How much does the Ampersand change the DAP's voicing and impart it's own? My preference is for the amplification to amplify without adding or taking anything as I like the sound of my DAP. I just need more juice....
Also- is the M8 dac going to be better than any dap- as a dac or not necessarily. I love my Sony wmz1 m2 sound and would love to keep it is is- just with more gain.
I say your Pm as well so I will answer here...
I Use these last months mainly the CE Ampersand with a moded WM1A by Nayparm (with a load of huge capacitors) with some MrWalkman cooked firmware so I would say the sound quality is no longer a pure "Sony" .. but it's probably, by a big margin, my favourite SQ between all my portable devices (FIIO M8/M11/M17, Kann Alpha, R6Pro, BTR7, UP4(2022), iFiGoblu)..
To tell the truth, I can't really say the Ampersand has no effect on Sound Quality on headphones, as I only use this amp with a huge pleasure with the power hungry DCA Stealth and sometimes the HEDDPhone One => both of these headphones can't be moved properly directly by the WM1A (I used as portable amp also the Centrance M8V2, LESS BX2+, ..).
The Ampersand offers the real chance to the WM1A to move more or less properly the DCA Stealth like the FIIO M17 does (even in Audio Enhanced mode).
I can't make any A/B comparison with my TOTL headphones (WM1A is not powerful enough without the Ampersand) , but with the Sony Z7M2 => I don't feel any real sound quality changes at same volume level with or without Ampersand in the path. The M8V2 has some little background hiss in BT Receiver mode, but not in USB-C Input mode)
For me the Ampersand is :
-> perfect with the WM1A to drive power hungry headphones
-> the most powerful portable amp I own even FIIO M17 plugged to an external power supply is not as powerful.
-> rather light & compact for such power which keeps the WM1A still really portable.
-> 4 to 5 hours playing time at a realistic volume level
I don't use anymore the Less BX2+, though the sound quality and power in Class A mode is impressive too ... but too bulky and little playing time on battery.
I usually avoid to use the Ampersand with my IEMs (VE EXT, IE900/600, N3AP, WU Zetian, Xelento, ...) but, when I tried, there was no hiss in low and medium gain (I didn't use High gain due to too much power and risky for my ears)
Actually my preferred holidays travelling combo for planes, trains, hotels, family's home is :
Source is a Samsung Z Fold4 (1Tb) + SSD WD4Tb (with samsung wireless 10000 powerbank)
-> WM1A / iFi Go Blu (both set in BT recceiver mode, one for the day and the other for the night)
-> TWS JVC HA-FW1000T (the nearest a headphone feeling I own)
-> IEM Sony XBA-N3AP & WU Zetian
-> DCA Stealth (Yes in my luggage) + Centrance Ampersand (10000Mha very compact Powerbank)