The Audeze LCD-5 is 14Ω at 90.0 dB/mW; the Audio-Technica ATH-M40X is 35Ω 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 Audeze LCD-5 needs 8.0 dB more than the Audio-Technica ATH-M40X to reach the same loudness — 10 mW against 1.6 mW.
| Specification | Audeze LCD-5 | Audio-Technica ATH-M40X |
|---|---|---|
| Impedance | 14 Ω | 35 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 90.0 dB/mW | 98.0 dB/mW |
| Sensitivity (voltage) | 108.5 dB/V | 112.6 dB/V |
| Power for 100 dB | 10 mW | 1.6 mW |
| Voltage for 100 dB | 0.37 V | 0.24 V |
| Current for 100 dB | 26.7 mA | 6.7 mA |
| Highest source impedance that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule) | 1.75 Ω | 4.38 Ω |
| Sources that reach 100 dB out of 280 | 274 | 280 |
6 of the 280 sources have the power for the Audio-Technica ATH-M40X but not for the Audeze LCD-5 — Apple USB-C dongle (EU), Zoom AMS-22, Steinberg UR22C, 3 more.
4 sources are low enough in output impedance for the Audio-Technica ATH-M40X under the one-eighth rule but not for the Audeze LCD-5 (Schiit Vali 2+, Astell&Kern HC3, RME Fireface UFX II, 1 more).
274 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.
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-5 and Audio-Technica ATH-M40X. 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.