840C as a DAC. What do I need

Here's one option: HRT recently released the istreamer, which is a small DAC that accesses the ipod's internal digital files and bypasses the ipod's own DAC. The istreamer coverts the files to 16-bit at 32, 44.1 or 48kHz:

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HRTIST

I have HRT's Music Streamer II+, and use it with my laptop's itunes running into my dining room integrated amp. The result sounds very good, especially for the kind of casual listening we use this system for (while cooking, eating etc).

Hi Grimace, I just read your follow up post. Indeed it is easier to get good sound out of your computer than an ipod, that's what I do with the HRT Music Streamer II+ and my laptop. Does the 840C accept USB inputs? If not, you will need a USB To SPDIF Converter (assuming that your computer doesn't have a SPDIF output), such as Musical Fidelity's V-Link:

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MFVLINK

i ,ve been using the pure i-20 for 3 months and would never go back to using the ipod dac or headphone out. 99 bucks free shipping when i bought mine. there are some british magazine reviews on line. very flexible with lots of outputs and a internal dac if needed. i use mine with a decco integrated dac and a musical fidelity v-dac on my systems. good luck with hooking your ipod up,

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Your computer would be better because you can simply use the digital out from it into the DAC and then anything on the computer can be played back. You can even download some hi resolution stuff and use it with the DAC. To play back the iPod simply get a mini plug to RCA adapter and plug it in to the sound system or get an iPod dock which is better because it keeps the player charged.