AKG K702 vs Sennheiser HD 800S: which needs more amplifier?

The AKG K702 is 62Ω at 92.9 dB/mW; the Sennheiser HD 800S is 300Ω at 96.8 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 AKG K702 needs 3.9 dB more than the Sennheiser HD 800S to reach the same loudness — 5.1 mW against 2.1 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationAKG K702Sennheiser HD 800S
Impedance62 Ω300 Ω
Sensitivity92.9 dB/mW96.8 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)105.0 dB/V102.0 dB/V
Power for 100 dB5.1 mW2.1 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.56 V0.79 V
Current for 100 dB9.1 mA2.6 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
7.75 Ω37.50 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 AKG K702 but not for the Sennheiser HD 800S — Apple USB-C dongle (EU), Steinberg UR22C, Sony NW-A306.

19 sources are low enough in output impedance for the Sennheiser HD 800S under the one-eighth rule but not for the AKG K702 (Zoom AMS-22, Arturia MiniFuse 2, Arturia MiniFuse 1, 16 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 K702 and Sennheiser HD 800S. Every figure on this page comes from what AKG and Sennheiser published, or is derived from it — what AKG publishes and what Sennheiser publishes, both counted.