Best sounding solution for Ipod


Hello 'Goners:

Like many of us out there I have succombed to the 'Ipod bug. I am emabarrased to admit but I have large amounts of jazz, rock, and acoustic stuff on WAV files that are wonderful due to the ease and convenience of it's access. However I find the sound slightly lacking in dynamics, soundstage, and transparency especially when listening to jazz (Art Blakey and the jazz messengers come to mind), etc.

I have heard about Krell's new "Kid" ipod preamp but I am not willing to for over 1k of my hard earned cash for a overpriced gimmick Krell is pushing on it's consumers to stay in the augio game. I am also not keen on purchasing a DAC that will just complicate my analog set-up.

I am currently running a recapped C-28 (Mcintosh) preamp, Mcintosh MC-2155 amp, and my laptop is connected via it's headphone jack into the back of my preamp's aux input. I have read about "audiophile"-like tubed ipod set-ups (preamp/amp from FATMAN) but I am not willing to rid myself of my Mcintosh gear or spend $700 on an mass produced, over-hyped, over-priced set-up from China.

There has to be a solution out there that I can use with my current set-up without robbing my wallet or sacrificing my source components.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.
splittie
If you don't want to buy a dac and have a 4th or 5th generation ipod, I would get it modded by red wine audio. I had a 4 gen ipod which I was listening through the line out. The sound was ok (rolled off top end, bass a little light and the sound was veiled). I bought a red wine modded 5 gen ipod and everything was better. It had tighter and deeper bass, airyer highs, more transparent and with more detail. You should check out the comments on head-fi.org for more info.
If you are talking about the sound of the ipod itself, then the easiest upgrade assuming you don't already have it is the newest generation ipods. I borrowed my friends new 160gb and compared it to my generation before that 80gb that I own and I was delighted at how much better the newer one sounds. My wife has a generation earlier than mine (hers is a 60gb) and my 80gb sounds much better. So if you are using an ipod that is older than 2 generations you may be in for a real treat by simply getting the newest one. They seem to be making them sound better each time.
For digital out from a IPOD to external DAC, the one company is MSB Technologies. The modify the IPOD so that this is possible and provide a specially designed cradle that has digital outputs and charges the IPOD. The IPOD can also used as an intractive remote control, sending its signal wireless to the cradle. Expensive but the best there is by far in terms of sound quality and convenience for IPODs.
I have an Onkyo docking station which seems to work well. Henryhk are you talking about a docking station? So from this thread I am getting that the next step up from the docking station is to plug your computer into your preamp? Excuse my ignorance (newbie) what is DAC?
Thanks