# Why does the common collector specifically have a high input impedance?

When looking at a chart comparing different BJT amplifiers, the common collector/emitter/base, it is usually said that the common collector has a high input impedance, therefore it is suitable for use as a buffering circuit. The Wikipedia page on common collector lists the input impedance of the circuit as $$r_{\pi }+(\beta _{0}+1)R_{\mathrm {E} }\$$

But according to the page on common emitter, the input impedance of that circuit is also calculated using the same expression (assuming an emitter resistor is in place).

If the input impedance of both amplifiers are calculated using the same formula, why is it said the common collector configuration has an especially high input impedance?

It is possible to use a large $$\R_E\$$ in the CC stage...considerably larger than the $$\R_E\$$ of the CE stage. You must leave lots of biasing headroom in the CE stage for the collector to swing. If the CE gain is large, the collector-swing headroom consumes almost all the DC supply voltage.... that makes RE1 much smaller than Rc.
• @Jasen I'd consider a capacitor-bypassed RE a different case than the OP's scenario. If there's no signal variation at the emitter, the CE stage input Z can only rise as high as $r_{\pi}$. That's pretty small (but not as small as CB input Z). – glen_geek Jul 20 at 23:26