Impedance matching discussion
When you read reviews on assembling a great system there is always a great deal of emphasis placed on impedance matching between components. I believe this is so each component can successfully drive the next one in the chain. If it cant do that, there is a general softening of the sound quality and reduction of bass.
I am aware of a couple of facts
1. Cables etc may add a bit of impedance, but for short runs they are not a big contributor.
2. A high input impedance makes a component easier to drive than a low one. This shows itself in an obvious way where speakers of 16 ohm impedance are more easily handled than those of 4 ohm.
So my first question is "Does a fully passive volume control contribute significantly to impedance, or can it be viewed as 'invisible' ?"
Source
SW1X Universal Music Server UMS I Signature with Power Supply Unit PSU I Signature
SW1X USB II
SW1X DAC III Special
Audiolab 6000 CDT transport
Amps
Pre amps -- Hi fi Collective twin mono ladder stepped attenuator, with Charcroft Z-foil and silver wired. And First Watt B1 active no gain buffer.
Power amps -- Welborne 45 SET monoblocks 1.8W / Decware Taboo 6W / Elekit 300B TU-8600SVK plus further improved components 9W / ICE Power 1000W
Speakers
Highly modified Endorphin P17 open baffle speakers containing both vintage and modern alnico drivers and paper cones. All silver wired - 8" Cube Audio FC8 full range drivers and vintage 15" Altec VOTT 416 bass drivers. All sat on Townsend Audio Podium seismic isolation platforms.
BK Electronics XLS400FF Sub.
Cabling
Silver mains cables, interconnects and speaker cables by SW1X
Headphones
HRT HeadStreamer and SennHeiser HD650 headphones