Can I connect an MP3 player directly to a DAC for improved sound quality?

[marl]

I'm a bit behind the times with digital formats as I play mainly vinyl. I listen a lot on my ipod/mp3 players and my library of ripped CD's on my hard drive is expanding rapidly?

For better sound quality can I connect an ipod/MP3 player directly to a DAC or upsampler which is itself connected to my main system?

 

[lord filbuster]

I don't know of any MP3 player that will output digital signals, so a DAC isn't going to do anything.

I sometimes put my player in line out mode and use a headphone amp, but that isn't going to help if you are connecting it to an amp anyway.

The best sound you are going to get is if you connect it directly to your amp, and put the player in line out mode, if it has it.

I suppose you could also try using lossless compression, but unless you are using relatively low bitrate MP3 files you aren't going to notice a difference anyway.

 

[Meatball]

What amp do you use in your main system?

 

[skyripper]

I don't know of any MP3 player that will output digital signals, so a DAC isn't going to do anything.

Haven't looked into this for years, but look for an iPod dock with digital out, which will feed into a DAC.

I skipped the mp3 player bit by connecting my media pc directly into a little DAC/Amp.

 

[El_Watcher]

I don't know of any MP3 player that will output digital signals, so a DAC isn't going to do anything.

Well the Fiio E18 will connect to an iPod or Android phone via the digital output and generally the DAC is better quality than the built-in ones.
Whether it is worth doing, I doubt unless you also want to improve your portable use with a good set of headphones.
If you can find a dock like skyripper says, it would be easier to use than a standard DAC.

 

[marl]

What amp do you use in your main system?

I have a VTL 5.5 valve pre-amp. It has an on board phono stage as I listen mostly to vinyl.

But, as I now have a lot of MP3 music files I was wondering if they can be upsampled and played through my main system....

 

[visibleman]

But, as I now have a lot of MP3 music files I was wondering if they can be upsampled and played through my main system....

You can't 'add' to something that doesn't exist, so upsampling is (on the whole) pointless.

Firstly i'd be getting rid of your MP3 collection, replacing it with a lossless codec (FLAC) and then converting to MP3's/M4A (etc) when and where you need it.
Secondly, if your iPod supports it, use RockBox to handle lossless media and hook it up to your (pre)amp using a LOD (line-out) cable.
This is the route i went with for my 5.5G iPod and it's reasonable.

If you want a digital output then look at the Pure i20 or Wadia docks or there's a number of USB based DAC's like the RAL iPod DAC or Naim DAC that support iPods.
Alternatively if you're using a 5/5.5G or Classic, then there a few mods around to get access to a digital output - IIRC, Red Wine Audio did/use to do digital-out modifications to iPods for a cost (wasn't particularly cheap from what i remember).

Although keeping your iPod for portable music and using a dedicated media streamer/player for your HiFi would be the better solution.