[sgtpepper64]

I just bought a Lenovo U410 Ultrabook and the headphone jack that it came with is just horrible.  I have a pair of ATH-M50's, and when plugged into the headphone jack they don't really fit right and the sound quality is worse on them compared to using cheap apple earbuds on it.  What can I buy to get good sound out of my laptop with headphones?  I was looking at the NuForce uDAC-2 HP amp, would that do the job?  I'm very new to this so I have no idea what to buy.  I have good speakers with a separate headphone jack, but I want something that I can carry with me on the go that will give me good sound out of my laptop.  Id rather not spend more than $60 unless its really necessary.  
 
Thanks.

 

[NA Blur]

You will want an external DAC/amp combo.
 
Take a look here;
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/620775/the-sub-200-portable-amps-shootout-11-10-amps-compared
 
I used a Total Bithead for years, but there is better technology out there now.
 
The DAC will help clean up the noise and the amp should improve the low end punch.

 

[sgtpepper64]

Thanks for the link.  I was looking at the sub-$100 amps and I think I'm either going to go with the FiiO E11 as of right now.  

 

[xkonfuzed]

You need a DAC to bypass the horrible sound quality of your laptop's soundcard. E11 is only an amp. Get a FiiO E07k, its for $80 now on amazon. Totally worth it. 

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

Thanks for the link.  I was looking at the sub-$100 amps and I think I'm either going to go with the FiiO E11 as of right now.  

Get the Fiio E10, USB, DAC, Head amp,  $55-$60.

 

[sgtpepper64]

Oh gotcha, this is what I will probably be purchasing then.  Thanks for your help.