An apparatus for imaging includes: a radio frequency (RF) coil array having a first RF coil and at least one additional RF coil, where the RF coil array is adapted to generate an image signal; a preamplifier having an input impedance, where the preamplifier is adapted to receive the image signal from the first RF coil; and a transformer to couple the first RF coil to the preamplifier, where impedance of the transformer is adapted to match the input impedance of the preamplifier.