Aeolus vs Verite Closed: which needs more amplifier?

The ZMF Aeolus is 300Ω at 97.0 dB/mW; the ZMF Verite Closed is 300Ω at 99.0 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 Aeolus needs 2.0 dB more than the Verite Closed to reach the same loudness — 2.0 mW against 1.3 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationAeolusVerite Closed
Impedance300 Ω300 Ω
Sensitivity97.0 dB/mW99.0 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)102.2 dB/V104.2 dB/V
Power for 100 dB2.0 mW1.3 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.77 V0.61 V
Current for 100 dB2.6 mA2.0 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
37.50 Ω37.50 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
279280

Where the two part company

1 of the 280 sources has the power for the Verite Closed but not for the Aeolus — Sony NW-A306.

279 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: ZMF Aeolus and ZMF Verite Closed. Every figure on this page comes from what ZMF published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.