Question about matching impedances and transformers.

[JoeBob]

I've got a question, I never used transformers much in tube gear and even less with solid state gear, so when it comes to signal transformers I'm a little lost. Here's my question, if I have a 600 ohm primary and a 150 ohm secondary, but the load I place on the secondary is 30 ohms, what will happen? I know that the secondary will draw more current, and in turn the primary will as well, therefore the load seen by the previous amplification stage will be lower than 600 ohm, it will be 120 right? But what I'm mainly concerned about is will it affect the frequency response or have any other "bad" effects to the sound?

I ask because I can easily get a 600 to 150 ohm transformer, and a transformer that's 120 ohm to 30 ohm would have to be custom made from where I'd get it.

[JoeBob]

Common, someone's got to know alot about signal transformers.

[AndrewT]

Hi, your impedance ratios are right. Your transformer has a 2:1 turns ratio.
I do not know what effect the lower impedances will have on the response and other characteristics may also be affected. I suspect it may reduce the maximum signal when saturation becomes significant and distortion starts to rise disproportionately
Sorry can't be of more help.
Andrew T.

[JoeBob]

Well thanks for the help you could give. So if I use a 0.5Watt transformer, this would probably be lower with a lower limpedance load because more current is being drawn? That makes sense, I think, heh.