Choosing an audio panel

I believe if you want your 540 to display the station ID, you must use the 240. Otherwise you are just going to get the frequency. Maybe Steve could verify that.

Sorry guys, I had forgotten to put an auto-watch on this forum and didn't notice these posts.

What is the status of the AMX240?  Is it certified?  When will manuals be available?

There's another contender for the audio panel slot.  PS Engineering has introduced the PMA450.  http://www.ps-engineering.com/PMA450.shtml has the details.

I'm getting ready for my IFD-540 install.  I plan on putting in a new audio panel and ADS-B out transponder at the same time.  I'm struggling between going all Avidyne or mix and match.

The 540 standby monitor (when released) will function in any audio panel that has an additional "standby" input for COM1 and/or COM2.

Edited by oskrypuch - 12 Aug 2014 at 3:54pm

What is the functionality you are trying to get in the 450 that doesn't exist in the Avidyne version?

Fair enough.  

Steve,

There are no special goodies in there to complement the IFD's monitor modes.    If an audio panel can support the monitor function than it can take the IFD monitor output (when it's turned on in a release in the near future). 

In another note I said I would post my audio panel evaluation if I could get it into coherent form.  I cleaned up my chicken-scratchings a bit and here’s the result.  Paulr, this one’s for you:

Audio Panel Evaluation

We’re going to replace the audio panel in our plane as part of the avionics upgrade.  I evaluated what I thought were the best choices for replacement.  There are 5½ evaluations.

Disclaimers

I did this primarily for my own benefit.  The features I noted are those I found interesting or desirable.  If you find value in my posting that’s fine.  If not, you got what you paid for.

I have not been paid to evaluate these panels (or any other avionics).  My involvement in aviation is limited to my wife and I owning an airplane and a small percentage of a flight school which does not sell avionics. 

Opinions are my own.

I have not flown behind these, of course.  I’ve seen a couple in friends’ airplanes.  My evaluation is based on the pilot’s guides, installation manuals, and reviews on the Internet.  All of this information is publicly available.  I suggest you search for and read the pilot’s guide for the panels that interest you.  I strongly recommend you look at the photographs of the panels, as I have not commented on cosmetics, sizes of buttons, or anything like that.

There may be inaccuracies.  Feel free to post corrections.  If you have used one or more of these panels please post your opinions - you know things I don't.

Sometimes I overanalyze things.  And sometimes I’m pedantic.

Features and Comments

All of these panels have a marker beacon receiver, several unswitched inputs, and a speaker output.

All have single button access to COM and NAV radios.

All have a split COM mode where the pilot uses COM 1 and the copilot uses COM 2.

Garmin GMA 340

This is the oldest audio panel described here.  It set the standard for the size and connectors.  It supports three radios.  It has switched ADF and DME inputs.

There are two volume control knobs.  One sets the intercom level for the pilot.  The other sets the intercom level for the copilot or, by pulling the knob out, the intercom level for the passengers.

The VOX gain settings are manually adjusted.  There are individual VOX circuits for the pilot, copilot, and passengers.  The VOX gain for the pilot and copilot are individually adjustable, and the passengers share a common setting.

There are three isolate choices: pilot, crew, and all.  There are two buttons which select the isolation mode.

There are two music inputs.  Music input 1 is muted by audio from other devices such as the COM radios.  The music is provided to passengers and to any crew who hear the same things as the passengers do.

Comments

This is the least expensive panel in this evaluation.

It does not have automatic VOX.

It does not have audio playback.

It does not have Bluetooth.

Reports on the Internet suggest that when one microphone opens the VOX all microphones are opened and that audio quality is not as good as some other panels.

Garmin GMA 350

This is Garmin’s advanced panel.  It supports two radios.  It has one switched AUX input.

There is one volume control.  It is concentric.  The outer knob selects which item is being controlled.  The inner knob sets the volume.  The volume of the intercom for the pilot, copilot, and crew, and also the volume of the music inputs can be adjusted.

It has a choice of manual or automatic squelch.  In manual mode the squelch level can be set for the pilot, copilot, and crew using the volume control knob.

There are five isolate choices.  In addition to pilot, crew, and all, the pilot can be connected to the passengers with the copilot isolated.  There are three buttons which select the isolation mode.  The copilot position can be set as a passenger and will receive the same audio as the rest of the passengers.

It can play back messages received on the COM radios.  There is a dedicated button for this.

There are two music inputs.  One is available through a front panel audio jack.  They can individually be routed to any combination of pilot, copilot, and crew.  Music can be muted during COM receive.

There is a telephone connection.  The telephone can be routed to the pilot, copilot, or passengers independently of the intercom or music settings.

It has stereo positioning of the radios and passengers.  When activated COM 1 sounds like it is at 11 o’clock and COM 2 sounds like it is at 1 o’clock.  The location of the copilot and passengers is also set to make it sound like it is coming from where they are sitting.

It accepts verbal commands.  Press the PTC (push to command) button and say a command and it will respond either by changes in status lights or with verbal confirmation.  Just about everything can be set or changed this way – there are probably a hundred voice commands.

Comments

The audio routing is very versatile.  Pretty much any combination of inputs can be routed to any combination of outputs.

I don’t know how useful the voice recognition really is.  I could see it being convenient for functions which require multiple button presses or turning the control knob.  But I would find it easier to press the COMM 1 button than to press the PTC button and say “COMM 1”.

I cannot comment on the usefulness of the stereo effects.  Some things cannot be determined by reading manuals.

It does not have Bluetooth.

PS Engineering PMA8000BT

This is a very popular panel.  It has switched ADF and AUX inputs.

It has two volume controls.  One adjusts the intercom level for the pilot and copilot.  The other adjusts the level for the passengers.

The VOX is automatic with no adjustments.

There are three isolation choices: pilot, crew, and all.  They are selected using a single button.

It can play back messages received on the COM radios.  The audio playback is triggered by pressing the active COM button.

There are two music inputs.  Music can be muted for the radios, intercom, both, or neither.  Input 1 can be routed to the crew only or to all headsets.  The pilot and copilot cannot hear music input 2.

There is a telephone connection.  The telephone routing follows the isolation.  For example if the pilot is isolated he will be the only person who can use the telephone.

A telephone and music source can be connected using Bluetooth instead of by wiring the devices.

The panel can control audio playback of some Bluetooth devices.    It can request play/pause, skip back, and skip forward for a music device.  It can also control some telephone functions.  These control functions are not marked on the panel.

Comments

This panel has a lot of functions which are triggered by pressing multiple buttons or pressing and holding a button.  Most of these are not labeled, or in the case of the “smart buttons” the label does not describe to me what the function does.

Pressing the active COM button to replay a message means the COM buttons have two functions – if the button is not illuminated it will select the receiver and if it is illuminated it will play back the last audio message.

Using this panel for things which are not labeled on the buttons seems confusing to me.  However they are functions I would not often use.

Reviews on the Internet suggest that the VOX works well and that the audio quality is very good.

Bendix/King KMA 30

The KMA 30 is a PMA8000BT with the Bendix/King name on the panel.  The Pilot’s Guide is the same as the PS Engineering manual.  I did not look at the installation manual (hence the ½ evaluation).

Comments

This panel normally retails for more than the PS Engineering version.  But Bendix/King has a trade-in program which might make this less expensive.

Avidyne AMX 240

This panel is built by PS Engineering.  It appears to be based on the PMA8000 series.

There are two volume control knobs.  One sets the intercom level for the pilot.  The other is concentric.  The inner knob sets the intercom level for the copilot and the outer knob sets the intercom level for the passengers.

The VOX is automatic with no adjustments.

There are three isolation choices: pilot, crew, and all.  They are selected using a single button.

It has audio playback.  Pressing the REPLAY button plays back the last received message.  Pressing it again will play the previous message etc.

There are two music inputs.  A dedicated button selects whether music input 1 will be muted when the radios or intercom are active or will not be muted.  Input 1 can be routed to the crew only or to all headsets.  The pilot and copilot cannot hear music input 2.

There is a telephone connection.  The telephone routing follows the isolation.  For example if the pilot is isolated he will be the only person who can use the telephone.

A telephone or music source can be connected using Bluetooth instead of by wiring the devices.  The Bluetooth music source will be routed as music input 1.

There is a mute button which will tell some external audio annunciators to stop talking.

Comments

Since this is based on the PS Engineering 8000 series technology I expect the audio and VOX to have similar performance.

I don't know which external devices will interface with the mute button.

PS Engineering PMA 450

This is PS Engineering’s advanced panel.  It supports two radios.  It has three soft keys and an LCD display.

It has three switched AUX inputs.  They are turned on and off using the soft keys and display.  The displayed names of the inputs can be changed as desired.

There is one volume control.  It is concentric.  The inner knob sets the intercom level for the pilot and copilot and the outer knob sets the intercom level for the passengers.

The VOX is automatic with no adjustments.

There are three isolation choices: pilot, crew, and all.  They are selected using a single button.

It can play back messages received on the COM radios.  The audio playback is triggered by pressing the active COM receive button.  The message number and the number of stored messages are displayed on the screen.

There are two music inputs.  One is available through a front panel audio jack.  They can individually be routed to any combination of pilot, copilot, and crew.  Music can be muted when during COM receive.  Music can be muted for the radios, radios and intercom, or it can be set to never mute the music.

There is a telephone connection.  The telephone can be routed to the pilot, copilot, or passengers.  The telephone routing follows the intercom isolation. The display shows caller ID and soft keys can be used to answer and end the call.

A telephone and music source can be connected using Bluetooth instead of by wiring the devices.  The panel will show battery status.

It has stereo positioning of the radios.  When activated the COM radios will appear to be located at different positions.  The positions can be set using the soft keys and menus.

It has a 5V 1.5A USB jack which can be used to charge phones or tablets.  It does not have a data connection.

Comments

The soft keys and display allow lots of features with only a few buttons.

There are menus but I could not find a “back” button or function.

Interesting review.   

I'll add a little bit to this. My 182 had a PS Engineering audio panel and my Bonanza had a GMA340 prior to my AMX240. There is no comparison between the Garmin audio quality and the Avidyne/PSE, The latter is so much clearer and louder. The automatic VOX works extremely well. I use the Bluetooth function a lot for IFR clearances and the phone clarity is excellent, much better than the Bluetooth function on my Zulu headset.

I prefer the simplified user interface of the AMX240 over the PSE, but I'm a simple guy and not always that smart. We use the music function on every trip, and the ability to have my son in the rear watching a DVD and us in the front listening to XM is great. With a push and hold of the music button I can change it to all stations hear the XM (or music from the iPhone via BT). The thing is dirt simple which an audio panel should be and I like the voice telling me what mode the music is in.

If I could change anything, it would only be two very minor changes, and they really are personal preferences more than anything.

1) I wish the audio panel remembered the karaoke mode between power cycles. Right now it defaults to music mutes during intercom transmissions and I always change it to music playing all the time and only muted during com transmission.

2) I would prefer the isolate button cycled through the three settings (all, crew, pilot, all, etc) rather than returning back to all (all, crew, all, pilot, all, etc)

Edited by Gring - 26 Sep 2014 at 7:12am

I also have the 8000BT.  I am very happy with it.  The bluetooth capability for making phone calls works perfectly and I consider a must have.

They don't have the same visuals because the Avidyne audio panel has a three LED picture that tells you what mode it is in.

I'll do better than that, here is a picture of the LED indicators for intercom isolation.  You can see very easily the state of the intercom by the LEDs.

Tom:

brou0040 wrote: I still haven't figured which one is right for me (GMA350, AMX240 or PMA450), but I'm wondering if this would change the decision making for anybody. I really like the monitor muting on the AMX240, but I don't believe the 240 can mute the second comm radio while the 450 and 350 can.

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That was my understanding of how its supposed to work too.  The pilots guide on page 19 says

"MON 1 and MON 2 monitors audio output from the COM 1 and COM 2 IFD Standby channel(s).  The buttons turn green when active.  Dual radio monitor capability allows the pilot to listen to standby frequencies with automatic muting when the active frequency is in use."

I haven't loaded 10.1 yet, so I have nothing to add.  I decided to wait until my 440 is ready and make one trip back to the avionics shop.

Is this a software bug in the AMX 240?

Nothing heard regarding my query on any 540/240 users out there...

Edited by n7ifr - 19 Aug 2015 at 2:39pm

oskrypuch wrote: "3. reversed Hi/Lo wires from 540-->240 - relieved attenuation, but no Monitor or AutoMute capability. " Is that reversing hi/lo on the primary pair, on the monitor pair, or both? IOW, is it relative one pair to the other, or do both need to be changed? * Orest

Steve:

Tom's post of today:

AviJake wrote: Just today we found and fixed the root cause of the volume attenuation issue when using the standby comm function. Up until today, there was no data of any kind that pointed to some known compatibility problem so any claims to that end were totally bogus. The fix will be software only in the IFD and will be included in the very next software release.