Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50X: which needs more amplifier?

The Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC is 50Ω at 88.0 dB/mW; the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X is 38Ω at 99.0 dB/mW. This page is only about what they ask of an amplifier — not how they sound, which no specification on either sheet can tell you.

The Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC needs 11.0 dB more than the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X to reach the same loudness — 16 mW against 1.3 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationAbyss AB-1266 Phi TCAudio-Technica ATH-M50X
Impedance50 Ω38 Ω
Sensitivity88.0 dB/mW99.0 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)101.0 dB/V113.2 dB/V
Power for 100 dB16 mW1.3 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.89 V0.22 V
Current for 100 dB17.8 mA5.8 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
6.25 Ω4.75 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
275280

Where the two part company

5 of the 280 sources have the power for the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X but not for the Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC — Apple USB-C dongle (EU), Zoom AMS-22, Steinberg UR22C, 2 more.

275 of the 280 sources here reach 100 dB on both. That count is about power only — the output-impedance and hiss lines above are separate questions, and a source can pass this one and fail those.

Both pages in full

Each model has a page of its own with the full source list, the hiss estimate and the provenance of every figure above: Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC and Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. Every figure on this page comes from what Abyss and Audio-Technica published, or is derived from it — what Abyss publishes and what Audio-Technica publishes, both counted.