jeffmeh;367975 Wrote: > In the case of an impedance mismatch, what are the comparative > advantages of a buffer over a passive attenuator? I assume that the > buffer will be much more expensive. An impedance mismatch is usually a case of a high impedance driving a low impedance. Adding passive attenuation makes the situation worse - it increases the source impedance and reduces the load impedance. (In theory it is possible to construct resistor networks which will reduce source impedance, but in practice when you solve the simultaneous equations you end up with a requirement for negative resistances).
So what is the purpose of an audio buffer? Given that modern audio gear almost universally has low output impedances and high input impedances, I can't see any purpose. Perhaps the additional distortions that their active circuitry must inevitably introduce are actually high enough to be audible and happen to be euphonic for some people. Or perhaps the fact that they often boost the signal level and it's difficult to properly level-match when comparing systems with & without the buffer means that they take advantage of the fact that most people interpret louder as better. -- cliveb Transporter -> ATC SCM100A ------------------------------------------------------------------------ cliveb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=348 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=56068 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
