Audeze LCD-2 Classic vs Audio-Technica ATH-R70X: which needs more amplifier?

The Audeze LCD-2 Classic is 70Ω at 101.0 dB/mW; the Audio-Technica ATH-R70X is 470Ω at 98.0 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 Audio-Technica ATH-R70X needs 3.0 dB more than the Audeze LCD-2 Classic to reach the same loudness — 1.6 mW against 0.79 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationAudeze LCD-2 ClassicAudio-Technica ATH-R70X
Impedance70 Ω470 Ω
Sensitivity101.0 dB/mW98.0 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)112.5 dB/V101.3 dB/V
Power for 100 dB0.79 mW1.6 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.24 V0.86 V
Current for 100 dB3.4 mA1.8 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
8.75 Ω58.75 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 Audeze LCD-2 Classic but not for the Audio-Technica ATH-R70X — Apple USB-C dongle (EU), Steinberg UR22C, Sony NW-A306.

32 sources are low enough in output impedance for the Audio-Technica ATH-R70X under the one-eighth rule but not for the Audeze LCD-2 Classic (Zoom AMS-22, Audient EVO 4, ART HeadAmp 4 Pro, 29 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: Audeze LCD-2 Classic and Audio-Technica ATH-R70X. Every figure on this page comes from what Audeze and Audio-Technica published, or is derived from it — what Audeze publishes and what Audio-Technica publishes, both counted.