K361 vs K612 Pro: which needs more amplifier?

The AKG K361 is 32Ω at 99.1 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.

The K612 Pro needs 7.3 dB more than the K361 to reach the same loudness — 6.6 mW against 1.2 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationK361K612 Pro
Impedance32 Ω120 Ω
Sensitivity99.1 dB/mW91.8 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)114.0 dB/V101.0 dB/V
Power for 100 dB1.2 mW6.6 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.20 V0.89 V
Current for 100 dB6.2 mA7.4 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
4.00 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 K361 but not for the K612 Pro — Apple USB-C dongle (EU), Steinberg UR22C, Sony NW-A306.

18 sources are low enough in output impedance for the K612 Pro under the one-eighth rule but not for the K361 (Zoom AMS-22, Arturia MiniFuse 2, Arturia MiniFuse 1, 15 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 K361 and AKG K612 Pro. Every figure on this page comes from what AKG published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.