I'm using the International a few ways. I use it with my laptop as my 'desktop' rig, my 'desktop' really being a laptop that travels all over the house. I'll get a desktop amp eventually but figured I would start with the International so at least when I go bigger for the home setup I'll still have an excellent portable amp.
The second way is connecting via the
Apple Camera Connector Kit to my iPad Mini, connecting directly to the Int'l's DAC.
So far I've used HD650s and HE-400s with it. For shiggles I also tried my Sennheiser Momentums, which already sound pretty good straight out of an iPhone. All three immediately revealed themselves as different, and better, than I understood them when I started listening to them with a Magni/Modi stack. I'm finding everything I have runs effortlessly, pretty much before the knob hits noon -- there's definitely enough power here to drive almost anything, I'd guess.
The only thing that might give one pause: if you're considering using one of the Cypher Labs units, these fit much better with other ALO amps (specifically the Continental and RX Mk3-b). And you won't need the DAC functionality of the Int'l anyway if you're going that route. Worth considering if that whole
portable desktop-quality-rig is going to be on your roadmap. I didn't really know enough about the Cypher and considered it briefly, at which point I sort of wished I had gotten one of the other two amps I mentioned above.
Otherwise I'm happy to throw my appreciation into this appreciation thread. This is something that will be a permanent part of my toy chest. From clean, authoritative sound to solid build quality (and the prompt and courteous responses to various unrelated questions I've sent to support at ALO) this is a purchase I would definitely make again and again if I were in the same position as when I bought it. I look forward to completely wearing it out over the coming years.
