Does the Bottlehead Crack 1.1 drive the Sennheiser HD 800 S?

Computed from measured specifications · target SPL 110 dB · load 300 Ω

Ample OTL-compatible pairing

The Bottlehead Crack 1.1 drives the Sennheiser HD 800 S with ample headroom (~16.8 dB headroom at 300 ohms; needs ~6.9 mW, delivers 333 mW). This OTL tube amp suits the headphone's impedance (443 Ω) — a classically compatible pairing for high-output-impedance tube sources.

Headroom
16.8 dB
Required (110 dB SPL)
6.9 mW
Delivered (@ 300 Ω)
333 mW
Required voltage
1.75 Vrms

Power Headroom

Headroom: 16.8 dB 0 · target 16.8 dB below target marginal adequate ample -14 dB +10 +20 +36 dB

Scale shows dB headroom above the 6.9 mW required to reach 110 dB SPL. Amp delivers 333 mW at 300 Ω (+16.8 dB above target).

Sennheiser HD 800 S Dynamic · over-ear
Impedance (rated) 300 Ω
Impedance (measured) Source: reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/r… 442.7 Ω measured
Sensitivity 101.6 dB/mW measured
Driver Dynamic
Spec basis Measured
Measured by Reference Audio Analyzer (https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/report/hp/sennheiser-hd-800s.php) · Source ↗
Bottlehead Crack 1.1 Desktop Tube · Single Ended
Output impedance manufacturer 120.0 Ω
Power @ 300 Ω 333 mW
Power @ 600 Ω 166 mW *est.
Power source Manufacturer
* Loads marked "est." are derived from the published voltage ceiling at a lower-impedance load (V = √(P·R) → P_higher = V²/R_higher). All derivations are upward only.
Bottlehead product page (bottlehead.com/products/crack-1-1-otl-headphone-amplifier-kit): output impedance 120 Ω (published). Power: '~10V into a 300 ohm load' → P = 10²/300 = 333 mW; the '~' qualifier makes this approximate. 600 Ω derived from 300 Ω voltage ceiling (~10 V). Designed for 300–600 Ω headphones only. · Source ↗
Impedance compatibility

This OTL tube amp's high output impedance (120 Ω) is a good match for the Sennheiser HD 800 S's 442 Ω impedance. The impedance ratio (3.7×) falls within the recommended range for high-output-impedance tube sources — a classically well-matched pairing.

Where to buy

Bottlehead Crack 1.1 on Amazon ↗ Sennheiser HD 800 S on Amazon ↗

Disclosure: links above are Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate this site earns from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. Affiliate commissions do not influence verdicts; all analysis is computed independently from the data.

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