stock radio replacement or not

My firebird came with a tape player (with eq and steering controls). Is it better to buy a used cd player (org. firebird one) on ebay or is their some aftermarket cds that stll work with steering contols & 10 speaker system?

I really do like the steering controls so I dont mind buying used for that purpose.

if it would work i would get the monsoon cd player in the 98+ firebirds, thoes are awsome for a stock raido!!

You can always just buy any type of aftermarket stereo and install it and still have it work with your steering wheel controls. There's a company that makes an adaptor that transfers the signals from your steering wheel radio controls to an infrared signal. Kind of like turning your controls into a remote control for your cd player. All you would have to do is mount the infrared light somewhere so that it's aiming towards your cd player. Here's a link to it:
http://www.cardomain.com/item/PERPESWIX

I was going to buy one of these, but I eventually just got used to using my stereo controls rather than the ones on the remote.

Aftermarket units are a pain in the arse, in my opinion. Especially when you have a special consideration like steering wheel controls. Go to www.replacementradios.com (http://www.replacementradios.com) and check out their factory original radios for your vehicle. Click on the Radios category and drill down from there.

And contrary to information implied here and numerous other places, the Monsoon head unit isn't any better than the regular 7 band EQ head unit (UP3). It was the rest of the Monsoon system that made it better. They perform the same without it and you probably don't want to undertake swapping the whole system out. But... you can use the Monsoon head unit if the 'cool' logo is worth the extra money to you...

so the output power for the monsoon (pre amp) is the same as the non monsoon unit?

Can others confirm this?

I know factory radios like the back of my hand. I can tell you this is true from firsthand knowledge and experience with 100s of these radios. What you get from some other people is misinformation based on incorrect conclusions that, just because the Monsoon system is rated at X number of watts, the head unit is more powerful. Or, they try to convince you they're more powerful so you buy the more expensive one. It's simply not true. Guaranteed.