HD 660S2 vs HD 800: which needs more amplifier?

The Sennheiser HD 660S2 is 300Ω at 98.8 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 HD 800 needs 2.0 dB more than the HD 660S2 to reach the same loudness — 2.1 mW against 1.3 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationHD 660S2HD 800
Impedance300 Ω300 Ω
Sensitivity98.8 dB/mW96.8 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)104.0 dB/V102.0 dB/V
Power for 100 dB1.3 mW2.1 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.63 V0.79 V
Current for 100 dB2.1 mA2.6 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
37.50 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 HD 660S2 but not for the HD 800 — Apple USB-C dongle (EU), Steinberg UR22C, Sony NW-A306.

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: Sennheiser HD 660S2 and Sennheiser HD 800. Every figure on this page comes from what Sennheiser published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.