A good, cheap amp?

[Gravemind]

tl;dr my new desktop doesn't give enough power to my headphones (multiple pairs) like my laptop used to, and everything has less impact overall. It sounds like they're plugged into a phone it's so... lifeless.
I've tweaked with 1st and 3rd part equalizers and enhancements, and tried them in every sound port—even the audio pass-through in my monitor, but apparently my 8 year old laptop has a better built-in amp than my flashy new desktop

 

I'm looking for basically the cheapest amp that would get the job done. That would give my music the richness it had before.

Just something to plug into a headphone port, then plug my headphones into that.

 

Any cheap suggestions? I don't need some crazy setup, just enough to get the job done.

 

 

EDIT: I would get a cheapo sound card, but my MIcro-ATX build only had 2 slots, and my GPU takes up both. I already thought of that.

Edited November 29, 2016 by Gravemind
Addendum.

[nicobombai]

Cheap solution? Fiio K1 should get the job done imo, runs on USB, plug and play.

[Gravemind]

Just now, nicobombai said:

Cheap solution? Fiio K1 should get the job done imo, runs on USB, plug and play.

You have one and it's good?

I don't want to get something that isn't better, or has any hissing or interference.

[nicobombai]

Using it with DT770 80 ohms, they power up the headphone and I have no problems at all, i can tolerate them up to 60% volume, above that my ear hurts lol.

[Gravemind]

6 minutes ago, nicobombai said:

Using it with DT770 80 ohms, they power up the headphone and I have no problems at all, i can tolerate them up to 60% volume, above that my ear hurts lol.

Says the input is through micro-usb which is a bit odd, and I don't want to use up more of my front-panel USB connections. I just want 3.5mm input and 3.5mm output.

But I'll bookmark it for now. It's certainly an obtainable price.

I don't get why any and all amps are so f*cking expensive for no reason. All it does is give a bit more juice to headphones.

[spwath]

4 hours ago, Gravemind said:

 

I don't get why any and all amps are so f*cking expensive for no reason. All it does is give a bit more juice to headphones.

Because it's much harder than that. It's not like you are driving a lightbulb, headphones are more complex

[LukeS]

You mean speaker system instead of amp. Amp- Amplifier.

[spwath]

20 minutes ago, LukeS said:

You mean speaker system instead of amp. Amp- Amplifier.

No.... 

He means amp...

[KaminKevCrew]

2 hours ago, LukeS said:

You mean speaker system instead of amp. Amp- Amplifier.

What are you even on about??

[Gravemind]

On 11/29/2016 at 3:23 AM, nicobombai said:

Using it with DT770 80 ohms, they power up the headphone and I have no problems at all, i can tolerate them up to 60% volume, above that my ear hurts lol.

2 questions about the amp,

 

1. I'm assuming it will work with Windows 7 64 bit? I don't want any driver shenanigans.

2. Will a regular micro-usb cord that handles power and data work? Or do I need some special kind made out of eagle feathers and angel tears?

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Gravemind said:

2 questions about the amp,

 

1. I'm assuming it will work with Windows 7 64 bit? I don't want any driver shenanigans.

2. Will a regular micro-usb cord that handles power and data work? Or do I need some special kind made out of eagle feathers and angel tears?

 

It runs on USB and is plug and play.

[GamerDude]

Well,  I've been hearing some good things about the Schitt Fulla 2. It's a USB Dac/amp combo....

[KaminKevCrew]

1 minute ago, GamerDude said:

Well,  I've been hearing some good things about the Schitt Fulla 2. It's a USB Dac/amp combo....

Hell yeah

[nicobombai]

7 hours ago, Gravemind said:

2 questions about the amp,

 

1. I'm assuming it will work with Windows 7 64 bit? I don't want any driver shenanigans.

2. Will a regular micro-usb cord that handles power and data work? Or do I need some special kind made out of eagle feathers and angel tears?

1. Its plug and play, no drivers required.

2. I'm using the samsung charger cord cos its longer, seems to be fine for a couple of months usage.

[Undertow_]

I use an E10K with my DT880s and have had no problems at all. It's also small enough where you could bring it with you if you happen to travel a lot.

[KaminKevCrew]

3 hours ago, Undertow_ said:

I use an E10K with my DT880s and have had no problems at all. It's also small enough where you could bring it with you if you happen to travel a lot.

Yeah, but you can also do that with the Fulla 2, which is going to be a better amp/DAC.

[spwath]

15 minutes ago, KaminKevCrew said:

Yeah, but you can also do that with the Fulla 2, which is going to be a better amp/DAC.

Plus better knob, more input/output options, and subjectivley better looks and name.

[KaminKevCrew]

1 hour ago, spwath said:

better name.

You're Fulla (2) Schiit.

[Gravemind]

2 hours ago, spwath said:

Plus better knob, more input/output options, and subjectivley better looks and name.

 

2 hours ago, KaminKevCrew said:

Yeah, but you can also do that with the Fulla 2, which is going to be a better amp/DAC.

But I don't have a lot of money. The Fiio looks just fine to me for an amp/dac under $50. I don't need a big fancy thing, just want life back in my headphones.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Gravemind said:

But I don't have a lot of money. The Fiio looks just fine to me for an amp/dac under $50. I don't need a big fancy thing, just want life back in my headphones.

 

lmao then get the Fiio K1. This thread has dragged on long enough. You're buying a $50 DAC/amp, not a $50k speaker system. No need to agonize over trivialities.