desk rig for laptop

[uncledoobie]

so i've finally decided to get into the world of headphone amps. thing is, i'm not to clear on the subject. i've decided to possibly set up a small desktop rig for my laptop. Thing is, i've got a set of Logitech z5500 speakers on the way. if i bought an amp for home usage, price range anywhere between $50-100, would it make sense to do so if there already is an amp/processor in the control pod of the speaker system? if i can still do this, what kind of amp do i buy for this kind of setup? i'd want it to run on AC power rather than battery. when i'm not using my speakers, i'm using my HD590's.

 

[jumping jupiters]

Your Senn's definitely deserve more than your laptop/ipod can offer. I'm not sure if $50 to $100 is enough to realise an added benefit so my point might be mute, however, Headroom offers some good options: Airhead/ Bithead or for some more bucks...Total Airhead/Total Bithead. I own the Total Bithead due to the fact that I use it with my laptop. The Bithead's can run off your computer's power when using the USB, but the battery power lasts 40 hours which really does work out well in the real world. If it is AC power you desire then the Airheads will work out nicely for an added sum (something like $15 added).

The Senn's really do take a lot of juice...I use HD650's...I found the amps in your price range work best with Grado's.

Others can speak to alternative devices, but I imagine the sound quality in this price range ($50 to $100) probably doesn't change to much from one amp to another. Still, you will notice an improvement from adding an amp.

Cheers

 

[Helter Skelter]

If the amplification circuitry on the Z-5500 is anything like my Z-680's, it's crap and your laptop alone would probably do a better job of driving your headphones.

Get a real amp, there's a few options in your price range, like the PocketAmp 2 and the Go-Vibe, just to name a couple. You could even get a cmoy custom made to run off of wall power.

 

[uncledoobie]

so it would help to add on an amp in between the laptop on the z5500s just to clean up and boost the sound?