PARA vs PARA 2: which needs more amplifier?

The Moondrop PARA is 8Ω at 80.0 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 needs 5.5 dB more than the PARA 2 to reach the same loudness — 100 mW against 28 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationPARAPARA 2
Impedance8 Ω9 Ω
Sensitivity80.0 dB/mW85.5 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)101.0 dB/V106.0 dB/V
Power for 100 dB100 mW28 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.89 V0.50 V
Current for 100 dB111.8 mA56.0 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
1.00 Ω1.12 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
130223

Where the two part company

93 of the 280 sources have the power for the PARA 2 but not for the PARA — FiiO SnowSky Tiny B, Tanchjim Stargate II, ddHiFi TC35Air, 90 more.

1 source is low enough in output impedance for the PARA 2 under the one-eighth rule but not for the PARA (Astell&Kern SR35).

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