Cadenza vs Orchestra II: which needs more amplifier?

The Kiwi Ears Cadenza is 32Ω at 110.0 dB/mW; the Kiwi Ears Orchestra II is 15Ω at 110.0 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

SpecificationCadenzaOrchestra II
Impedance32 Ω15 Ω
Sensitivity110.0 dB/mW110.0 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)124.9 dB/V128.2 dB/V
Power for 100 dB0.10 mW0.10 mW
Voltage for 100 dB57 mV39 mV
Current for 100 dB1.8 mA2.6 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
4.00 Ω1.88 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.

3 sources are low enough in output impedance for the Cadenza under the one-eighth rule but not for the Orchestra II (Astell&Kern HC3, RME Fireface UFX II, RME Fireface UFX III).

8 sources stay below the audible-hiss threshold with the Cadenza but cross it with the Orchestra II (Grace Design m900, FiiO M33 R2R, FiiO K17, 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: Kiwi Ears Cadenza and Kiwi Ears Orchestra II. Every figure on this page comes from what Kiwi Ears published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.