On a serious note...

I don't know why I answer these kinds of questions because they usually mean that people have already made up their minds and want validation. Hopefully this is not the case. And if I ever find out you purchased the RSA, I will ban you permanently.

• The ALO brick mk3 seriously kicks ass. It sounds close to a good desktop unit. The noise you mentioned is an issue with IEMs.
• The next best thing I've heard is the UHA-6S. Works fine with IEMs.
• Everything I've heard from RSA sounds the same. That is pretty good / OK.

Well, at least we agree then - I havent heard the UHA, but apart from that

I just like to keep an open mind, and give it a chance, especially because I like his built quality/form factor better, but I do agree that the Rx Mk3b(rick) is very impressive. Even after hearing a lot of expensive desktop amps at a recent meet I still felt it held its own with its punchy sound, large soundstage and gritty detail. I did feel the Beta22 (SE) was a better solid state amp, but then that isnt really a fair comparison.
Compared to the RSA SR71-B the Rx Mk3 just sounded much more engaging and like it was actually trying. Bun then thats probably some of the reason some prefer the SR71-b, because it just seems very easy to get along with - I just prefer the more exciting/interesting sound.
But again, I thought I'd see if RSA had done something new

In defense of RSA, that is one of its strong points, and it's obvious some effort / listening tests (and thereby component selection) are put into making the products sound that way. There is a consistent house sound, and you say that the house sound is always somewhat pleasant and forgiving.

iBasso on the other hand. They may have similarly designed products, but all the stuff I've heard from them sounds terrible and grating. Nasty is probably a good word. As if they simply copied someone else's product, idea, or used the latest fancy in vogue DAC chip, and never bothered to listen to or tune/tweak what they created.

After my short time on this site I've begun to wonder... You put strong emphasis on headphone measurements, discuss the intricacies of acoustic design like various damping schemes and such. At the same time I can't help but to notice that the requirements on amplifier design are far less stringent. Don't get me wrong- I'm not a fan of O2 (again- not to be confused with Stax O2) sound and the lengthy ramblings of its designer. However next to the remarkable opus that are the headphone measurements (and insightful comments) I'd also like to see amplifier measurements with comments on topology and how these measurements translate into psychoacoustic terms. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't amplifier (and DAC) measurements vastly easier in terms of needed gear and repeatability? Surely there must be someone amongst our merry bunch who has access to high grade test equipment and is trustworthy enough to receive some gear for measuring?

Otherwise it seems a tad schizophrenic for a site that has the Pirates Booty section backed up by measurements and impressions to have selected other equipment almost solely by "it sounds good/bad to me" terms.

After my short time on this site I've begun to wonder... You put strong emphasis on headphone measurements, discuss the intricacies of acoustic design like various damping schemes and such. At the same time I can't help but to notice that the requirements on amplifier design are far less stringent. Don't get me wrong- I'm not a fan of O2 (again- not to be confused with Stax O2) sound and the lengthy ramblings of its designer. However next to the remarkable opus that are the headphone measurements (and insightful comments) I'd also like to see amplifier measurements with comments on topology and how these measurements translate into psychoacoustic terms. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't amplifier (and DAC) measurements vastly easier in terms of needed gear and repeatability? Surely there must be someone amongst our merry bunch who has access to high grade test equipment and is trustworthy enough to receive some gear for measuring?

Otherwise it seems a tad schizophrenic for a site that has the Pirates Booty section backed up by measurements and impressions to have selected other equipment almost solely by "it sounds good/bad to me" terms.

that's what headcase is for lol