Pioneer Electronics Expands Marine Amplifier Lineup

Boat Early, Boat Often

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc just introduced three Class-D amplifiers designed for the challenging marine environment. Consisting of two compact sized and fully ingress protected (IP67 rated) models plus an extremely flexible bridgeable 6-channel model, these new Pioneer amplifiers are designed to suit multiple output configurations in a variety of environmental conditions and marine applications.

All three models feature an MCU (Micro Controller Unit) design, utilizing a microprocessor to enable and control the amplifier’s audio, power and protection circuits. By harnessing the power of the MCU and a 32-Bit floating point DSP that modulates the input signal prior to the gain stage, combined with an audio optimized PCB layout and specialized audio grade components, sound quality and signal accuracy are improved over conventional Class-D subwoofer and full-range amplifier designs. The MCU also enables Pioneer’s Protection Control System (PCS), which continuously monitors the input voltage, current consumption, and operating temperature to automatically adjust the amplifier’s output to ensure operational stability during long listening sessions or in warmer climates. The entire lineup is also SAE J1171 Certified for external ignition protection of marine electrical devices, making them suitable for installation in the storage, electrical or battery compartments of marine vessels.

“We are excited to expand our lineup of amplifiers with three models that have been engineered to withstand the extremes of temperature, moisture and dust exposure found in common marine applications while still offering the installation flexibility and high sound quality consumers expect from Pioneer,” said Ted Cardenas, vice president of marketing and corporate communications for Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “Additionally, the IP67 rated ingress protection, compact size, and low current consumption of the GM-ME300X1C and GM-ME300X4C make these specific amplifiers an excellent option for installation in a variety of other vehicles, including off-road vehicles, power sports vehicles and motorcycles.”

The Pioneer marine amplifier lineup includes:

The mono-channel GM-ME300X1C subwoofer amplifier is weatherproof and IP67 rated for dust and water resistance, capable even of full water submersion1. Adjustments to the built-in low pass filter (featuring a precise 21-step frequency range), 0dB/ 6dB/ 12dB adjustable bass boost, gain and input settings are located under the sealed top mounted and removable cover. The GM-ME300X1C output is controlled by the MCU and is capable of 300W RMS x1 at both 2 ohms and 4 ohms.

The 4-channel GM-ME300X4C full-range amplifier is weatherproof and IP67 rated for dust and water resistance, capable even of full water submersion1. Adjustments to the built-in high pass and low pass filters (featuring a precise 21-step frequency range), bridged output settings, gain and input settings are located under the sealed top mounted and removable cover. The GM-ME300X4C output is controlled by the MCU and is capable of 75W RMS x4 at both 2 ohms and 4 ohms in 4-channel mode; 75W RMS x2 at both 2 ohms and 4 ohms plus 150W RMS x1 at 4 ohms in 3-channel stereo/bridged mode; or 150W RMS x2 at 4 ohms in 2-channel bridged mode.

Featuring a corrosion-resistant conformal coated circuit board and single sided ABYC/NMMA compliant terminal connections, the 6-channel GM-ME600X6 full-range amplifier offers a vast array of power output and channel combinations to provide unmatched system flexibility within the Pioneer marine amplifier line-up. The MCU design features built-in high pass and low pass filters (featuring a precise 21-step frequency range), bridged output settings, gain and input selection settings for each of the three pairs of channels (six total channels). Further harnessing the full capabilities of the MCU design, it features both normal output mode (75W RMS x2 stereo at both 2 ohms and 4 ohms / 150W RMS x1 bridged at 4 ohms) or high output mode (100W RMS x2 stereo at both 2 ohms and 4 ohms / 200W RMS x1 bridged at 4 ohms) for each pair of channels, allowing the amplifier’s power output to be more closely matched with the power handling capabilities of connected speakers (sold separately). The amplifier can be configured in the following output modes: 6-channel (all channels operating in stereo mode); 5-channel (4 channels in stereo mode plus 1 bridged mode channel); 4-channel (2 channels in stereo mode plus 2 bridged mode channels); or 3-channel (3 bridged mode channels). For more information, see Pioneer’s full marine lineup here.