DN-142 vs Titan S2: which needs more amplifier?

The Dunu DN-142 is 37Ω at 107.0 dB/mW; the Dunu Titan S2 is 16Ω at 107.0 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

SpecificationDN-142Titan S2
Impedance37 Ω16 Ω
Sensitivity107.0 dB/mW107.0 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)121.3 dB/V125.0 dB/V
Power for 100 dB0.20 mW0.20 mW
Voltage for 100 dB86 mV57 mV
Current for 100 dB2.3 mA3.5 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
4.62 Ω2.00 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
280280

Where the two part company

Every source in the database that drives one of them drives the other. On power, the choice between these two changes nothing about what amplifier you need.

8 sources stay below the audible-hiss threshold with the DN-142 but cross it with the Titan S2 (FiiO BTR11, FiiO K11 R2R, Lake People G103-S Mk II, 5 more).

280 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: Dunu DN-142 and Dunu Titan S2. Every figure on this page comes from what Dunu published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.