Good Chinese SatNav Double Din Feedback?
Discussion
Hi
Last year I had to lose my Boxster. I had fitted an Alpine 920 double din satnav in it.
Now I am close to getting a replacement and want to get myself a good unit to put in it.
I have been looking at the Chinese units as they seem to offer a lot of options the main players don't do.
I'm hoping that some members will have feedback on the units - what is good and what is rubbish.
Main on the list are the Xtrons TD618 and TCD698 but any units I'd love to hear about.
Thanks in advance
Last year I had to lose my Boxster. I had fitted an Alpine 920 double din satnav in it.
Now I am close to getting a replacement and want to get myself a good unit to put in it.
I have been looking at the Chinese units as they seem to offer a lot of options the main players don't do.
I'm hoping that some members will have feedback on the units - what is good and what is rubbish.
Main on the list are the Xtrons TD618 and TCD698 but any units I'd love to hear about.
Thanks in advance
The Android 6 models are very new (as in a few weeks old) so I'd be a bit wary about going for one of those right away until a few early adopters have bought them and worked out if there are any serious problems.
I have an Android 5 one (there does only seem to be one factory and a lot of resellers) and it's fine - takes about 15 seconds to start, decent radio reception, decent GPS reception. Worked more or less straight out of the box (the wiring in my car is a bit of an issue but I got it installed without any cutting or soldering) and no issues in six months or so.
Check and see if there's a specific model for your car - there was one for mine so it looks very OEM in the dash.
I have an Android 5 one (there does only seem to be one factory and a lot of resellers) and it's fine - takes about 15 seconds to start, decent radio reception, decent GPS reception. Worked more or less straight out of the box (the wiring in my car is a bit of an issue but I got it installed without any cutting or soldering) and no issues in six months or so.
Check and see if there's a specific model for your car - there was one for mine so it looks very OEM in the dash.
Three or four chaps on my regular forum have bought AliExpress 'it fits right in' OEM fit Android units. Units seem to be plug and go. They all seem happy. Lots of functions, camera inputs and so on.
Naturally, I bought an AliExpress WinCE OEM fit. It works fine most of the time, then resets itself and re-boots for no reason. It's like Windows 3.1, but slower. Nice looking unit though. Next time I'd buy Android.
Naturally, I bought an AliExpress WinCE OEM fit. It works fine most of the time, then resets itself and re-boots for no reason. It's like Windows 3.1, but slower. Nice looking unit though. Next time I'd buy Android.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Great thread on the best looking Boxster I have ever seen. Might be worth seeing what unit he put in his; although his skill levels look pretty advanced to me! He has a double din in his but not without some work looking at it.
Great thread on the best looking Boxster I have ever seen. Might be worth seeing what unit he put in his; although his skill levels look pretty advanced to me! He has a double din in his but not without some work looking at it.
Hi,
I'm within the automotive electronics industry and have previously researched and investigated these units directly from distributors in China, 'claimed' manufacturers at the SEMA and CES shows in Las Vegas, the UK's trade gadget shows and some UK importers. Initially, back around in mid 2009 when these kinds of units began to make more of an appearance on ebay etc, I wanted to see if they were a quality product in order to sell them to the UK market. Within a very short space of time, I totally dismissed the idea.
Overall, the chinese replacement type unit's you mention are low grade and quality in every respect. Build, sound, reliability, consistency of use and after sales care and support are all low and/or next to nil. They're made in 'some' low grade/budget factories usually 'somewhere' in China en masse, and then 'middlemen' companies on ebay/amazon buy in batches, add a software skin and then flog on those online platforms.
You 'might' get a fully working out of the box, and crucially, one that continues to work fully longer term. The various forums will have posts by happy purchasers.
You'll 'likely' get a unit that will have issues or problems, either out of the box or, will begin to have them soon'ish after purchase and fitting. Some of the 'brands' which add their software skin and flog them, have been known to sponsor forums and then once more and more purchasers begin to report problems and issues and don't really get any good or worthwhile support and care, they've been either 'removed' or 'kicked off' as the site owners don't really want to be associated with them and the many forum members with problems.
There's been a number of UK businesses which have imported batches in, to then sell to UK purchasers and operate within UK consumer law - ie product be fit for purpose, statutory rights etc. Most have either stopped selling them given the large percentage of return units with problems or, have gone out of business. All the well known, highly reputable UK car audio dealers and installers don't offer the cheap chinese units as they don't want the potential hassle and risk to their reputations.
So really, it comes down to how 'lucky' you feel. Take the 'gamble' and you'll need to 'hope' you get a good fully working long term unit. If that happens, then you'll be happy. If that doesn't happen, you'll perhaps quickly regret the purchase and think you should have just got a proper high quality car audio head unit from a local installer that offers a full after sales care and warranty should you need it.
Good luck if you do decide to get one!
Cheers, Dennis!
I'm within the automotive electronics industry and have previously researched and investigated these units directly from distributors in China, 'claimed' manufacturers at the SEMA and CES shows in Las Vegas, the UK's trade gadget shows and some UK importers. Initially, back around in mid 2009 when these kinds of units began to make more of an appearance on ebay etc, I wanted to see if they were a quality product in order to sell them to the UK market. Within a very short space of time, I totally dismissed the idea.
Overall, the chinese replacement type unit's you mention are low grade and quality in every respect. Build, sound, reliability, consistency of use and after sales care and support are all low and/or next to nil. They're made in 'some' low grade/budget factories usually 'somewhere' in China en masse, and then 'middlemen' companies on ebay/amazon buy in batches, add a software skin and then flog on those online platforms.
You 'might' get a fully working out of the box, and crucially, one that continues to work fully longer term. The various forums will have posts by happy purchasers.
You'll 'likely' get a unit that will have issues or problems, either out of the box or, will begin to have them soon'ish after purchase and fitting. Some of the 'brands' which add their software skin and flog them, have been known to sponsor forums and then once more and more purchasers begin to report problems and issues and don't really get any good or worthwhile support and care, they've been either 'removed' or 'kicked off' as the site owners don't really want to be associated with them and the many forum members with problems.
There's been a number of UK businesses which have imported batches in, to then sell to UK purchasers and operate within UK consumer law - ie product be fit for purpose, statutory rights etc. Most have either stopped selling them given the large percentage of return units with problems or, have gone out of business. All the well known, highly reputable UK car audio dealers and installers don't offer the cheap chinese units as they don't want the potential hassle and risk to their reputations.
So really, it comes down to how 'lucky' you feel. Take the 'gamble' and you'll need to 'hope' you get a good fully working long term unit. If that happens, then you'll be happy. If that doesn't happen, you'll perhaps quickly regret the purchase and think you should have just got a proper high quality car audio head unit from a local installer that offers a full after sales care and warranty should you need it.
Good luck if you do decide to get one!
Cheers, Dennis!
My car has a Chinese made, VW lookalike sat-nav unit. It was in when we bought it. The make of which is the same name as a model of Bugatti.
I have had it for nearly three years now and other than replacing the micro SD card, it has been reliable. BUT the sat-nav is terrible, I have given up on trying to use it now as it is just unreliable and slow. Radio reception is poor.
I took the car in to a local trusted car audio place to see if they could do anything and they said basically the units are cheaply made and not very good.
I have had it for nearly three years now and other than replacing the micro SD card, it has been reliable. BUT the sat-nav is terrible, I have given up on trying to use it now as it is just unreliable and slow. Radio reception is poor.
I took the car in to a local trusted car audio place to see if they could do anything and they said basically the units are cheaply made and not very good.
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