I have noted on several dacs amd amps I have looked at lately that there is a difference in ouput impedance between balanced and single ended output. Generally, the balanced output has a lower impedance.

I have two questions:

1. Why is there a difference in the impedance?

2. If you use a balanced to single ended converter to connect a balanced output dac to a single ended input amp, will it change the output impedance?

I have noted on several dacs amd amps I have looked at lately that there is a difference in ouput impedance between balanced and single ended output. Generally, the balanced output has a lower impedance.

I have two questions:

1. Why is there a difference in the impedance?

There a couple of reasons:

1) Standard balanced systems are normally required to operate with lower output impedance, in order to keep performance high.

2) Many listeners expect balanced to be superior, so manufacturers deliberately keep the unbalanced output impedance high, in order to create an artificial performance drop.

3) Since the output impedance of a balanced system comprises two complete output stages, those output stages are, effectively presenting half the output impedance of a single output stage.

2. If you use a balanced to single ended converter to connect a balanced output dac to a single ended input amp, will it change the output impedance?

Tha would depend on how the converter is configured. In the simplest system, where just the +ve output and earth is used, then the output impedance will be doubled. If the system uses a transformer, or active stages, then it could be anything.

Edited February 22, 201016 yr by Zaphod Beeblebrox
Brain fart