Does the Schiit Valhalla 2 drive the Sennheiser HD 800 S?

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

Ample OTL-compatible pairing

The Schiit Valhalla 2 drives the Sennheiser HD 800 S with ample headroom (~20.6 dB headroom at 300 ohms; needs ~6.9 mW, delivers 800 mW). This OTL tube amp suits the headphone's impedance (443 Ω) — a classically compatible pairing for high-output-impedance tube sources.

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

Power Headroom

Headroom: 20.6 dB 0 · target 20.6 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 800 mW at 300 Ω (+20.6 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 ↗
Schiit Valhalla 2 Desktop Tube · Single Ended
Output impedance manufacturer 14.0 Ω
Power @ 50 Ω 180 mW
Power @ 300 Ω 800 mW
Power @ 600 Ω 450 mW
Power source Manufacturer
Schiit Valhalla 2 manufacturer spec (Audiophonics retailer, citing Schiit official): 180/800/450 mW at 50/300/600 Ω. OTL/hybrid topology: more power into 300 Ω than 50 Ω (normal for OTL). Output impedance 14 Ω (hi-gain) / 3.5 Ω (lo-gain) from Schiit PDF manual and Schiit Europe. Using 14 Ω as worst-case for damping check. · Source ↗
Impedance compatibility

This OTL tube amp's high output impedance (14 Ω) is a good match for the Sennheiser HD 800 S's 442 Ω impedance. The impedance ratio (31.6×) falls within the recommended range for high-output-impedance tube sources — a classically well-matched pairing.

Where to buy

Schiit Valhalla 2 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.

AmplifierHeadroom
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Schiit Asgard 3 Ample 19.4 dB
Topping L30 Ample 16.1 dB
Topping A90 Ample 15.6 dB
iFi Zen DAC V2 Adequate 7.2 dB
Apple USB-C to 3.5mm Insufficient -3.2 dB

See all amplifiers for the Sennheiser HD 800 S →

HeadphoneHeadroom
Sennheiser HD 660S Ample 22.5 dB
Sennheiser HD 600 Ample 19.5 dB
Audeze LCD-2 Classic Ample 13.6 dB
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250 Ample 13.5 dB
AKG K240 Studio Adequate 3.6 dB
Fostex T50RP Mk3 Marginal 1.7 dB

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