The FiiO FT1 Pro is 20Ω with a sensitivity of 95.0 dB/mW, which is 112.0 dB/V. To reach 100 dB SPL — genuinely loud, louder than most people listen — it needs 3.2 mW, or 0.25 V across the drivers.
That puts it in the easy category. A phone, a laptop headphone jack or the cheapest USB dongle will drive it to painful levels. Of the 156 sources in the database, 156 have comfortable headroom. The cheapest portable source that does the job is the Apple USB-C dongle (US) at $9.
Sensitivity here is in dB per milliwatt. Manufacturers often quote dB per volt instead and leave the unit off, which is the single most common reason online calculators give answers that are 10–15 dB wrong. The converter explains the difference.
FiiO publishes this directly as 95 dB/mW (@1kHz), per milliwatt, so nothing was converted.
Source: fiio.com. How this data was built.
| Level | What it is | Power | Voltage | Current |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85 dB SPL | quiet background listening | 0.10 mW | 45 mV | 2.2 mA |
| 95 dB SPL | normal listening | 1.0 mW | 0.14 V | 7.1 mA |
| 100 dB SPL | loud listening | 3.2 mW | 0.25 V | 12.6 mA |
| 105 dB SPL | very loud | 10 mW | 0.45 V | 22.4 mA |
| 110 dB SPL | peaks on dynamic music | 32 mW | 0.80 V | 39.8 mA |
Most people listen between 75 and 85 dB. The 100 dB row is the one worth planning around: it gives you headroom for dynamic peaks without designing your system for a volume that would damage your hearing in under fifteen minutes. The safe listening calculator puts numbers on that.
Every source in the database, judged at 100 dB SPL into 20Ω. “Headroom” is how much power is left over above what the headphone needs — 10 dB means ten times the required power, which is what you want for dynamic peaks.
| Source | Type | Price | Power into 20Ω | Headroom | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singxer SA-1 | desktop amplifier | $699 | 8.2 W | +34 dB | Comfortable |
| Schiit Lyr+ | desktop amplifier | $449 | 7.8 W | +34 dB | Comfortable |
| Wells Audio Milo | desktop amplifier | $1700 | 7.5 W | +34 dB | Comfortable |
| Gustard H26 | desktop amplifier | $1099 | 6.1 W | +33 dB | Comfortable |
| Topping A30 Pro | desktop amplifier | $249 | 5.7 W | +33 dB | Comfortable |
| Schiit Midgard | desktop amplifier | $219 | 5.1 W | +32 dB | Comfortable |
| Chord Hugo TT 2 | desktop amplifier | $5000 | 5.0 W | +32 dB | Comfortable |
| Benchmark HPA4 | desktop amplifier | $3499 | 4.9 W | +32 dB | Comfortable |
| SMSL SH-9 | desktop amplifier | $289 | 4.8 W | +32 dB | Comfortable |
| SMSL HO200 | desktop amplifier | $399 | 4.8 W | +32 dB | Comfortable |
| SMSL SP400 | desktop amplifier | $529 | 4.8 W | +32 dB | Comfortable |
| SMSL DO400 | desktop DAC/amp | $520 | 4.8 W | +32 dB | Comfortable |
| Burson Soloist 3X GT | desktop amplifier | $2799 | 4.5 W | +32 dB | Comfortable |
| Schiit Asgard 3 | desktop amplifier | $279 | 4.4 W | +31 dB | Comfortable |
| iFi Pro iCAN Signature | desktop amplifier | $2499 | 3.8 W | +31 dB | Comfortable |
| Schiit Ragnarok 2 | desktop amplifier | $1499 | 3.8 W | +31 dB | Comfortable |
| Topping L50 | desktop amplifier | $229 | 3.2 W | +30 dB | Comfortable |
| Topping L30 II | desktop amplifier | $149 | 3.1 W | +30 dB | Comfortable |
| Topping A90 Discrete | desktop amplifier | $599 | 2.8 W | +29 dB | Comfortable |
| Schiit Magni Unity | desktop amplifier | $119 | 2.8 W | +29 dB | Comfortable |
| Violectric V550 Pro | desktop amplifier | $3600 | 2.7 W | +29 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| Schiit Magni Heresy | desktop amplifier | $99 | 2.6 W | +29 dB | Comfortable |
| iFi iCAN Pro | desktop amplifier | $600 | 2.5 W | +29 dB | Comfortable audible hiss |
| SMSL HO100 | desktop amplifier | $160 | 2.4 W | +29 dB | Comfortable |
| JDS Labs Element IV | desktop DAC/amp | $549 | 2.0 W | +28 dB | Comfortable |
| xDuoo TA-30 | desktop amplifier | $709 | 1.9 W | +28 dB | Comfortable |
| Cayin HA-6A | desktop amplifier | $1800 | 1.9 W | +28 dB | Comfortable audible hiss |
| Violectric V222 | desktop amplifier | $1245 | 1.9 W | +28 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| RME ADI-2 Pro FS R | audio interface | $2199 | 1.9 W | +28 dB | Comfortable |
| SPL Phonitor xe | desktop amplifier | $3000 | 1.7 W | +27 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| Violectric V226 | desktop DAC/amp | $1600 | 1.7 W | +27 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| JDS Labs Atom Amp 2 | desktop amplifier | $129 | 1.7 W | +27 dB | Comfortable |
| Geshelli Archel 3S Pro | desktop amplifier | $370 | 1.6 W | +27 dB | Comfortable |
| Little Dot MK III SE | desktop amplifier | $540 | 1.6 W | +27 dB | Comfortable |
| Grace Design m900 | desktop amplifier | $660 | 1.5 W | +27 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| Fiio K9 Pro | desktop DAC/amp | $799 | 1.3 W | +26 dB | Comfortable |
| Schiit Magni+ | desktop amplifier | $109 | 1.2 W | +26 dB | Comfortable |
| Schiit Jotunheim 2 | desktop amplifier | $399 | 1.2 W | +26 dB | Comfortable |
| Topping A90 | desktop amplifier | $499 | 1.2 W | +26 dB | Comfortable |
| Headamp GS-X Mini | desktop amplifier | $1795 | 1.2 W | +26 dB | Comfortable |
| Geshelli Archel Pro | desktop amplifier | $200 | 1.1 W | +26 dB | Comfortable |
| Topping DX5 | desktop DAC/amp | $449 | 1.1 W | +26 dB | Comfortable |
| Schiit Magni Piety | desktop amplifier | $200 | 1.1 W | +25 dB | Comfortable |
| iFi Zen CAN | desktop amplifier | $199 | 1.0 W | +25 dB | Comfortable |
| RME ADI-2 DAC FS | audio interface | $1399 | 994 mW | +25 dB | Comfortable |
| Schiit Vali 2+ | desktop amplifier | $149 | 937 mW | +25 dB | Comfortable audible hiss |
| Questyle CMA Fifteen | desktop DAC/amp | $2499 | 937 mW | +25 dB | Comfortable |
| Lake People G111 Mk II | desktop amplifier | $629 | 927 mW | +25 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| Benchmark DAC3 HGC | desktop DAC/amp | $2399 | 833 mW | +24 dB | Comfortable |
| JDS Labs Element III MK2 | desktop DAC/amp | $449 | 813 mW | +24 dB | Comfortable |
| Lynx Aurora(n) | audio interface | $3499 | 811 mW | +24 dB | Comfortable |
| Fiio K7 | desktop DAC/amp | $199 | 762 mW | +24 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| SSL 12 | audio interface | $599 | 739 mW | +24 dB | Comfortable |
| Apogee Duet 3 | audio interface | $649 | 739 mW | +24 dB | Comfortable |
| Matrix mini-i Pro 4 | desktop DAC/amp | $1499 | 727 mW | +24 dB | Comfortable damping |
| Matrix element M2 | desktop DAC/amp | $2999 | 727 mW | +24 dB | Comfortable damping |
| Ferrum OOR | desktop amplifier | $1995 | 667 mW | +23 dB | Comfortable |
| FiiO Q7 | portable amplifier | $750 | 665 mW | +23 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| FiiO M17 | portable player | $1799 | 641 mW | +23 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| xDuoo XD05 Bal | portable amplifier | $499 | 625 mW | +23 dB | Comfortable |
| JDS Labs Atom+ (2nd gen) | desktop amplifier | $99 | 625 mW | +23 dB | Comfortable |
| Lake People G103-S Mk II | desktop amplifier | $350 | 625 mW | +23 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| Schiit Mjolnir 3 | desktop amplifier | $1199 | 625 mW | +23 dB | Comfortable audible hiss |
| SPL Phonitor se | desktop amplifier | $1600 | 625 mW | +23 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| SPL Phonitor x | desktop amplifier | $3200 | 625 mW | +23 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| Merging Anubis | audio interface | $2790 | 601 mW | +23 dB | Comfortable |
| HiBy R6 Pro II | portable player | $750 | 469 mW | +22 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| iBasso DX180 | portable player | $480 | 420 mW | +21 dB | Comfortable |
| iBasso DX260 | portable player | $949 | 420 mW | +21 dB | Comfortable |
| Fosi Audio K7 | desktop DAC/amp | $199 | 375 mW | +21 dB | Comfortable |
| Woo Audio WA6 | desktop amplifier | $1099 | 362 mW | +21 dB | Comfortable |
| Apogee Symphony Desktop | audio interface | $1495 | 347 mW | +20 dB | Comfortable |
| Qudelix T71 | USB dongle | $229 | 312 mW | +20 dB | Comfortable |
| FiiO JM21 | portable player | $199 | 312 mW | +20 dB | Comfortable |
| Bryston BHA-1 | desktop amplifier | $2395 | 312 mW | +20 dB | Comfortable |
| FiiO BTR17 | Bluetooth receiver | $199 | 305 mW | +20 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| MOTU UltraLite-mk5 | audio interface | $699 | 294 mW | +20 dB | Comfortable |
| FiiO M11S | portable player | $499 | 259 mW | +19 dB | Comfortable |
| FiiO KA15 | USB dongle | $109 | 245 mW | +19 dB | Comfortable |
| SSL 2 MkII | audio interface | $229 | 234 mW | +19 dB | Comfortable |
| SSL 2 Plus MkII | audio interface | $299 | 234 mW | +19 dB | Comfortable |
| RME Babyface Pro FS | audio interface | $899 | 234 mW | +19 dB | Comfortable faint hiss, damping |
| Rupert Neve RNHP | desktop amplifier | $699 | 234 mW | +19 dB | Comfortable audible hiss |
| FiiO KA11 | USB dongle | $29 | 224 mW | +19 dB | Comfortable |
| Astell&Kern SP3000 | portable player | $3700 | 213 mW | +18 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| MOTU M2 | audio interface | $219 | 208 mW | +18 dB | Comfortable |
| MOTU M4 | audio interface | $279 | 208 mW | +18 dB | Comfortable |
| MOTU M6 | audio interface | $499 | 208 mW | +18 dB | Comfortable |
| FiiO M23 | portable player | $699 | 191 mW | +18 dB | Comfortable |
| Questyle M15 | USB dongle | $250 | 188 mW | +18 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| Astell&Kern SR35 | portable player | $800 | 188 mW | +18 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| Tempotec Sonata BHD Pro | USB dongle | $60 | 175 mW | +17 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| Moondrop Moonriver 2 Ti | USB dongle | $190 | 175 mW | +17 dB | Comfortable |
| iFi hip-dac 3 | portable amplifier | $199 | 175 mW | +17 dB | Comfortable |
| Bottlehead Crack (OTL kit) | desktop amplifier | $375 | 170 mW | +17 dB | Comfortable damping |
| FiiO BTR7 | Bluetooth receiver | $199 | 159 mW | +17 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| ddHiFi TC44 Pro E2 | USB dongle | $99 | 156 mW | +17 dB | Comfortable |
| Cayin N3 Ultra | portable player | $649 | 156 mW | +17 dB | Comfortable |
| Apogee BOOM | audio interface | $299 | 150 mW | +17 dB | Comfortable |
| FiiO BTR15 | Bluetooth receiver | $109 | 148 mW | +17 dB | Comfortable |
| RME Fireface UCX II | audio interface | $1749 | 131 mW | +16 dB | Comfortable |
| iFi Zen DAC 3 | desktop DAC/amp | $229 | 131 mW | +16 dB | Comfortable |
| FiiO KA5 | USB dongle | $99 | 128 mW | +16 dB | Comfortable |
| Fosi Audio SK02 | desktop amplifier | $100 | 119 mW | +16 dB | Comfortable |
| Arturia AudioFuse Rev2 | audio interface | $599 | 117 mW | +16 dB | Comfortable damping |
| FiiO KA17 | USB dongle | $149 | 116 mW | +16 dB | Comfortable |
| FiiO BTR13 | Bluetooth receiver | $59 | 110 mW | +15 dB | Comfortable |
| iFi GO blu | Bluetooth receiver | $219 | 103 mW | +15 dB | Comfortable |
| iBasso DC-Elite | USB dongle | $449 | 101 mW | +15 dB | Comfortable |
| Cayin RU7 | USB dongle | $269 | 100 mW | +15 dB | Comfortable |
| Aiyima A2 Pro | desktop DAC/amp | $75 | 94 mW | +15 dB | Comfortable |
| Zoom UAC-232 | audio interface | $399 | 92 mW | +15 dB | Comfortable damping |
| Shanling M3 Ultra | portable player | $479 | 88 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable |
| Arturia MiniFuse 2 | audio interface | $149 | 87 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable damping |
| Hidizs S9 Pro Plus | USB dongle | $139 | 86 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable |
| Shanling UA5 | USB dongle | $259 | 86 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| Truthear SHIO | USB dongle | $70 | 78 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable |
| Tanchjim Space | USB dongle | $70 | 78 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable |
| Moondrop Dawn Pro | USB dongle | $75 | 78 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable |
| iBasso DC04 Pro | USB dongle | $119 | 78 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable |
| Astell&Kern HC3 | USB dongle | $179 | 78 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable |
| Astell&Kern HC4 | USB dongle | $219 | 78 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable |
| Qudelix 5K | Bluetooth receiver | $109 | 78 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| Audient iD24 | audio interface | $599 | 78 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable damping |
| ddHiFi TC44 Pro | USB dongle | $189 | 75 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable |
| Audient iD4 MkII | audio interface | $199 | 74 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable |
| Audient iD14 MkII | audio interface | $349 | 74 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable |
| Schiit Valhalla 2 | desktop amplifier | $349 | 72 mW | +14 dB | Comfortable damping |
| Shanling UP5 | Bluetooth receiver | $179 | 70 mW | +13 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| ART HeadAmp 4 Pro | desktop amplifier | $130 | 67 mW | +13 dB | Comfortable damping |
| PreSonus Quantum ES 2 | audio interface | $199 | 66 mW | +13 dB | Comfortable |
| Hidizs S9 Pro | USB dongle | $109 | 62 mW | +13 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| Little Dot MK II | desktop amplifier | $176 | 62 mW | +13 dB | Comfortable |
| FiiO KA13 | USB dongle | $79 | 62 mW | +13 dB | Comfortable |
| iBasso DC03 Pro | USB dongle | $69 | 61 mW | +13 dB | Comfortable |
| PreSonus Studio 68c | audio interface | $299 | 54 mW | +12 dB | Comfortable |
| Universal Audio Volt 2 | audio interface | $199 | 52 mW | +12 dB | Comfortable |
| Universal Audio Volt 276 | audio interface | $299 | 52 mW | +12 dB | Comfortable |
| Steinberg UR44C | audio interface | $349 | 50 mW | +12 dB | Comfortable |
| Sony NW-WM1AM2 | portable player | $1399 | 48 mW | +12 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| PreSonus HP4 | desktop amplifier | $150 | 43 mW | +11 dB | Comfortable |
| Generic CX31993 dongles | USB dongle | $12 | 38 mW | +11 dB | Comfortable audible hiss |
| EarStudio ES100 MK2 | Bluetooth receiver | $90 | 38 mW | +11 dB | Comfortable faint hiss |
| Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 4th gen | audio interface | $279 | 35 mW | +10 dB | Comfortable damping |
| Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th gen | audio interface | $699 | 35 mW | +10 dB | Comfortable damping |
| Sony NW-A306 | portable player | $350 | 28 mW | +9 dB | Enough faint hiss |
| Steinberg IXO22 | audio interface | $119 | 20 mW | +8 dB | Enough |
| Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th gen | audio interface | $139 | 19 mW | +8 dB | Enough damping |
| Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th gen | audio interface | $199 | 19 mW | +8 dB | Enough damping |
| Apple USB-C dongle (US) | USB dongle | $9 | 19 mW | +8 dB | Enough faint hiss |
| JadeAudio JA11 | USB dongle | $20 | 19 mW | +8 dB | Enough |
| PreSonus Studio 24c | audio interface | $149 | 17 mW | +7 dB | Enough |
| Audient EVO 4 | audio interface | $129 | 15 mW | +7 dB | Enough damping |
| Audient EVO 8 | audio interface | $249 | 15 mW | +7 dB | Enough damping |
| Apple USB-C dongle (EU) | USB dongle | $9 | 9.4 mW | +5 dB | Enough faint hiss |
| Steinberg UR22C | audio interface | $199 | 7.5 mW | +4 dB | Enough |
Hiss. At 112.0 dB/V these are sensitive enough to reveal a source's own noise floor. The noisiest source in the database, the Schiit Vali 2+, would put its hiss at roughly 20 dB SPL in these headphones — clearly audible in quiet passages. The hiss calculator lets you check your own amplifier's noise figure.
Output impedance. At 20Ω these want a source output impedance below 2.50Ω to satisfy the one-eighth rule. 16 of the 156 sources here miss it, the worst being the Bottlehead Crack (OTL kit) at 120.0Ω. Above that threshold the source starts shaping the frequency response. Check yours here.
32Ω · 98.0 dB/mW · Easy
See requirements →32Ω · 95.1 dB/mW · Easy
See requirements →32Ω · 88.1 dB/mW · Moderate
See requirements →16Ω · 94.0 dB/mW · Easy
See requirements →36Ω · 97.6 dB/mW · Easy
See requirements →64Ω · 100.0 dB/mW · Easy
See requirements →Or open the comparison tool to put any two models side by side, or browse all 402.