Helios vs Triton: which needs more amplifier?

The Symphonium Helios is 8.5Ω at 83.3 dB/mW; the Symphonium Triton is 8.3Ω at 86.2 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 Helios needs 2.9 dB more than the Triton to reach the same loudness — 47 mW against 24 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationHeliosTriton
Impedance8.5 Ω8.3 Ω
Sensitivity83.3 dB/mW86.2 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)104.0 dB/V107.0 dB/V
Power for 100 dB47 mW24 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.63 V0.45 V
Current for 100 dB74.2 mA53.8 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
1.06 Ω1.04 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
179229

Where the two part company

50 of the 280 sources have the power for the Triton but not for the Helios — FiiO SnowSky Tiny B, Tanchjim Stargate II, Fosi Audio N3, 47 more.

179 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 Helios and Symphonium Triton. Every figure on this page comes from what Symphonium published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.