Chinese Navigation Unit
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 31
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Chinese Navigation Unit
On the market place are the navigation units from Crutchfield (Sony Kenwood) and then there are the Asian units on Amazon and EBAY. The price difference is significant. Anyone use the cheap units How difficult was it and do they function like the expensive ones.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,377
Likes: 6,523
From: Melbourne, FL
I have an ATOTO in my C4 track car. It's android based and has some quirks, as all the Chinese units have. The biggest issue all the "good" android HU brands (ATOTO, Joying... That's about it) have is localization. They're not in the aftermarket radio business so they don't really work right with a lot of stuff like PAC modules or SEC modules, etc.
You can now get a Dual or Jensen or similar se.inrelutsble brand Android where at least maybe an American has used them before throwing it on the shelves, and maybe it'll have real English in the UI. You can also call them with a question and get a response better than "yes the unit support that function. Refer to manufacturing for specific information".
If you like tot inker to make stuff work, they're fine. If not, spend the extra for a Kenwood or something else good.
All that said, the reverse camera quality in that cheap little android blows the reverse camera in my $1000 Kenwood away. They process the data differently and the Android backup camera looks WAY better. The Kenwood is overall faster for most tasks.
You can now get a Dual or Jensen or similar se.inrelutsble brand Android where at least maybe an American has used them before throwing it on the shelves, and maybe it'll have real English in the UI. You can also call them with a question and get a response better than "yes the unit support that function. Refer to manufacturing for specific information".
If you like tot inker to make stuff work, they're fine. If not, spend the extra for a Kenwood or something else good.
All that said, the reverse camera quality in that cheap little android blows the reverse camera in my $1000 Kenwood away. They process the data differently and the Android backup camera looks WAY better. The Kenwood is overall faster for most tasks.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,507
Likes: 427
From: Ruskin, FL
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I had one of the Chinese android based units in my '12 2SS 1LE Camaro. I've got Kenwood from Crutchfield in my '93 40th anniversary, and my '06 Z51 base coupe.
Stick with the stuff from Crutchfield.
I had one of the Chinese android based units in my '12 2SS 1LE Camaro. I've got Kenwood from Crutchfield in my '93 40th anniversary, and my '06 Z51 base coupe.
Stick with the stuff from Crutchfield.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,426
Likes: 2,307
From: Billings Montana. Out in the wild west
Stay away from the cheap no name units, they’re cheap for a reason. Go with a brand name system i.e. Pioneer, Kenwood, Alpine etc. they’re built to much higher standards, it’s a Corvette after all, not a Yugo, buy a system that’s worthy of the car.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 716
Likes: 396
From: WI
I have an Atoto S8 and it works great. Wireless Android Auto connects automatically when I start the car. Sound is great. Backup cam was the deciding factor to add this unit but the sound upgrade is well worth it to. I'm using the OEM Bose system with it with no other changes. I used the PAC RP5-GM11 adapter to install it and had no issues.
