I am a total freak when it comes to sound.For the purest sound, and I mean almost any audio, including Mixing boards, PA's,stereo systems, etc. , you can sum up the quality of an audio component in one simple measurement;Signal to noise ratio. Sometimes expressed as S/N,sometimes as S+N/N,but it's all signal to noise ratio.
In the past, everyone worried about distortion:Harmonic,Total Harmonic Distortion(THD),Intermodulation Distortion(IM),etc.Modern designs all seem to have good to excellent distortion figures.
When you look at amplifiers,you'll see that the more expensive amps in the same power range have higher Signal-to-Noise ratios.
About the only form of amplifier (audio)that costs big bucks and have bad s/n's are tube guitar amps.They have lousy S/N ratio's, but everyone is so accustomed to the hum and noise(the amp is actually 1/2 of the insturment!)that they expect it.Most professional Electric guitar players use Tube Amps, with their lousy S/N ratio's.A CD played over a Tube guitar amp sounds bad...very bad.
The next thing you need to consider are basic features.MP3's actually suck,compared to cd's.I wouldn't recommend Mp3's to anyone except if they wanted "Muzak" as in "Elevator,shopping mall background muzak".
So you'll want a reciever with a good S/N ratio,and a good S/N ratio on CD's, and a good S/N ratio on fm(which is measured in how strong a signal has to be, in DBf,for a required S/N ratio).
You also probably want a reciever with high voltage preamp outs(Fronts and Rears, Lefts and Rights, + subwoofer), (for a high S/N ratio!),CD changer controls, an auxilliary input (for that lousy MP3 player!),and excellent Equalization(EQ,or tone controls).
I know of only one such radio/head unit/CD player that rates highest in the above categories....the very best of the best.
That "Head Unit" is the Blaupunkt 'San Francisco' Model.It ain't cheap,but it is the best.Period.
It even comes with a calibrated,extendable microphone; and a built-in pink noise generator.You place the Microphone where you want the optimum sound, the unit adjusts it's built-in Equalizer for perfect response.Once that baseline is established, you can tweak the EQ's controls for your personal preference.
Nothing is overlooked in this unit.If you turn up the A/C, it automatically adjusts the volume and EQ to counteract it.If you roll down the window, it automatically re-adjusts the volume and EQ.
There is no finer Head Unit made, at least not in mass-production.
I don't sell them, nor do I have one.I will get one, though, and soon.
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