Diana Phi vs Diana V2: which needs more amplifier?

The Abyss Diana Phi is 32Ω at 91.0 dB/mW; the Abyss Diana V2 is 42Ω at 91.0 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.

In amplifier terms these two are the same headphone. The gap between what they need for 100 dB is under half a decibel, which is smaller than the step between two clicks of most volume controls.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationDiana PhiDiana V2
Impedance32 Ω42 Ω
Sensitivity91.0 dB/mW91.0 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)105.9 dB/V104.8 dB/V
Power for 100 dB7.9 mW7.9 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.50 V0.58 V
Current for 100 dB15.8 mA13.8 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
4.00 Ω5.25 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
280280

Where the two part company

Every source in the database that drives one of them drives the other. On power, the choice between these two changes nothing about what amplifier you need.

1 source is low enough in output impedance for the Diana V2 under the one-eighth rule but not for the Diana Phi (Shanling H5).

280 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 Diana Phi and Abyss Diana V2. Every figure on this page comes from what Abyss published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.