Audio-Technica ATH-R70X vs Sennheiser HD 660S2: which needs more amplifier?

The Audio-Technica ATH-R70X is 470Ω at 98.0 dB/mW; the Sennheiser HD 660S2 is 300Ω at 98.8 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 Audio-Technica ATH-R70X needs 0.8 dB more than the Sennheiser HD 660S2 to reach the same loudness — 1.6 mW against 1.3 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationAudio-Technica ATH-R70XSennheiser HD 660S2
Impedance470 Ω300 Ω
Sensitivity98.0 dB/mW98.8 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)101.3 dB/V104.0 dB/V
Power for 100 dB1.6 mW1.3 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.86 V0.63 V
Current for 100 dB1.8 mA2.1 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
58.75 Ω37.50 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
277280

Where the two part company

3 of the 280 sources have the power for the Sennheiser HD 660S2 but not for the Audio-Technica ATH-R70X — Apple USB-C dongle (EU), Steinberg UR22C, Sony NW-A306.

13 sources are low enough in output impedance for the Audio-Technica ATH-R70X under the one-eighth rule but not for the Sennheiser HD 660S2 (Audient EVO 4, ART HeadAmp 4 Pro, Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th gen, 10 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-R70X and Sennheiser HD 660S2. Every figure on this page comes from what Audio-Technica and Sennheiser published, or is derived from it — what Audio-Technica publishes and what Sennheiser publishes, both counted.