Got iPod, how to hook up?

Your description sounds like a mismatch between the player and your preamp.

You did not say how you had this hooked up, I'm assuming you have a cable that came with the Apple that will plug into the preamp of your stereo.

You're system is not listed so I can't tell what your standard of comparison is, but the D/A conversion stage of the iPod by audiophile standards is only adequate. The iPod is a great product, but it's really not intended to serve as a high quality source component to an audiophile oriented system. I know of no product that will allow you to bypass the built in D/A.

BTW, the best sound is obtained by turning off the EQ and setting the iPod volume as high as possible.

Onhwy61 - the iRiver units have optical digital outputs. (iHP-120 and iHP-140) These would allow a user to connect the devices to a DAC.

See link below:
iRiver iHP-120

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South_park - sorry you're having trouble. In my system the iPod sounds quite nice FWIW. I suspect you are trying to use the FM Wireless mode of connecting the iPod to the system. For better results, you might try the Zu Cable Pivot interconnect. The Pivot is a "high(er)end" cable which would allow you to connect your portable devices to your system (preamp, or direct to the amp). The Pivot has a mini connector and two R/L RCA connectors

Link to the Pivot on the ZuCable website:
Zu Cable Pivot

List price for a 1.5 meter Pivot is $99 but Zu Cable has frequent auctions on Ebay and you should be able to pick one up for less than half that. Do a search on Ebay for
"Zu Cable"

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I have tried connecting it via line out on the base of the stand and via the headphone outputs to my line in. Not using the FM transmitter. I did not expect the quality to rival that of my other digital equipment, but I did expect it to sound a little nicer. No complaints, I know its not a high end component but I do want to try to extract the best performance out of it. That cable may be a good start.