I bought a cable that allowed me to hook up my IPOD from the headphone jack to a pair of RCAs to my receiver - works OK but I have to turn the volume way up to hear it ....what gives here ?

The iPod has a lower output than most components do. It was designed for headphone use.

The output does not change when using the dock connector.

Kind of a piss off, but oh well. Put the iPod volume at about 2/3 to 3/4, and turn up your amplifier.

I don't know how running an iPod at max volume affects the sound... is there distortion? I know there is some REALLY nasty digital clipping if it's run around 1/8tth volume for some reason, but nowhere else.

I don't know how running an iPod at max volume affects the sound... is there distortion? I know there is some REALLY nasty digital clipping if it's run around 1/8tth volume for some reason, but nowhere else.

It does that on mine with the EQ functions (which I'm not a big fan of).I just set the EQ to FLAT setting and it seems to clear that up.

How about running it in thru a phono input ?

Would solve the problem of volume, but since the iPod does not follow the RIAA EQ for phonographs, it would sound way too bassy. Also the iPod's noise floor is considerably higher than a phono cartridge, it would be noisy as well.