The Audeze LCD-5 is 14Ω at 90.0 dB/mW; the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω) is 250Ω at 102.0 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 12.0 dB more than the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω) to reach the same loudness — 10 mW against 0.63 mW.
| Specification | Audeze LCD-5 | Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω) |
|---|---|---|
| Impedance | 14 Ω | 250 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 90.0 dB/mW | 102.0 dB/mW |
| Sensitivity (voltage) | 108.5 dB/V | 108.0 dB/V |
| Power for 100 dB | 10 mW | 0.63 mW |
| Voltage for 100 dB | 0.37 V | 0.40 V |
| Current for 100 dB | 26.7 mA | 1.6 mA |
| Highest source impedance that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule) | 1.75 Ω | 31.25 Ω |
| Sources that reach 100 dB out of 280 | 274 | 280 |
6 of the 280 sources have the power for the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω) but not for the Audeze LCD-5 — Apple USB-C dongle (EU), Zoom AMS-22, Steinberg UR22C, 3 more.
23 sources are low enough in output impedance for the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω) under the one-eighth rule but not for the Audeze LCD-5 (Zoom AMS-22, Arturia MiniFuse 2, Arturia MiniFuse 1, 20 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 Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω). Every figure on this page comes from what Audeze and Beyerdynamic published, or is derived from it — what Audeze publishes and what Beyerdynamic publishes, both counted.