Contents

Introduction

Head Units

Cassette Receivers
CD Receivers
CD Changers

Speakers

Amps/Crossovers

Terms

Links:

If you're looking for a great CD player

Ok, don't get me wrong. I do like cassette decks a little more than CD receivers mainly because you can have the best of both worlds with a tape deck(and CD Changer). However, it is just a matter of preference. CDs are, without a doubt, a way of life these days. Most people prefer them and most people buy them for quality. Yea, it's also easier to find a song and you don't have to listen to an album in the same order every time. So, CD players do have their advantages and many people would suggest them, so here are just a few key features to look for if you do choose to go with one:

Frequency Response:

This spec, expressed in Hertz(Hz), indicates the range of sounds, low to high, a CD player can reproduce. The wider the range the better

Signal-to-Noise Ratio:

This spec is a measure of the musical signal strength relative to background noise, in decibels(dB). The higher the number, the less noise or hiss. The average is about 60dB for cassette receivers.

Random Play:

Automatically mixes up the order of songs on a CD.

Zero-bit Mute

Silences even the slightest hint of system noise or hiss during "blank" moments on a CD between songs.