SOUND; PRIZE WINNERS IN CAR STEREO

Just as they do for home stereo equipment, the editors of Audio-Video International - a leading trade publication - bestow annual ''Grand Prix'' citations on outstanding new entries among car stereo components. Reflecting the results of a nationwide poll of 531 car-stereo dealers and installers, these honors represent a statistically derived critical assessment in a field otherwise lacking comprehensive review. The list of winners also provides a handy shopping guide for quality-conscious listeners who consider music an essential travel accessory.

Among so-called front-end units -i.e., radio/cassette combinations that are mounted in the car's dashboard - the top award went to Alpine's Model 7165, which offers exceptional performance and value for $380. Its digital tuner permits 12 stations to be preset for single-touch tuning, and it also provides the convenience of ''automatic seek.'' This feature allows the set to pick out radio stations in a given area one by one without the driver having to hunt for them on the dial. That way, his attention is not distracted, and he need not take his eyes off the road. This feature is particularly valuable when driving in unfamiliar territory where the driver does not know the frequencies of local stations.

Another thoughtful touch contributing to safer night driving is the soft illumination of the cassette loading slot, enabling the driver to insert a cassette without searching or fumbling. Separate treble and bass controls permit a fair degree of flexibility in adjusting the tonal balance to the acoustical needs of a particular car interior, and the music-search feature on the cassette player helps find particular selections on the tape.

By HNS FANTEL