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Garmin GMA345:Slide-and-Fly Audio Panel

This is a worth a few words, as we often get questions about stereo interfaces with monaural headsets. Using a monaural headset in a stereo jack shorts the right headset channel output to ground. It doesn't damage the audio panel or the headsets, but plug in with a monaural headset and you'll hear the left channel in both ears. If a monaural headset is used at one of the passenger positions, any other passenger using a stereo headset hears audio in the left ear only. Ask your installer about your setup.

Larry Anglisano
Verified

When we reviewed the Garmin GMA340 audio panel in the November 1999 Aviation Consumer, we liked its utilitarian feature set and robust controls. It was a huge success. Garmin populated the market with GMA340s in big numbers through OEM and retrofit sales, often paired with GNS430/530 systems. If you have this pairing you might think twice about upgrading because it simply works.

But for Bluetooth and a deeper audio interface, Garmin offers the $1895 GMA345. It uses the existing GMA340 wiring, which all but eliminates any installation effort.

Larry Anglisano

Editor in Chief Larry Anglisano has been a staple at Aviation Consumer since 1995. An active land, sea and glider pilot, Larry has over 30 years’ experience as an avionics repairman and flight test pilot. He’s the editorial director overseeing sister publications Aviation Safety magazine, IFR magazine and is a regular contributor to KITPLANES magazine with his Avionics Bootcamp column.