Fostex T50RP MK3 vs Sennheiser HD 800: which needs more amplifier?

The Fostex T50RP MK3 is 50Ω at 92.0 dB/mW; the Sennheiser HD 800 is 300Ω at 96.8 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 Fostex T50RP MK3 needs 4.8 dB more than the Sennheiser HD 800 to reach the same loudness — 6.3 mW against 2.1 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationFostex T50RP MK3Sennheiser HD 800
Impedance50 Ω300 Ω
Sensitivity92.0 dB/mW96.8 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)105.0 dB/V102.0 dB/V
Power for 100 dB6.3 mW2.1 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.56 V0.79 V
Current for 100 dB11.2 mA2.6 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
6.25 Ω37.50 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 Fostex T50RP MK3 but not for the Sennheiser HD 800 — Apple USB-C dongle (EU), Steinberg UR22C, Sony NW-A306.

19 sources are low enough in output impedance for the Sennheiser HD 800 under the one-eighth rule but not for the Fostex T50RP MK3 (Zoom AMS-22, Arturia MiniFuse 2, Arturia MiniFuse 1, 16 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: Fostex T50RP MK3 and Sennheiser HD 800. Every figure on this page comes from what Fostex and Sennheiser published, or is derived from it — what Fostex publishes and what Sennheiser publishes, both counted.