I have to say, I love how Jason has implemented modular components. Not because the built-in option is necessarily better, but because there doesn't seem to be much added cost to the original product due to the modular portion. What I mean is, if Jason made a Lyr 3 without the optional card slot, I doubt it would be any better as a dedicated headphone amp, or any cheaper. This way, if you like one of the modules, you can get it. If you don't, you haven't lost anything. Buy the amp and whatever DAC (or other source) you want to pair it with.
Also, as another person pointed out earlier, I think it would make a ton of sense for Schiit to offer a simple RCA input card for the Jot/Lyr. I imagine it would be an easy/cheap board to make, and for those that don't want a real card, they would be able to use the toggle built into the front (!) to switch between sources (like a DAC and phono preamp) without a more complex/compromised external solution like Sys.
Personally, it does seem slightly difficult to justify getting a built-in multibit card with USB only when for $50 more I could get a Mimby, which adds two inputs, and more importantly, can be re-purposed elsewhere when I want to upgrade or just simply change functionality. But, I can see why a streamlined setup might mean more to someone than those other advantages, and like I said earlier, I think Schiit's approach lets everyone have their cake and eat it too.
I'm not a potential customer of any Asgard product because I care much more about my 2 channel gear (Magni is enough for my headphone listening). Regardless, here is my opinion: I think that sometimes you need to kill your darlings. Several people have said that you can't change Asgard to class AB because Asgard is class A. I understand the sentiment but I disagree, because with that mentality, you would never change anything. From the perspective of running a company, if changing Asgard will anger your most loyal customers, then that's a good enough reason not to do it. But ideally, I think you should make the products you think are best for the price regardless of what type of products those are. If I'm spending $250 on a headphone amp, I want it to be the best sounding amp. The massive flaw in my argument is that no one is ever going to agree on what sounds best. My point though is that I would rather if Jason, as an engineer, always made what he thought was the best, without any artificial limits.
Personally, class A sounds fun, but something truly new and unique sounds even better, especially with fun names like Coherence and Continuity
My next purchase is going to be a Bimby, but I'm waiting for an update. Not because I feel there is one imminent, but because I'm not in any rush, it's been 2 years since the original board came out (which I consider somewhat long for a digital product), and I will just feel warmer inside hitting the order button immediately after an update.
