It means when you power on the receiver you don't hear distortion. One simple way to test this is to turn up the volume with no source connected to see if you hear a hum. If your current receiver sounds fine, don't bother looking for a new one. Basically, the main quality to look for in a receiver is how quiet it is and how little it alters the sound of your music. The most important thing to take away from this is that even cheap gear can sound great, but if you're looking to upgrade, you can do it without totally breaking the bank. Sound quality is often dependent on your ability to listen more than anything else, so when you get your stereo to a happy place, relax, turn of the lights, and enjoy it. It might not be that $US20,000 stereo you covet, but it can sound nearly as good. Have some clever tricks to get more out of your stereo or upgrade it on the cheap? Sound off in the comments. A good amp can never make crap speakers sound good. Crap speakers introduce massive amounts of linear distortion that no amplifier can compensate for. My advice: - Don't trust the hype. Price doen't equate to quality. - Speakers, and the way they are integrated to the room are the most important component, by an order of magnitude. 80% of the budget should go here. Stereo subwoofers are a good option if the main speakers are