Holy crap. Night and day.

I'm opting to wait for the official FW release, and I would like that day to come quickly. That is all.

I was just looking at the X3 product description on FiiO's website, and it indicates that X3 could take a 128GB card. Is this new? Did they update the firmware or something?

  First, this is a nice problem to have (a lot of memory versus a whole lot of memory). Flash is great, and it's amazing to see capacity reaching into HD territory. I think I'd go with a "first-string" and "second-string" card approach. I'd put the heavier rotation stuff on one card and the...

  If it's that easy, I wonder why people are so into the idea of 128GB SD cards. Two 64GB are 25% cheaper, give or take.

Sorry, I'm sure this has been covered a million times, but can SD cards be swapped on the go? Is it as easy as popping in the SD card and updating the library? How long would this take? Thanks.

Thanks Protege. Any other suggestions on setting the volume on the A2's?   Anyone know how the interface between preamp and headphone amp on the Asgard 2 works? If headphone's plugged in and the preamp output leads to active speakers, will the Asgard activate both? Preference the headphones? 

Thanks everyone again for the help. I have a specific question. I'm using the Asgard 2 as a preamp so will control gain level with that. What position should I put the volume control on the A2s? 9, 12, 3? Also, does anyone know how the Asgard switches between preamp out and headphone out? Does...

After re-reading reviews on Amazon about the quality control issues with the av40s, I cancelled my order. I got the Audioengine A2s instead. Happy I went for the nicer option.

Yeah, I get that it might simply be a marketing issue. The Audioengine A2s are the right idea, but I couldn't stomach that price tag for speakers that have to make compromises on SQ due to their size. For $130, I'd snatch them up. The Swans seem great, but they aren't available anywhere I could...

So after going around and around on this, I ended up where I started. I got the M-Audio av40s. The price is right, and most people have reported good experiences with them. I worry a little about quality control issues, but if they die, so be it. I figure they will sound nice with the Asgard as...

Interesting feedback on the A2s. I had thought the A2's represented a real step-up, but I get that big, neutral sound can't come from a small package. I don't like the bloated bass, harsh highs, and recessed mids that seem endemic in small, powered speaker systems. I'd rather have no low-end...

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I've decided to go Asgard to active speakers. I'm trying to decide between Creative T20s, which are $70 on Amazon, or Audioengine A2s. Obviously the A2s are a much better product, but they also blow my budget up. Based on my research, the $100-150 range...

No way the Asgard to power passive speakers though, right?

Oh and the computer is a five-year-old iMac with Snow Leopard OS. I use mostly ALAC.