Does the Darkvoice 336SE drive the Audio-Technica ATH-R70x?

Computed from rated specifications · target SPL 110 dB · load 600 Ω

Adequate OTL-compatible pairing

The Darkvoice Darkvoice 336SE adequately drives the Audio-Technica ATH-R70x with limited margin (~9.0 dB headroom at 600 ohms; needs ~15.8 mW, delivers 125 mW). (Amp power at 600 ohms is estimated from its published figure at a nearby load.) This OTL tube amp suits the headphone's impedance (470 Ω) — a classically compatible pairing for high-output-impedance tube sources.

Headroom
9.0 dB
Required (110 dB SPL)
15.8 mW
Delivered (@ 600 Ω)
125 mW *est.
Required voltage
2.73 Vrms

Power Headroom

Headroom: 9.0 dB 0 · target 9.0 dB below target marginal adequate ample -14 dB +10 +20 +36 dB

Scale shows dB headroom above the 15.8 mW required to reach 110 dB SPL. Amp delivers 125 mW at 600 Ω (+9.0 dB above target). Power figure estimated from an adjacent published load.

Audio-Technica ATH-R70x Dynamic · over-ear
Impedance 470.0 Ω rated
Sensitivity 98.0 dB/mW rated
Driver Dynamic
Spec basis Rated
Rated: Audio-Technica official spec (470 Ω, 98 dB/mW at 1 kHz). RAA has no measurement page. · Source ↗
Darkvoice 336SE Desktop Tube · Single Ended
Output impedance assumed 100.0 Ω estimated
Power @ 300 Ω 250 mW
Power @ 600 Ω 125 mW *est.
Power source Estimated low confidence
* 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.
OTL tube amp using 6N5P output tubes. Manufacturer page (Apos, analogmetric) states only 'Power handling capacity: 1 W' with no load specification. Power figure of 250 mW @ 300 Ω is a conservative estimate based on OTL topology similar to the Bottlehead Crack; treat as approximate. Output impedance of 100 Ω is estimated from OTL/6N5P tube topology — manufacturer does not publish this figure. 600 Ω derived from 300 Ω. · Source ↗
Impedance compatibility

This OTL tube amp's high output impedance (100 Ω) is a good match for the Audio-Technica ATH-R70x's 470 Ω impedance. The impedance ratio (4.7×) falls within the recommended range for high-output-impedance tube sources — a classically well-matched pairing.

Specification confidence: low

One or more amp specifications (power output or output impedance) are estimated rather than published by the manufacturer. Treat this pairing's verdict as approximate.

Power figure note

The amp's power at 600 Ω was not published directly — it was derived from the voltage ceiling at a published lower-impedance load. The actual delivered power may differ modestly.

Where to buy

Darkvoice 336SE on Amazon ↗ Audio-Technica ATH-R70x 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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