The Shure AONIC 3 is 26Ω at 108.0 dB/mW; the Shure SE315 is 27Ω at 116.0 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.
The AONIC 3 needs 8.0 dB more than the SE315 to reach the same loudness — 0.16 mW against 0.03 mW.
| Specification | AONIC 3 | SE315 |
|---|---|---|
| Impedance | 26 Ω | 27 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 108.0 dB/mW | 116.0 dB/mW |
| Sensitivity (voltage) | 123.9 dB/V | 131.7 dB/V |
| Power for 100 dB | 0.16 mW | 0.03 mW |
| Voltage for 100 dB | 64 mV | 26 mV |
| Current for 100 dB | 2.5 mA | 1.0 mA |
| Highest source impedance that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule) | 3.25 Ω | 3.38 Ω |
| Sources that reach 100 dB out of 280 | 280 | 280 |
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.
24 sources stay below the audible-hiss threshold with the AONIC 3 but cross it with the SE315 (Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini, FiiO K11, FiiO BTR7, 21 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.
Each model has a page of its own with the full source list, the hiss estimate and the provenance of every figure above: Shure AONIC 3 and Shure SE315. Every figure on this page comes from what Shure published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.