Do simple speakers have an in-built amplifier?

[aruni]

I have ancient Altec Lansing 120i speakers. I recently bought Audio Technica M35 Headphones and I have noticed that if I connect the headphones to the speaker's 3.5mm jack (indirectly), they sound better than connecting them directly with my laptop's 3.5 mm jack. Is it because there's some bourgeois amplifier built into these speakers? they are powered speakers, btw.

 

[aruni]

wow, not a single reply!