recommendations on new Head Unit?

I recently sold my vehicle and had to include my Pioneer head unit with it. I am now looking for a new head unit and since it has been a while since I've been in the market, I need some recommendations on which way to go.

I'm looking for the best possible sound quality I can get, and that is the most important thing to me. Next to that I would like as many features and "tunability" that I can get. The ability to play mp3 or wma discs is required. The three brands I am considering are Eclipse, Alpine and Pioneer. My price range is around $250-300. I can obviously get more for my money if I buy from fleabay or somewhere similiar, but if I can get a good deal from a local shop I will go that approach if at all possible.

One additional question in particular: I know that I can get an Eclipse 8445 on fleabay (last year's model) for about $250. Would this be a good choice, or would something else be better? The current model is the CD-5000, which is probably out of my range, since the local dealer here wants $449 for it.

Thanks for any advice.

The Eclipse units are a stand off favorite for me. I would look at a authorized dealer first and foremost to secure your Eclipse unit from and enjoy the warranty and theft deterrent that would be available to you from the authorized dealer that the net does not have. Eclipse has a dealer locator on their website. Start by checking dealers around you to see if they have one in stock. E-bay leaves you wide open for issues that you have little to no recourse over. This just happened to a customer of mine with a CD8445 just last week.