PMA450C Audio Panel

The pma 450c functionality includes two bluetooth modules.


PS Engineering PMA450C: Dual Bluetooth and IntelliAudio® Without Paying for Features You Won't Use

The PMA450C is PS Engineering's value-focused version of its PMA450B. PS Engineering built it to bring the price down without changing the parts pilots use most, so the faceplate, OLED display, and three-softkey menus are the same. What's gone are a few advanced functions that many owners never set up.

If you want a modern audio panel with two independent Bluetooth® connections and dimensional radio audio, and you don't need pilot-recorded voice alerts, the PMA450C is usually the smarter buy. Premier Aviation Tucson sells and installs it at our shop inside Tucson International Airport. Call 888-960-4288 for a quote.

What You Keep

  • Two independent Bluetooth® modules. Pair a tablet and a phone at the same time and choose what you listen to. ForeFlight alerts on one, a phone call for an IFR clearance on the other.
  • IntelliAudio® dimensional sound. Com 1 is placed at your 10 o'clock and Com 2 at your 2 o'clock, so two radios no longer blend into one stream. These are the default positions and the ones most pilots use anyway. Stereo headsets are required for the effect.
  • The OLED display and three-softkey interface. It is readable in bright Arizona sun and straightforward enough that most pilots never open the manual.
  • The six-place IntelliVox® intercom. Voice-activated with no squelch knob to fiddle with.
  • Up to five unswitched audio inputs for traffic, terrain, autopilot disconnect, and similar alerts that should always be heard.

What PS Engineering Removed to Lower the Price

The PMA450C does not include these PMA450B features:

  • flightmate®: custom voice alerts recorded in your own voice, audio checklists, and the continuous radio loop recorder.
  • Audio streaming output (PS Streamer): sending cockpit audio out to a Bluetooth camera for flight recording.
  • The count-up/count-down timer.
  • Nine selectable IntelliAudio® positions. The 450B lets you move Com 1 and Com 2 anywhere in nine positions. The 450C uses the fixed 10 and 2 o'clock layout.

If you record flights for YouTube or training reviews, or you want spoken alerts wired to engine or avionics inputs, choose the PMA450B. If none of that is on your list, the 450C gives you the same daily flying experience for less.

Is the PMA450C Right for Your Airplane?

You fly…Our recommendationA Cessna, Piper, or Beech with an aging Garmin GMA340PMA450C is a strong, budget-conscious replacementIFR with a tablet and phone in the cockpitPMA450C covers it with dual BluetoothFlights you record to a GoPro or other cameraStep up to the PMA450B for streaming outputAn airplane where you want custom spoken alertsStep up to the PMA450B for flightmate®

Installing a PMA450C in Tucson

Most PMA450C jobs we see are GMA340 replacements, and that is the easiest version of this upgrade. Even so, a good install is more than sliding a box into a tray. Our technicians:

  • Check the existing harness and connectors for heat-related wear. This is common in airplanes that sit on Tucson ramps through the summer.
  • Build or install the harness as an authorized PS Engineering dealer, which keeps the factory warranty valid.
  • Set intercom levels for your headsets and cabin noise, and confirm the unswitched alert inputs are working.
  • Pair your devices and walk you through the softkeys before you fly home.

You get a written estimate before work starts. If an older airframe turns up a surprise, we call you before going further.

Comparing the whole PS Engineering lineup? See our PS Engineering audio systems overview.

PMA450C Questions We Hear Most

What is the difference between the PMA450C and the PMA450B?

The PMA450C is a lower-cost version of the PMA450B. It keeps dual Bluetooth, the OLED display, the three-softkey interface, and IntelliAudio®. It drops flightmate® voice alerts, audio streaming output, and the timer. It also fixes IntelliAudio at the 10 and 2 o'clock positions instead of offering nine.

Is the PMA450C newer than the PMA450B?

It was released after the PMA450B, but it is not an upgrade over it. PS Engineering introduced the PMA450C in 2022 as a more affordable sibling. The PMA450B remains the top of PS Engineering's general aviation audio panel line.

Does the PMA450C have two Bluetooth connections?

Yes. It has two completely independent Bluetooth® modules, so you can pair two devices at once, such as a tablet running ForeFlight and your phone.

Can the PMA450C replace my Garmin GMA340?

Yes. The PMA450C is commonly installed as a replacement for the GMA340, which keeps labor and downtime low. We'll confirm compatibility with your specific installation when we quote the job.

Can I record my flights with a PMA450C?

The PMA450C does not have the audio streaming output used to send cockpit audio to a Bluetooth camera. If flight recording matters to you, the PMA450B is the better fit.

Premier Aviation Tucson · 1951 E Airport Dr, Building 2, Tucson, AZ 85756 · 888-960-4288 · Ask about our Veteran Discount.