Studio4 vs Twilight: which needs more amplifier?

The Softears Studio4 is 12Ω at 103.8 dB/mW; the Softears Twilight is 16Ω at 105.0 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 Studio4 needs 1.2 dB more than the Twilight to reach the same loudness — 0.42 mW against 0.32 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationStudio4Twilight
Impedance12 Ω16 Ω
Sensitivity103.8 dB/mW105.0 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)123.0 dB/V123.0 dB/V
Power for 100 dB0.42 mW0.32 mW
Voltage for 100 dB71 mV71 mV
Current for 100 dB5.9 mA4.4 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
1.50 Ω2.00 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
280280

Where the two part company

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.

5 sources are low enough in output impedance for the Twilight under the one-eighth rule but not for the Studio4 (FiiO KA13, Schiit Vali 2+, Astell&Kern HC3, 2 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.

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: Softears Studio4 and Softears Twilight. Every figure on this page comes from what Softears published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.