Apex Glacier perhaps.  Leckerton is working on a higher end amp w/ digital control like the UHA4.  I'd probably go w/ the 4 for price.  Never cared for the Pico Slim myself apart from size.

Analixus - the Glacier has been on my radar, but just a little weary of its performance with only sensitive IEM's. I like the amp/dac combo with digital volume control. The Arrow has been on my radar for a while too, but I've read that you need to contact him for have it modified for sensitive IEM use.  If the Pico Slim had a couple tweaks and an integrated usb dac, it would be a no brainer choice.

Apex Glacier perhaps.  Leckerton is working on a higher end amp w/ digital control like the UHA4.  I'd probably go w/ the 4 for price.  Never cared for the Pico Slim myself apart from size.

do you know if this is just an amp or DAC as well? as the UHA-4 is DAC too?
not sure if the DAC would be upgraded though, but this sounds promising.

If you mean Leckerton, I believe Nick is only making integrated DAC/Amps.  I hear he is improving the DAC section as well, maybe XMOS.  I worry the receiver chip will end USB on the go support.  So far, everything XMOS requires drivers which means the end of phone use unless it's an Apple.

I honestly don't know what XMOS does but that doesn't sound very great for me. I do use an apple phone, but I'm hoping to use it with my iPad rather than iPhone. or perhaps both... :p
any idea if that would work, assuming the power draw is less than 20mA from the DAC? (CCK specification limit)

thanks!

XMOS works fine w/ idevices for the most part, driverless.  Shouldn't be a problem.

sounds good, a bit excited about this one now. any idea when the release date would be?

thanks!

hmm looked up a bit more information about XMOS... this will likely not be a low cost DAC/amp solution? (relatively speaking of course. the UHA-6s is fairly low cost)