wizard Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 So basically I was about to go for the likes of pioneer, kenwood, alpine on a much needed upgrade on my zeds ICE. Then speaking to a friend of mine he basically advised me that the premium brands are a rip off and lack basic features such as GPS, TV tuner, etc... and I should be looking at units like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370777177989 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130867271591 Said he's installed a few and they're a much better buy? - Though they don't look as nice and UI won't be as friendly? Even looks like the screen is bigger on these. 7" vs some 6.1" ones I've been looking at. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? My mind was pretty much made up until I spoke to him. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 IMO it's not just as easy as that. The cheap ones do scrimp on audio quality and the better sounding ones usually have everything boosted. GUI will most likely be clunky, slow and crash a lot. They also usually stop working after a year or 2. But yes the proper ones are a rip off. JVC makes good quality and affordable units IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
un1eash Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Those ebay units are rubbish, i'd rather buy a ripspeed unit from halfords. They are cheap in every way possible and wont last long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 Those ebay units are rubbish, i'd rather buy a ripspeed unit from halfords. They are cheap in every way possible and wont last long. Yeah I've spent many an hour playing with these types of electronics and they do have reliability issues... The problem is with the premium brands, they just don't have all that much in terms of features like they used to. If you want everything, you need to be willing to pay like over 1K for a HU which in this day and age is ludicrous. We have had a Pioneer Avic-X1 running for over 10 years on the supra daily and never had an issue with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidnightRacer Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Welcome to a thread of "its cheap its @*!#" and "it will probably cause your car to burst into flames and kill everyone on the planet!" My own personal findings are: Unbranded "lets call it chinese @*!# for the sake of this thread. Overall sound quality was just fine, plays everything, connect to ipod fine etc etc. no worse than any other branded unit I've had. What did let it down was the software, its a bit clunky but one thing in particular that spoiled it for me was when you switched the car off it didn't remember where in the song it finished playing and just started the last song played again, not the end of the world but enough to spoil the experience, there are other small things too like this that just get annoying. its obvious the software wasnt tested in the real world. What is great though is the features you can get for so little money in comparison. I have DVD/TV/Reverse camera function/Ipod connectivity/Nissan Logo/changeable LED colours for about £100 which is obscene really! It also doesn't crash, works every time and does what it says on the tin. and for that reason I accept the limitations of the unit. Best described as the difference between an Iphone and an Android. sure it works the same but the iphone has a certain slickness that you just love! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 ^^ agree I used to have one of them unbraded D/D head units in my celica for just over 2 years...worked every time... couldn't really fault on sound quality(may be if you massive audio specialist-then u can)..it had all options you can have pretty much.... dvd, usb, memory cards, ipod/i phone connection incl wireless, camera/subs and other outputs! Never had an issue with it... payed, as far as i remember, £150, but that was about 3 years agom so now they probably even cheaper. Currently running JVC in 350, which is pretty good and they not as expencive as other brands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
un1eash Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 If you want cheap and cheerful then yes they do the job without blowing up the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 If you want cheap and cheerful then yes they do the job without blowing up the world. +1 but it depends on what you want it for. I'd take a nakamichi over an all singing dancing one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olliecrx Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 (edited) I'd rather keep the standard system than fit one of those. Slow unresponsive menus, clumpy ugly GUI with poor icons. Low quality RCA outputs with low output voltages. Cheap cd mechs. Screen quality that makes watching dodgy eddies copied DVDs from the market seem like high definition Blu rays. Seriously, they are cheap for a reason, the GPS is useless, the tv tuners don't work and the Bluetooth is terrible. Maybe 12 years in specialist audio retail spoilt me, but after using a branded item and then using one of these you can tell the difference easily. And the fact now kenwood are offering double din screens from £180 if you buy online it's pretty hard to justify these cheaper yin yang models. And I'd say the same about Ripspeed products also Edited March 25, 2013 by Olliecrx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodgeevans Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 (edited) If you want cheap and cheerful then yes they do the job without blowing up the world. +1 but it depends on what you want it for. I'd take a nakamichi over an all singing dancing one. Nakamichi, dont often hear that brand from others most have never heard of it hmm i still have my mb75 best hu i ever had but looks like a cheap oem one but is simply amazing no stupid graphics displays just pure quality Edited March 25, 2013 by rodgeevans 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjt Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 JVC 640 is a bargain and I'm still pleased with mine one year on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 (edited) I have had two of the ebay Chinese units, one double din, one single din with flip out screen, so from experience not conjecture: GPS is equally as good as a TomTom and simple postcode entry. Menus operate perfectly. Display is perfectly adequate for dvds, daylight viewing etc Bluetooth is good for phones, better with external mic. Fully loaded with everything you could want and more. My double din is still going strong after 3 years, now in my nephews car if anyone doubts reliability and flip out screen one never cause any problems and its on its second year. Customer service was 2nd to none also, when i first got the double din the sd card for the maps was faulty, had one sent to my door within 3 days. Audio isnt as good as branded, but run a decent amp and its just great as its the amp producing the sound, not the head unit. In the past i have spent days installing high end audio and came to the conclusion whatever you did or spent (within reason) you were always battling against the worst environment possible to try and replicate quality sound. So, for what these provide i personally couldnt be happier. Edited March 26, 2013 by Jetpilot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
un1eash Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Audio isnt as good as branded, but run a decent amp and its just great as its the amp producing the sound, not the head unit. The head unit sends the signal to the amp though. Bad signal = Bad quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Audio isnt as good as branded, but run a decent amp and its just great as its the amp producing the sound, not the head unit. The head unit sends the signal to the amp though. Bad signal = Bad quality. Sound is odd. My mates usually have some crappy systems all frequencies boosted and they think it sounds awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 Audio isnt as good as branded, but run a decent amp and its just great as its the amp producing the sound, not the head unit. The head unit sends the signal to the amp though. Bad signal = Bad quality. Obviously with your details in your signature you are an audiophile Each to their own and like you, i have spent £1000's on high end audio and countless days rewiring entire systems in previous cars. But for me and most people, chinese units will provide more than good enough sound for the average ear and happily work for years without problem in my experience which is basically what the op is asking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 (edited) If this thread isn't mixed messages, I don't know what is! I went to my local AV guy... who basically said that the chinese stuff is rubbish and he wouldn't even fit it in his van, let alone a customers car. He did bring up the audio quality which many have pointed out. Still loooking for the best solution for me on this. It is however likely I will be a brand snob though! lol Edited March 28, 2013 by wizard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I went to my local AV guy Of course he did, lol, he wants to sell you something I have no interest in your money as i wont see any of it, so giving you in my opinion, an honest appraisal from being on both sides of the fence! I would bet i could sit you in a car with chinese or branded, same speakers and same amp and you wouldnt tell the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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