JOKER vs PARA 2: which needs more amplifier?

The Moondrop JOKER is 68Ω at 94.3 dB/mW; the Moondrop PARA 2 is 9Ω at 85.5 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 PARA 2 needs 8.8 dB more than the JOKER to reach the same loudness — 28 mW against 3.7 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationJOKERPARA 2
Impedance68 Ω9 Ω
Sensitivity94.3 dB/mW85.5 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)106.0 dB/V106.0 dB/V
Power for 100 dB3.7 mW28 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.50 V0.50 V
Current for 100 dB7.4 mA56.0 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
8.50 Ω1.12 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
280223

Where the two part company

57 of the 280 sources have the power for the JOKER but not for the PARA 2 — Apple USB-C dongle (US), Apple USB-C dongle (EU), Generic CX31993 dongles, 54 more.

12 sources are low enough in output impedance for the JOKER under the one-eighth rule but not for the PARA 2 (FiiO KA13, FiiO K11, Schiit Vali 2+, 9 more).

223 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 JOKER and Moondrop PARA 2. Every figure on this page comes from what Moondrop published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.