Garmin GMA 340 vs. PS-Engineering PMA 8000

29 Mar 2005 Garmin GMA 340 vs. PS-Engineering PMA 8000

I recently sent a note to PS-Engineering asking them why I should buy their product instead of the Garmin GMA 340. Below I’ve pasted the response, but I took out the exact names and other identifying information from the notes.

Dear Mickey:
> Since the 8000
> is a lot more than a GMA340, what features does the 8000 have
> that the GMA340 doesn’t, that would make it worth the extra
> money?
Actually, the cost is not a whole lot more, especially now that the price of the GMA340 has gone up another $100 at the beginning of 2005.
The price difference is now about $300.
So why would you want to spend $300 more? Here are a few benefits worth considering:

1) IntelliVox. Our automatic VOX circuit.
In fact, just starting yesterday, a person asked about the differences between the GMA340 and our PMA8000. I have copied it below, this is what pilots are saying:

This past week I listed on the net, a letter, asking for recommendations on passive headsets to be used with a proposed installation of a Garmin GMA 340 audio panel.
I received many, welcome emails, some of which also included suggestions that I consider the PS Engineering 7000 and 8000 Audio Panels instead of the Garmin.
I went back to my radio shop for a discussion on this subject. They prefer the Garmin because of the manual squelch, versus the PS “IntelliVox” which is an auto-squelch system.
I retired 4 years ago from a Part 121, DC-8,747, DC-10 background where I had the pleasure of flying top line equipment, which had auto squelch with the capability of turning off if necessary. I don’t see the PS product allowing that option.
One part of the PS pilot’s guide addresses the problem of air flow from a vent possibly creating a problem in squelch operation. Here in hot Florida the overhead air vents in my bonanza are needed and occasionally, my right seater positions herself in the way of the air flow which creates noise. I am wondering if this may be an issue.
Would like to get some more input from you who operate both the Garmin and PS systems.
My radio installer is more than willing after I install the Garmin and operate it a bit, to replace it with a PS panel since it is only a plug in replacement, and compare. The PS is a bit more money, but at least I could get a good comparison.

Again, many thanks in advance.
Paul

Paul-
We have the 340, but I wish we had the PS. I like the autosquelch, and I like the better music volume. The other featurs are comparable, so I don’t see a downside.
I have NEVER heard anybody complain about the autosquelch. Most folks seem to think that is the best feature of the PS unit.
You might call the PS folks to see what aircraft have the airflow noise issue — I doubt that the cabin vents in a Beech have enough air flow volume or velocity to be a problem… but they ought to be able to give you better insight into that.

I’d suggest going with the PS, then trying the Garmin later.
-T. H. Ventura, CA

Paul, I have the gma 340 and continue to have intermittant side tone issues with a mk12d+. We have done the Narco mods with no joy. Local shop tells me the PS is a much finer panel.
I am going to be selling the MK12D when I do my upgrade to solve the problem. From what I understand, the Garmin radios do not have this issue.
I will be keeping the 340, but if I had to do it over again, would go with the PS product.
rns

I have the PSE 7000, and if you point the overhead vents right at your face you do get airflow noise. However I have never had a problem positioning the vents so that I got the full benefit of the vent without having it blow directly on the microphone. But you will occasionally lean or bend over and put yourself in the airflow from time to time and get the noise. It’s nothing that I would consider a problem at all.
-Gary

I posted this sometime ago when the Garmin vs PS discussion came up:

When I was replacing my audio panel I considered both of these units. The shop that did the install felt they were both good units and did not push one over the other (must have the same mark up too). They did say that the PS might have the edge from a sound standpoint and on the other hand if I was going to install other Garmin equipment in the future the “look” might be nicer with the Garmin. After debating back and forth a bit I ended up with the PS. I liked the split function better on the PS. On the Garmin the pilot can be on Com 1 and Copilot on Com 2. On the PS you can switch the split either way. The PS has the automatic VOX squelch (and it really works well) the Garmin does not. There was also something about the way the music inputs were set up and I don’t recall the details now. The way the PS is set up in my plane it has front and back inputs for music and it is switched up front so everyone can listen to either source or crew one source and back pax another. Works real well: I’ll listen to music up front if the workload is low on a long cross country and the family in back will either listen to other music or I have a patch cable for a laptop and they will watch DVDs with the sound through the ICS. You may be able to do something similar with the Garmin, but IIRC it was not as easy. Overall the PS seemed to have a bit more flexibility. I think the warranty was quite a bit better on the PS too. Again, they both seem to be good units, but there were a few things that tipped me toward the PS. I have had it for a couple of years now and have been very happy with it. The sound quality is very good for music, the auto squelch (which I was a bit concerned about before the install) works flawlessly and it has been able to handle anything plugged into it. I have had as many as 5 different types of headsets plugged in at once without a problem (something not every ICS would be happy with). YMMV

You can read the entire thread here: http://lists.kjsl.com/pipermail/beech-owners/2002-November/thread.html

K. P.

Good evening Paul.
I do not have either unit, I have a KMA-24, but I do have a PS intercom with the IntelliVox feature.

I love it. I do not notice any problems with the air vents on. I will probably go with the PS audio panel when I upgrade the avionics.

S. S. Tell City Indiana

Hi Paul, I have the UPSAT SL15M Audio Panel, which is I believe actually a PS Panel with an Apollo faceplate; installed in ’01. I have never had a problem with it.
I love the automatic squelch, and would never go back to the manual squelch. Just like my car has an automatic transmission, I would never go back to a manual transmission. What’s not to like?

I don’t believe it gets any hotter in Florida than Arizona, and I’ve never had an issue with it. I strongly recommend you go with the PS unit, it you want the best.

J. O., Prescott Valley, Az.

Our Garmin GMA-340 audio panel has been outstanding. Love the split-com feature, audio inputs, etc. Intercom portion works very nicely.
However, I would’ve gone with the PS Engineering back when we got the Garmin had we known about the boost issue. I don’t need any more volume from the stereo, but the kids do.

So you know, I think this should give you an idea about why we are worth the added cost.

Remember too we give you full duplex telephone input, 3 year warranty, and it looks like it belongs on top of a GARMIN stack.

I hope this helps you make this very important decision, remember, the audio panel is the heart of your radio stack.

Thanks for considering us.

Sincerely,

Mark Scheuer
PS Engineering, Inc.
www.ps-engineering.com
mscheuer@ps-engineering.com