1996 Honda Civic -suggestions

I installed a Panasonic head unit in my 96 Civic Coupe, and the bass is nowhere near what the factory radio was capable of!!  I have pioneer 6 1/2" 2 ways up front and Kenwood 6X9 in the back.   Stock unit is made by Alpine for Honda and it is rated at 20X4 not sure if that is peak though.  The panasonic is (CQR-253U) 25X4 RMS, 50X4 peak.  The soundstage used to be out on the hood and outside the doors with the factory radio, but now it's not as spacious, no matter what i listen to, tape or radio with this panasonic.

What I would like to know some suggestions for an aftermarket radio that DOES have nice solid bass, not midbass like the panasonic, and has a nice, wide stereo soundstage, not enhanced mono.   I will be removing the Panasonic and returning it to Crutchfield, and if nothing else put back the factory system.  Give me some suggestions of what product I am looking for, and yes I still listen to tapes so that will be a factor for a head unit..  Thanks..

Mark

you bought a tape deck head unit...the technology inside those have not changes in years..manufatures quit spending money on researching them...your stock probably had more power as that 20x4 is RMS...try upgrading to a CD player or get a nice sized midrange amp...and try to stick away from panasonic, they do not have the same quality they used to have (that statement is purely my opinion, so no need for anyone to get all pissed like usual)

I guess I'll throw my 2 cents in here.  I happen to have a Panasonic CD-DP103U cd player in my 87 Ford Econline 250 cargo van.  i didn't want to put an amp or anything like that because I felt that since the head unit was putting out 22 wrms wouldn't need one...WRONG!!!! (and you think your civic sounds bad).  When i bought it, my van had the factory radio running through an old coustic 105A  4 channel amp and kenwood 3 ways all around (6.5's in the front doors and 6x9 in the back) and it sounded much better than the CD player.  Since I swapped in the CD player (the amp went bad plus i was tired of tapes in there) I've had to reinsulate my van, swap out the speakers, (Pioneer 2 ways in the front and 4 ways in back and a 5x7 2 way in the center of my dash), add an amp  and sub (Pioneer 2 channel and Pioneer 8 inch) just to get it to to sound almost as close to what was in there before .   

To back up what drvbysound said, the aftermarket is based on using seperate components to complete a package.  That's why went you go get new rims and tires for your car some places will try to sell you a big brake kit or suspension upgrade and stuff like that. 

Plus, in most cars the factory stereo wires a 22 gauge in size.  Not very thick at all.  And that's what the power of the factory speakers in partly based on.  The aftermarket relies on thicker wires so the specs alot of manufacturers are based on that.  Which is why when you replace you head unit..you get less bass. 

Think about it...If you were selling head units, wouldn't you keep them slightly under powered so that your customer would have to also purchase your amp and sub woofer too?

Duane...

If you think you're confused, imagine how you feel.   

tape deck? whats that?