That old saying comes into play "Horses for courses"
It's why you can spend as little as a few hundred dollars right up to many thousands . and then you can spend a couple of grand plus on a transducer package. Hey if you buy a car - wheels & tyres are often an option that needs to be considered. ..
2 questions stand true with selecting a sounder - your budget & what do you want the sounder to do ? . sometimes those two questions will not give you the answer you're looking for though and the budget is blown out the window. Remember .. BOAT = Bring On Another Thousand
Chris