K240 MKII vs K612 Pro: which needs more amplifier?

The AKG K240 MKII is 55Ω at 91.4 dB/mW; the AKG K612 Pro is 120Ω at 91.8 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

SpecificationK240 MKIIK612 Pro
Impedance55 Ω120 Ω
Sensitivity91.4 dB/mW91.8 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)104.0 dB/V101.0 dB/V
Power for 100 dB7.2 mW6.6 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.63 V0.89 V
Current for 100 dB11.5 mA7.4 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
6.88 Ω15.00 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
280277

Where the two part company

3 of the 280 sources have the power for the K240 MKII but not for the K612 Pro — Apple USB-C dongle (EU), Steinberg UR22C, Sony NW-A306.

17 sources are low enough in output impedance for the K612 Pro under the one-eighth rule but not for the K240 MKII (Zoom AMS-22, Arturia MiniFuse 2, Arturia MiniFuse 1, 14 more).

277 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: AKG K240 MKII and AKG K612 Pro. Every figure on this page comes from what AKG published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.