Does the Darkvoice 336SE drive the Sennheiser HD 600?

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

Verdict

Ample OTL-compatible pairing

The Darkvoice Darkvoice 336SE drives the Sennheiser HD 600 with ample headroom (~14.5 dB headroom at 300 ohms; needs ~8.9 mW, delivers 250 mW). This OTL tube amp suits the headphone's impedance (352 Ω) — a classically compatible pairing for high-output-impedance tube sources.

Headroom
14.5 dB
Required (110 dB SPL)
8.9 mW
Delivered (@ 300 Ω)
250 mW
Required voltage
1.77 Vrms

Power Headroom

Headroom: 14.5 dB 0 · target 14.5 dB below target marginal adequate ample -14 dB +10 +20 +36 dB

Scale shows dB headroom above the 8.9 mW required to reach 110 dB SPL. Amp delivers 250 mW at 300 Ω (+14.5 dB above target).

Sennheiser HD 600 Dynamic · over-ear
Impedance (rated) 300 Ω
Impedance (measured) Source: reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/r… 352.1 Ω measured
Sensitivity 100.5 dB/mW measured
Driver Dynamic
Spec basis Measured
Measured by Reference Audio Analyzer (https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/report/hp/sennheiser-hd-600.php) · 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 Sennheiser HD 600's 352 Ω impedance. The impedance ratio (3.5×) 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.

Where to buy

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