In electronics, especially audio and sound recording, an impedance bridging or voltage bridging connection is one which maximizes voltage transfer to the load. The other typical configuration is an impedance matching connection, which maximizes power delivered to the load.

(Additionally, a bridged audio connection is one in which the positive outputs of two amplifiers are connected to the load, with relatively inverted waveforms, which is a different concept. This should have its own article. Perhaps bridging (audio)?)

When the output (output impedance) Z_out of a device (the source) is connected to the input (input impedance) Z_in of another device (the load), it is a bridging connection if the second device does not appreciably load the previous device.

Essentially no power is transferred. The second device is sensitive to the output voltage of the first device, and this is maximized when loading is minimized. All good audio connections are bridging, even the connection between the power amplifier and the loudspeaker, since it is more important to accurately control the loudspeaker than to drive it with the maximum amount of power available. (Maximizing power transfer is more important in applications such as driving motors.)

In systems involving very long lines (telephone systems), the impedances must be matched to prevent reflections of the signal at the ends of the line from causing reflections and echoes.

A circuit is said to be bridged if the load impedance is at least ten times the source impedance.

In audio system specifications, the value of the low output impedance is hidden in the word damping factor, DF, which is:

Now it is easy to calculate Z_source

In audio systems, Z_load is typically the nominal impedance of an 8 ohm loudspeaker. The output impedance of the amplifier is typically in the neighborhood (<0.1 ohm) of the impedance of the cables connecting it to the speaker, so DF will drop rather easily.

See: Impedance matching