"Can Be" is an opinion based statement....can a Hyndai pull a locomotive, can a etc. etc etc...Can this headphone be driven without an amp, sure it can, can a low powered cheapo amp make it louder, sure it can....Can it do it WHELL is another point entirely....My experience - NO, solunds lack luster without any amp, louder but still lackluster with a cheapo Fiio, or even HIFIMANS bargain priced EF2A, and you'll either think you got a defective hp, or think something is actually wrong with you, because you don't see what all the other bloggers are raving about.....However, pair it with an amp like the lyr, or better yet the Violectric HPA-V200.......and NOW you have the outstanding headphone you thought you were paying for....Can't afford the amp ? don't spend a penny for now, thinking you'll upgrade your set up latter and pair the hp with an amp when you have the chance....You'll get the HP, probably be very disapointed, then cause of that, never get the amp at all, thinking you know what, this whole audiophile stuff is over-rated....Save your pennys, to you can buy both at the same time....Then - you'll be like WOW---all the while bypassing that stage of being an unhappy owner of a awesome, but un-amped hp.