COSMO vs SKYLAND: which needs more amplifier?

The Moondrop COSMO is 15Ω at 81.8 dB/mW; the Moondrop SKYLAND is 60Ω at 83.8 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 COSMO needs 2.0 dB more than the SKYLAND to reach the same loudness — 66 mW against 42 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationCOSMOSKYLAND
Impedance15 Ω60 Ω
Sensitivity81.8 dB/mW83.8 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)100.0 dB/V96.0 dB/V
Power for 100 dB66 mW42 mW
Voltage for 100 dB1.00 V1.58 V
Current for 100 dB66.4 mA26.4 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
1.88 Ω7.50 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
188235

Where the two part company

2 of the 280 sources have the power for the COSMO but not for the SKYLAND — Tanchjim Stargate II, EarMen Colibri.

49 of the 280 sources have the power for the SKYLAND but not for the COSMO — Fosi Audio N3, iBasso DC03 Pro, Truthear SHIO, 46 more.

4 sources are low enough in output impedance for the SKYLAND under the one-eighth rule but not for the COSMO (Astell&Kern HC3, Shanling H5, RME Fireface UFX II, 1 more).

186 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: Moondrop COSMO and Moondrop SKYLAND. Every figure on this page comes from what Moondrop published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.