[AceX]

Only issue I could see with going straight into the amp is some serious clipping, and the fact that you won't have any equalization other than what's on the iPod, but in my experience, thats never really enough to do a proper job.

My reasoning is this: If you're spending all this money on the truck, and plan to spend alot of time in the truck, why not take it that extra step and make it that much better. You don't have to spend thousands of $$$ on amps and speakers and what not, but $500-700 on a stereo is very easily doable and can yeild great results and make the fruits of your labor much mroe enjoyable...