Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω) vs Dan Clark Audio Expanse: which needs more amplifier?

The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω) is 250Ω at 102.0 dB/mW; the Dan Clark Audio Expanse is 26Ω at 90.0 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 Dan Clark Audio Expanse needs 12.0 dB more than the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω) to reach the same loudness — 10 mW against 0.63 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationBeyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω)Dan Clark Audio Expanse
Impedance250 Ω26 Ω
Sensitivity102.0 dB/mW90.0 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)108.0 dB/V105.9 dB/V
Power for 100 dB0.63 mW10 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.40 V0.51 V
Current for 100 dB1.6 mA19.6 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
31.25 Ω3.25 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
280279

Where the two part company

1 of the 280 sources has the power for the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω) but not for the Dan Clark Audio Expanse — Steinberg UR22C.

19 sources are low enough in output impedance for the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω) under the one-eighth rule but not for the Dan Clark Audio Expanse (Zoom AMS-22, Arturia MiniFuse 2, Arturia MiniFuse 1, 16 more).

279 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: Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω) and Dan Clark Audio Expanse. Every figure on this page comes from what Beyerdynamic and Dan Clark Audio published, or is derived from it — what Beyerdynamic publishes and what Dan Clark Audio publishes, both counted.