility aspects to matching audio gear. I learned that as a teenager. Sorry your friend didn't.
  
  BTW, Sanders doesn't understand cable interaction either. ;)
  - After all this - Steve O 07:55:44 12/26/24 (0)
    Posturing, the point remains: there are commercially available amps with very low input impedance, right or wrong. It's interesting to note that ability to drive 600Ω loads would seem irrelevant today esp for home equipment. And yet the ability to do so is claimed as an advantage or feature by some mfgrs. Even some modern (and vintage) "audiophile" grade opamps specify the ability to drive 600Ω loads at low distortion. So maybe 600Ω capability is somehow relevant in modern consumer equipment . . . Shorthand for "Will drive anything likely to be encountered".
  - "low to high" solves the problems. - Tre' 07:18:45 12/26/24 (2)
    .
    Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
    "Still Working the Problem"
    - https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/understanding-impeda (Open in New Window)
    - That's what I learned fifty years ago - E-Stat 12:05:47 12/26/24 (1)
      while some inmates draw diagrams, argue and completely miss the point about using (abundantly found) high Z amps with tube preamps - which eliminates frequency based mismatching issues. :)
      
      Edits: 12/26/24
      - You learned that 50 years ago . . . But ARC apparently learned something different . . . (nt) - Steve O 16:51:54 12/26/24 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: That's what I learned fifty years ago posted by E-Stat on December 26, 2024 at 12:05:47

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