At 55 ohms impedance, these headphones do benefit from having an amp---unless you don't mind having to crank up the volume on your laptop (I have used them with two Thinkpads and one Asus).  With my MP3 player (<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Cowon-C2-16BS-16-GB-Video-Player-Black-with-Silver/dp/B005C3GYE6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Cowon C2-16BS 16 GB Video Player, Black with Silver</a>) I have to have the volume at 35 or higher (40 is max) though it sounds fine without an amp.  Anyway, I have a&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/FiiO-E07K-Andes-Portable-USB-DAC-Headphone-Amplifier-Black/dp/B00A9LHLQ6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">FiiO E07K Andes Portable USB DAC Headphone Amplifier, Black</a>&nbsp;on the way, so will update this review when it gets here...am expecting/hoping it will be the icing on the cake.