Originally posted by rcurley55
Define better?
Better SQ: CD Player
I don't care how high a bitrate that you rip your MP3's at, there is still compression going on, so there is a loss of SQ. Now your system or ears ability to discern this loss of SQ is what you have to ask yourself. An even better question is if you care or not.
The benefit of the MP3 deck is that you have the option. You can always run regular media in there instead of MP3 discs. One drawback is that most of the MP3 capable units out there are not that great of SQ units. That's a pretty general statement, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that you won't find MP3 capabilities on most of the "SQ" decks out there - we'll see what CES brings....
If this is for your daily driver, and you can't tell/don't care about SQ loss....go MP3. IT's far more convenient. I would also consider what your internet connection/computer is like. If you have the capability to download or rip lots of MP3's (only of the CD's that you have purchased of course 
) then the MP3 head is a good option. If you are on a slow dialup like me and are a SQ freak...well...it's not that great of an option.
Yes it is a general statment, if you get an external amp (like my HU requires) the sound quality is better than any internal amp that HU's have.
Wether or not a person has a dail up connection or broadband is null. Some of us buy CD's and rip them to MP3's (like myself) and just have one MP3's CD with all different types of albums on them.
Right now I have discs with one artist on them but every song they've made. I haven't put a regular CD in the unit since I got it.