Detachable face plates - good or bad?

stator

My latest DAB stereo has failed, some buttons not working. I'm guessing this is because the interface between the faceplate and main unit has worn out. Unit is less than 1 year old.
This seems to be happening more often and units are lasting less than 1 year on average.
Have build standards dropped so much?
I've gone through a PIONER, PURE HIGHWAY, JVC, all with the same issues.

The reason I always buy detachable ones is because I had my car broken into > 10 years ago, they smashed a window and buckled the door with a crowbar. Not keen on going through that again. The stereo wasn't even expensive and they didn't remove it / gave up (or decided it was crap )

What do other people do? Remove your faceplate, or does everyone leave it in these days?

Does anyone else always remove theirs, do you have one that doesn't wear out?

All discussions welcome except why I buy a DAB radio.

Norman_Castle

Try cleaning the connections. Can you replace it with a factory fitted dab radio. If its looks standard its more likely to be ignored. If your car had dab as an option try ebay for a used one.

bigjl

I have never had a problem with a faceplate.

I would also suggest cleaning the connections.

I personally remove it every time the car is parked up and always have.

Last two I have had are Sony.

stator

Well I have cleaned the faceplate connector, can't clean the back unit connector as it's awkward and female. Hasn't made any difference

facade

I have one of those steering column remotes (RM-X2S) that I use with my Sony, so the only time I press a button on the front panel is to answer the 'phone, had it donkeys years now, been in 3 different cars and worked with 2 different radios.

Apart from it working backwards as standard, that requires a setting on the radio to sort, it works fine.

1980s technology with wires = works.

It works so well that Sony still fit the socket to the back of their radios, even though most come with one of these new fangled "wireless" remotes

societys_child

it's awkward and female

Yeah, know wot you mean . . .:whistle: