Our testing and analysis of the Pioneer GM-A3702
If you are looking for a solid 2 channel amplifier to power a set of components or a small subwoofer look no further than the Pioneer GM-A3702. This Pioneer amp is a solid choice for good power on a budget. The Pioneer GMA series amplifiers are Pioneer’s entry level amplifiers, they are Class-AB and provide flexibility with loading down to 2 ohms in stereo mode and 4 ohms in bridged mode, perfect for those just getting started in car audio. Pioneer has rated the amp with CTA-2006 compliance, we’ll put that to trial during our testing in a minute.
What's inside the box?
Inside the box is a high level harness, hardware and 2 channel amplifier.
Considering the price is it any good?
For under $100, what can this amplifier do for power output? Pioneer rates it 60 watts RMS x 2 at 4 ohms, 95 watts RMS x 2 at 2 ohms, and in bridged mode 190 watts RMS x 1 at 4 ohms. This is a nice start to a system.
Dimensions
Dimensions of the amplifier include 9-5/8"W x 2-3/8"H x 7-1/8"D.
Adjustments
For adjustments JVC included gain control, and a fixed low pass crossover. The crossover adjustment is a fixed 80 Hz. Speaker level input harness and a very nice feature that Pioneer added was Automatic Signal Sensing Turn-On for both the RCA’s and Speaker level input.
Aesthetics
Aesthetically, the GMA series amplifiers are pretty simple. They feature a Satin black chassis with a red Pioneer logo.
Versatility
The Pioneer GM-A3702 is a versatile amplifier when it comes to connecting to your signal source. Connect directly to the RCA inputs of the amplifier using the RCA pre-amp outputs on your aftermarket headunit. You can also use the high level input with the included harness to connect to the speaker connections on to your factory headunit.
Connections
For connections the amplifier features two sets of spade connection terminals for channel A and channel B. We recommend 8-10 gauge power and ground leads, check out our amplifier installation kits online at qualitymobilevideo.com. Pioneer fitted a single 25 amp fuse. It is a Class AB so it will be less efficient than a class D so make sure not to choke this amp with under-sized power cables.
Pioneer GM-A3702 Testing
The first test we ran was two channels driven, 4 ohm, 1 KHz, 14.2v. Pioneer rates the amp 60W RMS x 2 here. Our Audio Precision will generate our signal and measure distortion.
GM-A3702 Two channels driven, 4 ohm, 1 KHz, 14.4v
Our HP8903B Audio Analyzer Picked up a 66 Watts RMS per channel, 1.04% distortion and 16 volts of output. Our AMM-1 read 51 Watts RMS and we drew 14 amps of current.
GM-A3702 Two channels driven, 4 ohm, 40 Hz, 14.4v
Going down to 40 Hz. Our HP picked up 61W RMS, 1% distortion and 15.5 volts of output. The AMM-1 read 54 Watts and we drew 14 amps of current.
GM-A3702 Two channels driven, 2 ohm, 40 Hz, 14.4v
Next we went down to 2 ohms, two channels driven 40 Hz. Our HP picked up 83W RMS, 1% distortion and 12.8 volts of output. The AMM-1 read 72 Watts and we drew 23 amps of current.
GM-A3702 Two channels driven, 2 ohm, 1 KHz, 14.4v
Going up to 1 KHz. Our HP picked up 92 W RMS, 1% distortion and 13.4 volts of output. The AMM-1 read 72 Watts and we drew nearly 23 amps of current.
