Crimson vs Zenith: which needs more amplifier?

The Symphonium Crimson is 6.05Ω at 83.8 dB/mW; the Symphonium Zenith is 6.1Ω at 85.9 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 Crimson needs 2.1 dB more than the Zenith to reach the same loudness — 42 mW against 26 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationCrimsonZenith
Impedance6.05 Ω6.1 Ω
Sensitivity83.8 dB/mW85.9 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)106.0 dB/V108.0 dB/V
Power for 100 dB42 mW26 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.50 V0.40 V
Current for 100 dB83.0 mA64.9 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
0.76 Ω0.76 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
166197

Where the two part company

31 of the 280 sources have the power for the Zenith but not for the Crimson — FiiO SnowSky Tiny B, Tanchjim Stargate II, ddHiFi TC35Air, 28 more.

166 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: Symphonium Crimson and Symphonium Zenith. Every figure on this page comes from what Symphonium published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.