Peachtree Audio

I had previously owned the Nova300, so my review is based on my experience between the two

First let me state that I really liked my Nova300, that was the reason I stuck with Peachtree, but with advancements in class D amplifier architecture, I was interested in possibly enhancing what was already great.

Comparing the Nova300 to the Carina X….

I wanted to first compare just the amplifiers of two units, so I connected my Topping D90(AKM4499) to the switcher and then to the Aux input of each amp. I played multiple test tones through both units and volume matched them to the same db reading at the listening position. For reference, at the point where the 4th light volume indicator on the Nova lights up, it is equal to -35 volume level on the Carina X
I started off playing Sarah Jarosz “Gone Too Far” from Amazon HD through my Bluesound Node2i. Switching between the two units, there was already a clear difference. The first audible difference was that the Carina X had more “airiness” and detail in the vocal and treble range, while brighter, it didn’t sound harsh, just unencumbered, I continued to sample songs from Chris Rea to Shawn Mullins to Tool. In all instances the imaging and depth between the two was comparable, but the detail on the upper frequencies with the Carina X was the clear winner.

DAC
With there already being a significant difference in sound between the amps of the two units, it didn’t make a lot of sense to directly compare the DACs. With the Nova I was actually using the Topping D90 for DAC duty, as I found the internal DAC of the Nova to sound too tinny and metallic with my particular setup, so I decided to just test internal vs external on the Carina X. In this case, I connected the Bluesound directly to the Carina through TOSlink and then the Bluesound also through the Topping D90 with Coax and then through RCA to the aux input on the Carina. This allowed me to switch back and forth with the inputs on the Carina. Again, there were big differences between the two. I had initially picked the D90 as my DAC because it smoothed out the treble and sounded more pleasant in the setup with the Nova, and in my initial testing with the Carina using just the external DAC, there were obvious differences between the two and it still sounded even the external DAC through the Carina sounded more detailed, however, going between the internal and external now on just the Carina, by comparison, the external DAC almost sounded Muddy and muffled. The Carina was already brighter sounding than the Nova, but this took it to another level. And by brighter, I don’t mean harsh or fatiguing, just clear and detailed and more natural (certainly not clinical) and not the tinny and metallic feel I got from the Nova DAC initially.

DAC Filters – This was something I was particularly interested in as I wasn’t sure if I would be happy with the DAC, but thought having the filters would at least offer some customization and allow me to get closer to the sound I wanted. Playing around with the filters, I can definitely say I can hear a difference between them. I prefer the M-Slow setting as i was able to perceive a smoothing of the highs with some media that was more pleasing to my ears.

Other Observations
1. The pre-out output levels on the Carina X are lower than they are on the Nova300. If you are using these to connect to subwoofer(s)it’s a noticeable difference

2. I prefer the brushed aluminum on the from panel of the Nova to the muted Gray on the Carina
3. I wish the Carina had at least one more TOSlink input and possible one more set of Aux inputs just to have more flexibility
4. I am not sure what observable difference is between the Digital volume control vs the hybrid mode (I currently have it in hybrid)
5. I like the digital display and being able to tell what volume level you have it set at
6. The Carina X while having a smaller vent port on the top has much brighter internal lights the emanate in a dark environment.
7. The green LED power indicator on the front of the Carina is more distracting and annoying than the blue light on the Nova
8. It takes longer for the source input to connect after making the input selection after powering up from standby mode. This can be slightly annoying if you start your music before waiting for the input to acknowledge
9. I wish the tape loop inputs/outputs were available on the Carina as it’s nice to have the option of an external EQ
10. The Bluetooth while nice, isn’t necessary with an external streamer and could possibly be forgone in order to accommodate additional inputs…or better yet, follow NAD’s example and have a module you can add that would incorporate Bluesound directly into the device. (I do realize that NAD and Bluesound are owned by the same company, so they may not allow others access to that module)

For me, it was definitely a worthy upgrade for the amplifier and DAC performance alone. I highly recommend this product.

Works great

I had Nova150 then Nova500. Now received my Carina X. It sounds at least as good as Nova500 and even better. What i enjoyed even more is new display that is very user friendly. To me, Carina X sound warmer while keeping that high fedality transparency. I wish it had more optic inputs.

When the FedEx truck backed into the driveway, it had been a day of irritation. I set the box from Peachtree on the floor and removed my Nova 150 from its shelf. I unboxed the Carina GaN amplifier and hooked it up. After deciding on the "H-FAST" filter, I grabbed a Gillian Welch CD, sat back on the couch, and let it play. Any irritation from the day melted away as David Rawling's strings filled the air and Gillian Welch's tortoise-shell pick-sounding the guitar strings. The intonation of her voice presented a presentation unheard of in multiple previous plays. The lack of background noise was gone and it was pure musical bliss. The same experience has come true with every CD I have played, leading me to upgrade my CD player with a CD transport, and am considering a speaker upgrade as well. I love this amp.

In addition, the folks at Peachtree were very patient with me, from Kristina to the gentleman who called me back to answer the questions I had. Not only was he generous with his time but seemed to enjoy what he was doing. Thank you, Peachtree, you not only hit a home run, but you cleared the bases.

It is a well-priced system that provides outstanding quality sound.

Great customer service. Love the amp!

Really impressed with the Carina X. I was quite happy with my nova300 but wanted to try a newer DAC. Mr. Clark suggested more value to me in updating to a new integrated with new DAC section amongst a host of other improvements.

The X immediately impressed and surprised me (honestly, I was a little freaked out by the separation of instruments/vocals I was hearing on tracks I’ve played 100s of times before). In addition to greatly improved soundstage, overall clarity went way up. It was almost as if, while using the nova, my speakers had a silkscreen over them ever so slightly muffling things.

The only things I miss from the nova are: 1) two sets of analog inputs (one for HT bypass and one for turntable); and 2) hitting the remote button for the desired input turned on the nova and set that put-on Carina only the power button will turn on the machine

I've been using the Nova 300 for the last few years. I've been reading many positive reviews about the GanFET amplifiers. I was concerned I would not hear a noticeable difference if I was to upgrade from my Nova 300 to the GanFET amplifier. I decided to take the plunge and it was a great decision. This PreDAC+GaN combination is fantastic. The clarity and soundstage presence is a noticeable improvement from my Nova 300 and the Nova is a solid integrated amplifier.

I don’t often write product reviews, but the Peachtree Carina 300 integrated amplifier has inspired me to make an exception. After using it for about a week, I can confidently say I’m enamored with this piece of kit.

Setup Details -- my setup pairs the Carina 300 with a Bluesound Node streamer (Tidal) connected via an Emotiva coaxial cable (and a Toslink for A-B comparison). This allows the Carina’s internal dual DACs to handle all digital-to-analog conversion. I’ve left the Node’s tone controls untouched and haven’t experimented with the filters in the Peachtree menu, keeping the system as close to a pure direct setup as possible.

Subwoofer Integration -- I connected a MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 10 subwoofer directly to the amp’s pre-outs (left/right), bypassing the LFE sub out on the Node. This setup ensures the front mains receive the full signal and naturally roll off at their designed 48 kHz ±3 dB. The sub handles frequencies up to 80 Hz, with its volume set at halfway and the phase at “0.”

Listening Impressions (2.1 System Only) -- After a few days of casual listening, I pushed the system harder today, running it at medium to high levels for 65 minutes. The consensus among my listening group was unanimous: the sound was excellent. The Carina 300 drives my SVS Ultra Bookshelf speakers effortlessly, delivering clean, powerful, and distortion-free audio even at high volumes.

While I’m not a professional reviewer and won’t delve into terms like “soundstage” or “depth,” I’ll simply say this: the Carina 300 made my system sound phenomenal, which is what matters most. Compared to my previous amps—a near-vintage NAD 3155 integrated amp and a Marantz SR6006 AVR in 2.1 mode—the improvement was dramatic.

One standout feature of the Carina 300 is how exceptional it sounds at lower volume levels. I’ve never owned an integrated amplifier that performs this well across such a wide volume range.

I had two initial reservations about the Carina 300:

The lack of tone controls.
Its Class D amplifier design.

Both fears turned out to be unfounded. The amplifier doesn’t need tone controls—it sounds rich and detailed without them. As for the Class D architecture, the sonic performance of this moderately priced amp is nothing short of amazing.

The Carina 300 excelled across a wide range of high-quality recordings, including:

Steely Dan – Aja
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
Roger Waters – Amused to Death
Boz Scaggs – Thanks to You
Various rap tracks with deep, powerful bass.

Final Thoughts -- The Peachtree Carina 300 has exceeded my expectations. It looks great, sounds incredible at all volume levels, integrates seamlessly with the Bluesound Node, and is a breeze to operate. The included remote is a nice touch, and even after 65 minutes of hard use, the amp’s case was barely warm—a testament to its cool-running design.

I highly recommend the Carina 300 to anyone seeking a high-quality, versatile integrated amplifier.

Over the years I've gone from a Nova 150 to a Nova 500 and now to a Carina GaN. All very fine units, all very recommendable. I was hesitant about going from nova 500 to carina, but did the try-out and have now gone with the Carina. I have to say it sounds fantastic.

But equally as impressive as the Peachtree sound is the Peachtree business. Sometimes, equipment, no matter how good, may somehow fail. I speak from actual experience when I say Peachtree always stands by their agreements/warranties and their equipment, including refurbished units. Those trade-in deals are for real, are easy and are a helluva good way to offset some of the drawbacks of online buying. Their customer service is topnotch. Kristina who manages communications is always quick and clear and informative. If you do have to return a unit for repair, they're quick and very reasonably priced. I was hesitant about the actual quality upgrade from the 500 to carina, and wrote to Peachtree to ask: why would I spend the extra money? I got a very thoughtful response from Andrew Clark, the owner. Without trying to push me either way, he explained technical differences and his own experience of the sound differences. I've been really pleased with my upgrade.

To sum up, Peachtree is an admirable business selling really fine equipment for reasonable prices. Highly recommended...Tony Jackson

This year, I’ve had five different integrated amplifiers in my system. My benchmark is a Hegel H190 though my current fave is a Rogue Sphinx V2. The Carina 300 couldn’t be more different than the Sphinx. Its sound stage is wider, much more detailed and more layered. It also has a quieter background. Its internal DAC is very good and is only bettered by my SMSL VMV D1se. Though it’s so very detailed, it is not hard to listen to for long periods. The balance seems right. The only source I have going into it is my WiiM Ultra which through puts over the air TV, apps from my Apple TV and music streams via the WiiM home app. The Carina offers a very good and capable volume control. The screen is very nice and the remote fits very well in my hand. We will see id over the next few weeks the sound changes as it breaks in. But right now, I couldn’t be more impressed!

I “downgraded” from the Peachtree separates to the Carina GaN to simplify my system and because I also just purchased the efficient Wharfdale Lintons that just don’t need so much power. Well I can’t say where the improvements come from since I just changed two components at the same time. It doesn’t really matter because what I have now is the incredible sound that I’ve not achieved in many years with other high end components. I just love the soundstage front to back and side to side. All instruments sound fantastic and bass is punchy. All music sounds better now and I just love sitting back and enjoying music in a way that I’ve missed for a long time. I am so pleased I added the Carina to my system.

I owned a Nova65SE for many years and absolutely adored it. When I felt like it might be time to trade up, I tested several amps that were considerably more costly than the Nova and I was disappointed in all of them. There was a brittleness and excessive brightness to them that just didn’t play well with my speakers (Paradigm Studio 10s that I’ve had for years). So I decided that I’d give a Carina a go, and there it was. The body and smoothness, the realism, the stereo stage. Maybe the Carina/Paradigm combo works particularly well together, or maybe I’m just a big fan of the Peachtree sound, but this thing is magic.

I have been searching for a minimalist, small footprint (size and weight) system solution. I own a streaming audio player with multiple digital outputs (no analog), and a very good volume control. I have a few speaker choices, but I wanted an amplifier that would work well with my Magnepan LRS+. After reading a few of the audio websites I landed on the GAN1 and everything I read indicated it would be a great addition to the system. I received the unit within days of ordering. Setup was a breeze and within minutes the LRS+ were providing what I can only describe as shockingly good sound in my room. Soundstage is tremendous. Bass is plentiful and well controlled. I have added a REL sub today to fill in the bottom octave, but the performance of the GaN1 and Magnepans alone is better than the many other combinations I have tried. I also swapped in a pair of Q Acoustic Concept 30 bookshelf speaker and was very pleased with the results. The resulting reduction in the numbers of components in my system was also a goal, which is achieved by using the GaN1. Highly recommended!

The sound and performance are incredible. IMO one of the best values out there for class D operation. Similar performance in class a AB or A amplifier would cost 4 or more times what Peachtree lists for..