Does the Little Dot MkII drive the Audio-Technica ATH-R70x?

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

Adequate

The Little Dot MkII adequately drives the Audio-Technica ATH-R70x with limited margin (~9.8 dB headroom at 600 ohms; needs ~15.8 mW, delivers 150 mW). (Amp power at 600 ohms is estimated from its published figure at a nearby load.) Note: output impedance for this amp isn't reliably published, so the damping interaction into this 470 Ω load can't be assessed; treat low-impedance pairings with caution.

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

Power Headroom

Headroom: 9.8 dB 0 · target 9.8 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 150 mW at 600 Ω (+9.8 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 ↗
Little Dot MkII Desktop Tube · Single Ended
Output impedance assumed Not published
Power @ 32 Ω 100 mW
Power @ 120 Ω 200 mW
Power @ 300 Ω 300 mW
Power @ 600 Ω 150 mW *est.
Power source Manufacturer 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.
Little Dot MkII SEPP OTL circuit. Power figures (100/200/300 mW at 32/120/300 Ω) appear consistently across retailer listings (Linsoul, ShenZhenAudio) citing manufacturer spec. Note unusual characteristic: more power into 300 Ω than 32 Ω — typical for OTL amps. Output impedance not published; SEPP OTL topology suggests ~20–50 Ω but no reputable non-forum measurement found. Set null; damping check flagged as indeterminate. 600 Ω derived from 300 Ω. · Source ↗
Impedance — unknown output impedance

This amp's output impedance is not reliably published, so the damping interaction into this 470 Ω headphone cannot be assessed. Treat low-impedance pairings (below ~80 Ω) with caution.

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

Little Dot MkII 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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