Andromeda MW10 vs Aria 2
A side-by-side readout for impedance.
Understanding impedance
Impedance determines how much voltage is needed to drive a headphone to a given volume.
Categories
- 16–32 Ω — IEMs, most consumer cans. Run loud from a phone.
- 32–80 Ω — premium portable headphones. Phone works; dedicated amp adds headroom.
- 150–250 Ω — studio/Hi-Fi (DT 770, HD 600 family). Need a real amp.
- 300–600 Ω — pro studio. Definitely need an amp.
Why high-impedance exists
Higher-impedance drivers can be wound with thinner wire, allowing tighter motor systems and more accurate transient response — at the cost of needing more voltage to drive.
Sensitivity matters too
A 32 Ω headphone at 85 dB/mW sensitivity may be quieter than a 300 Ω one at 110 dB/mW. Always read impedance + sensitivity together.
This matchupAria 2's 32Ω is roughly 167% more than Andromeda MW10's 12Ω (a 20Ω gap). Lower is better here, so Andromeda MW10 takes the lead in real use.
What is impedance?
A headphone's electrical resistance to AC current, in ohms (Ω). Low-impedance (16–80 Ω) headphones run loud from any phone; high-impedance (250–600 Ω) need a dedicated amplifier.
Read the full Impedance explainer →Other specs on this comparison
See the full In-Ear Monitors category for all products ranked by Mars Score.