Since Verza doesn't have a thread yet and it is designed to sound best with the M-100, I suppose there's no harm in a mini-discussion about Verza here.
Yes, this is how I envisioned the next-gen portable headphone amp- no bands, no locking tape, no velcro. You could still have a short LOD cable, but the player/phone would just snap into the bracket. The challenge is full functionality, but a quick release function would make that more workable. Anyone who owns Vamp knows it is not quick release as some serious damage could be done if one is not careful. However since there is full functionality with Vamp, there is also no reason to ever separate Vamp from the Iphone.
Vamp is so convenient and unique in how it fits perfectly with my Iphone 4 that I am hesitant to ever upgrade my Iphone, regardless of new features around the corner. Portable listening for active use doesn't get much better than Vamp/Iphone 4 through M-100 or Ultrasone Signature DJ. There are portable DAC/amps with a comparable price tag or higher that may offer more power, but they aren't pocketably portable like Vamp or even Verza.
Yes, I don't want to go overboard either, but...
Concerning your note about LOD cable, what I was illustrating would be the case IS the LOD, no external thingies to go wibbly-wobbly and break. So you have no bands, no Velcro, no locking tape,
no external wires, just a custom-fit slick audio solution. You just buy the Verza for amping, then just pick the integrated case/LOD that was made for your portable source.
One interesting thing about the iPhone 5, with it's Lightning port and loss of the line-out connections that was part of the previous 30-pin port, is that it makes a product like the VAMP – that includes a licensed connection to an external DAC and amp – suddenly much more justifiable. Before, you could use a LOD with any amp, but now, since the iPhone 5 needs an (expensive) DAC to get sound out of anything besides the headphone jack, you might as well go all-out and build a complete system, which the VAMP is, even though it was built "before it's time."
With that said, an integrated case/LOD product, like I guessed the Metallo could be, could only be made for products that actually offer LOD capability. Else you might as well get a VAMP style all-out product or just get comfortable with double-amping.
I don't mean to get anyone's hopes up since I really don't think this is happening yet. However, it never hurts to put a creative bug in Val's ear for future products. :wink_face:
But yeah, it's only a guess/dream. You've heard me say this over the past year: I wish I was employed to be a creative bug in Val's ear. I'm just not assertive enough to make it happen.
*turns away and goes back to restaurant work, hoping his GD networking contacts pay off someday*
