Should I buy a detachable faceplate CD player? ..

[Lee]

3.18 Should I buy a detachable faceplate or pullout CD player? [IDB]

It is getting difficult to find pullout CD players any more, since detachable faceplates are much more convenient to carry around. However, there is the obvious trade off -- it is still possible to steal the chassis for the detachable face unit, when that is not possible with a pullout. Although some companies will advertise that it is very difficult to get replacement faces without the original receipt, thieves can still get the faceplates.

Some companies, such as Eclipse, are starting to offer alternative methods for preventing theft. Some Eclipse decks now offer ESN (Eclipse Security Network), where the owner chooses a "key" CD that must be inserted to "revive" the deck should it lose power. The entire deck stays in the dash, with nothing to carry around; this expands on the trend towards convenience while offering the owner peace of mind.

CAF comment: Security codes seem to be more popular with manufacturers than end users; it is a cheap way to offer a feature to entice you into purchasing their unit, but we have found the only thing it does as far as car audio theft is make sure the unit is thrown away AFTER the thief steals it.