Armaegis

In comparisons of the usb vs optical (from usb->Lyra or usb->RME) vs coax (Schiit Eitr), I prefer the usb directly into the Mercury. I still have this nagging feeling that the usb input might be the bottleneck, but I'm not sure if I want to go down the rabbithole of DDC. (kinda want one with multiple outputs and a clock for purposes of comparing dacs though...)

I'm glad to hear you like it! How "velvety" does it sound? The best AKM4490 implementation I've heard is the RME ADI-2 DAC FS and I am wondering how big of a departure the Mercury is from that kind of sound.

The Babyface Pro FS is an AKM dac but I can't remember which (it's not a "common" one). I actually like it more than the ADI-2 Pro (not FS) that I used to own which did sound a bit etched-yet-velvet while the Babyface does not.
Coming in cold I honestly have a hard time telling Babyface and Mercury apart, they have a lot of similarities, with the Mercury nudging ahead a tiny smidge across the board.

The Makoyi had a short tour back in 2017. Lots of initial interest but then people dropped out =/
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/now-open-to-usa-wolf-ear-makoyi-loaner.3705/

I remember seeing that "wolf head" plaque here somewhere. Guess he's like the aboriginal Canadian DNA.

Mapletree Audio is another Canadian tube amp maker, with a webpage that looks like it still belongs in the netscape era: https://www.mapletreeaudio.com/
Their circuits are also available in their manuals.

I’ll have to give that one a shot too, though, I really ought to start the Worm sequel as well

I haven't heard of Worm... I guess that might be another rabbit hole to fall down.

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/what-are-you-reading.85/page-10#post-187617

I would point you to this post of me fawning over it again