What EQ setting was your IPOD set on I think it makes a slight difference if you set it to loudness and when using a Itrip I honestly dont think you can get the volume you can with a direct connection i used to have one in my truck and when i bought a new truck i got the direct connection and maybe its the new truck speakers but it made a huge difference in volume (both trucks were F150's the old one being a 05 and the new being an 08 with the sub but I had a sub put in the old truck so volume wise was similar)...