Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Closed vs Fostex T50RP MK3: which needs more amplifier?

The Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Closed is 13Ω at 90.0 dB/mW; the Fostex T50RP MK3 is 50Ω at 92.0 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 AEON 2 Closed needs 2.0 dB more than the Fostex T50RP MK3 to reach the same loudness — 10 mW against 6.3 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationDan Clark Audio AEON 2 ClosedFostex T50RP MK3
Impedance13 Ω50 Ω
Sensitivity90.0 dB/mW92.0 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)108.9 dB/V105.0 dB/V
Power for 100 dB10 mW6.3 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.36 V0.56 V
Current for 100 dB27.7 mA11.2 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
1.62 Ω6.25 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
272280

Where the two part company

8 of the 280 sources have the power for the Fostex T50RP MK3 but not for the Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Closed — Apple USB-C dongle (EU), Zoom AMS-22, Audient EVO 4, 5 more.

6 sources are low enough in output impedance for the Fostex T50RP MK3 under the one-eighth rule but not for the Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Closed (FiiO KA13, Schiit Vali 2+, Astell&Kern HC3, 3 more).

272 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: Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Closed and Fostex T50RP MK3. Every figure on this page comes from what Dan Clark Audio and Fostex published, or is derived from it — what Dan Clark Audio publishes and what Fostex publishes, both counted.