ATH-ADX3000 vs ATH-R70X: which needs more amplifier?

The Audio-Technica ATH-ADX3000 is 50Ω at 98.0 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.

In amplifier terms these two are the same headphone. The gap between what they need for 100 dB is under half a decibel, which is smaller than the step between two clicks of most volume controls.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationATH-ADX3000ATH-R70X
Impedance50 Ω470 Ω
Sensitivity98.0 dB/mW98.0 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)111.0 dB/V101.3 dB/V
Power for 100 dB1.6 mW1.6 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.28 V0.86 V
Current for 100 dB5.6 mA1.8 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
6.25 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 ATH-ADX3000 but not for the ATH-R70X — Apple USB-C dongle (EU), Steinberg UR22C, Sony NW-A306.

32 sources are low enough in output impedance for the ATH-R70X under the one-eighth rule but not for the ATH-ADX3000 (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: Audio-Technica ATH-ADX3000 and Audio-Technica ATH-R70X. Every figure on this page comes from what Audio-Technica published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.