Yeah, do the dock, it just makes everything easier, when you hop in the car, you set the ipod in the dock and you are good to go, head unit volume will be the control. Amp gains are amp gains and will amplify the signal the same, you are dealing with a source, which will not affect that at all. The only downside is with the dock, you can't use any of the rubber covers out there, but if you are buying a black one, you prob. weren't planning on covering it up anyway.