PURE vs Zero: which needs more amplifier?

The Truthear PURE is 13.8Ω at 105.4 dB/mW; the Truthear Zero is 10Ω at 97.5 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 Zero needs 7.9 dB more than the PURE to reach the same loudness — 1.8 mW against 0.29 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationPUREZero
Impedance13.8 Ω10 Ω
Sensitivity105.4 dB/mW97.5 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)124.0 dB/V117.5 dB/V
Power for 100 dB0.29 mW1.8 mW
Voltage for 100 dB63 mV0.13 V
Current for 100 dB4.6 mA13.3 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
1.73 Ω1.25 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.

4 sources are low enough in output impedance for the PURE under the one-eighth rule but not for the Zero (FiiO KA13, FiiO M11S, Singxer SA-1, 1 more).

4 sources stay below the audible-hiss threshold with the Zero but cross it with the PURE (FiiO BTR11, FiiO K11 R2R, Lake People G111 Mk II, 1 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: Truthear PURE and Truthear Zero. Every figure on this page comes from what Truthear published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.