What primary factor affects signal quality when amplifiers are cascaded?

The primary factor affecting signal quality when amplifiers are cascaded is intermodulation distortion. When amplifiers are cascaded, they introduce various forms of distortion, particularly intermodulation distortion, which occurs when multiple signals interact within a non-linear amplifier. This can result in unwanted frequency components that may interfere with the desired signals, leading to a degradation in signal quality.

As amplifiers are combined in a chain, the likelihood of intermodulation distortion increases, especially if the amplifiers are operated near their saturation points or if the input signals are not well-matched. This type of distortion is particularly problematic in communication systems, as it can significantly impact the clarity and reliability of the transmitted signals.

In contrast, while factors such as power supply stability, signal loss, and cable impedance can all impact overall system performance, they do not directly affect the intermodulation distortion created by the cascading of amplifiers. Power supply stability may influence the performance by providing consistent power to the amplifiers, but it is the non-linear interaction of signals within the amplifiers that primarily leads to intermodulation distortion. Similarly, signal loss and cable impedance mainly govern transmission aspects rather than the distortion related to the signals being amplified.

Thus, intermodulation distortion stands out as