Carina 150
Integrated Amplifier with DAC
- 150 watts per channel
- Dual-mono ESS 9068 DACs
- Analog input switchable between MM phono or AUX
- Home Theater Bypass
- OLED front panel display
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Customer Reviews
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.
My previous setup was a DAC/preamp by Benchmark (DAC 1 HDR) and power amp by Peachtree (220). DAC 1 HDR was a jewel at the time of its purchase, this gear by Benchmark was universally judge one of the best DACs in the market for CD listening, but not for other sources, because it could not manage sampling rates over 44.1 KHz. This limitation has become a problem to me, having several hundred of tracks in HD audio. Being so happy with my Peachtree 220, my search for an updated product was firstly in the catalogue of this brand, I preferred an integrated amplifier to a pre-only, the old gears were meant to be part of a desktop setup. As Carina 150 arrived home, the first test I made was with Toto song Hydra, 16 bit/44.1 KHz in my Cambridge Audio CX C (transport only) CD reader, and the same song, 24 bit/ 192 KHz via Mac Studio. The difference was now audible. The dragon's roar at the incipit of the song (one of the most difficult sound to reproduce by digital devices due to its low volume and frequences) is now clear, well defined, in the correct spatial position of the scene, just like I heard, more than four decades ago, with the vinyl version. This is enough for me to say that Carina 150 fulfills my needs and my desires. Now I will enjoy listening to my music collection to find out new details in my favorite songs. Furthermore, I will always consider that Carina 150 has a price that is roughly a third of my previous system.
Like a previous reviewer of the, Carina 150, I upgraded from my Nova 150. I'm using the Carina 150 (Phase II, to be exact) in a desktop, near-field setup. This might seem like overkill to some, but when I listen through this arrangement, it is all music to my ears!
When compared to the Nova 150, the first thing that I noticed was what the previous reviewer noted, the sound quality. Since I'm not schooled in audio electronics, I'll guess that a large part of that noticeable sound quality improvement comes from the ESS9068 dual dac chips. Better resolution of details in the music tracks, whether it's the drummers brushes on the snare drum, or the "ting" on a triangle. It's noticeable, and sounds fabulous! Being a near-field setup, I don't have to crank up the volume on the Carina for an all encompassing SPL, -35 to -30 are powerful and sublime. Just a lovely arrangement, streaming music via usb-c, and Roon, or my Bluesound Node over coaxial input. No other external accessories needed. I haven't tried the headphone outputs yet, but I'm glad to have that ability, and also the ability to connect my turntable, if desired.
The Carina's display is also a welcomed addition over the Nova's, austere faceplate. I enjoy knowing what the volume is set at, and what input is selected. The track's PCM kHz number is nice to see, too. Other settings that the display allows you to see and manipulate are amply appreciated.
All in all, the Carina 150 (Phase II) is a really nice advance/upgrade over the Nova 150, and I am really digging the sound output through my speakers, in this case, Wharfedale Diamond 12.1's. It sounds fantastic, has ample power and looks gorgeous. This is an extremely high quality, well made intergrated amp, and I am a captured customer with my third Peachtree product.
My existing set up involved the Peachtree Nova150 feeding the beautiful Kef R3Metas/KC62 combination. I also had a standalone DAC and external EQ that ran through the analog connection. I enjoyed comparing the external DAC with the Peachtree DAC and although very close in sound, I slightly preferred the external DAC due to the screen displaying bitrate and file type.
Enter the Peachtree Audio Carina 150.
Within minutes of listening to the Carina I was done with the external DAC and EQ. The dual ESS Sabre 9068s won me over instantly. People talk about DACs being transparent or warm or analytical. I just know what I hear: Crisp, clean but full and super clear. The bongos in Steely Dans’ iconic “Hey 19” or just the shimmering cymbal in the background are all, dare I say, transparent.
This amp is robust! Although the same 150 wpc as the Nova 150, man, it seems thicker. It’s like the older stronger brother came out to join the fight. Everything feels sturdier. I even had to adjust my KC62 sub downward a bit. It does run a bit warmer than the Nova.
The screen delivers a delightful aqua blue which can be dimmed or even shut off. Showing the bit rate for high-res files is now a must and Carina does this on all digital sources. The remote while feeling clunky at first is perfectly designed and intuitive to use.
Finally, the support team at Peachtree is responsive, energetic, and was happy to engage with me and my endless questions through the sales and support process.
Overview
Carina
Carina is a name in the Italian language that roughly translates to “pretty" and is derived from the Latin word Carus that means “beloved." We are confident that Carina looks and performs better than anything else in its price range - and many products that cost significantly more. Should Carina earn a place in your system it will win your heart and mind too!
The Carina GaN
The Carina GaN is a 200 watt-per-channel integrated amplifier incorporating the revolutionary Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology introduced in the revolutionary Peachtree GaN 1. The Carina GaN provides a musical path to your speakers that is remarkably short, direct and pure. Want to hear all of the intricate details in your music that have always been there but you couldn't quite hear them before? That is exactly what the Carina GaN does that other amplifiers fall short of. The Carina GaN accepts five digital audio inputs including USB-C and Bluetooth v5 plus a versatile analog audio input that is switchable between Moving Agent (MM) phono, AUX and Home Theater bBypass. The Carina GaN will drive virtually any speaker with remarkable clarity, authority and finesse.
What makes the Carina GaN special?
First and foremost is the GaN amplifier module. It has several inherent advantages in a high power application like a power amplifier. A GaN-FET power stage provides a precise high-power reproduction of the Class-D PWM signal with extremely high linearity and relatively low distortion compare to MOS-FET. This linearity eliminates the need for ANY feedback, ultimately allowing for exceptionally clean and transparent midrange and high frequencies along with strong and remarkably well controlled low frequencies. GaN-FETs track the complex audio waveforms so much more accurately than MOS-FETs resulting in significantly more transparent and natural sound. The difference is something even a casual listener can hear and appreciate.
The Carina GaN is designed so that it does NOT require a traditional digital-to-analog-converter (DAC) for its digital sources. The GaN-FET power stages functions as a “power DAC” creating the analog waveform that drives the speakers WITHOUT thinned for a separate DAC! Just a super short and direct path from your music sources to your speakers. Carina GaN also use a separate regulated power supply for the amplifier module making it more like a separate preamplifier and power amplifier that share the same chassis. And for any analog sources the Carina GaN utilizes a high-performance AKM solution to achieve a remarkably accurate signal for the GaN-FET power module to operate optimally with these sources.
The Carina X
The Carina X is a 300 watt-per-channel integrated amplifier incorporating the NCore X technology recently introduced by Hypex. The X technology takes traditional class-D power amplifier design to the highest level. Unlike the Carina GaN, the power amplifier in the Carina X uses a MOS-FET power stage with high amount of global negative feedback to achieve remarkable measured performance and sonic transparency. It is the only class-D power amplifier, that we have heard to date, that achieves most of the same sonic attributes we experience when listening to the Carina GaN. Similar to the Carina GaN, the Carina X utilizes a separate power supply for the amplifier modules making it more like a separate preamplifier and power amplifier that share the same chassis.
The Carina 300 & Carina 150
Both of these units incorporate the NCore power amplifier technology from Hypex. The Carina 300 and Carina 150 provide exceptional performance at their respective price points and exceed the transparency and sound quality of ALL of our previous designs. They are only outmatched by our Carina X and Carina GaN in terms of ultimate sonic transparency and sound quality. The Carina 300 is a great match for less sensitive speakers, larger rooms or for listeners who simply enjoy their music at higher levels. And given just how good Carina sounds at those higher levels, we get it! The Carina 150 is designed for higher sensitivity speakers (90dB+), smaller rooms of for listeners who enjoy their music at more moderate levels but still expect an exceptional listening experience.
Why we made Carina
Carina was designed as a high-performance yet flexible platform that would provide the very best results from digital and analog source devices and interface with any type of power amplifier we chose. Every portion of the platform is meticulously designed with an eye for sonic purity, simplicity and sound quality. The result was a new price/performance benchmark for integrated amplifiers. Add in the more intuitive user interface of the OLED display and timeless Peachtree Audio cosmetic design - Carina could, very well, be the last integrated amplifier you will ever need or want.
Carina highlights
Digital
- Two ESS 9068 DAC chips, dual mono (one for the left channel, one for the right channel)
[The DACs in the Carina GaN are only for the headphone and preamp outputs] - Accepts HD audio input up to 768k PCM and 512k DSD
- Digital to analog filter settings including ow-pass rolloff and oversampling on/off
Analog
- Analog input configurable as Phono (Moving Magnet), AUX or Home Theater Bypass
Preamplifier
- Fully balanced circuitry
- High-performance, hybrid volume control (combination analog resistor ladder with digital attenuation)
- User selectable full-digital volume control option for silent operation
- Bluetooth v5 input with HD audio codecs
- Stereo (Preamp) analog output for connecting to a powered subwoofer or external power amplifier
Amplifier (Carina GaN)
- Power DAC topology [The Carina GaN amplifier performs the digital to analog conversion function]
- 200 watts-per-channel GaN power amplifier with zero global negative feedback
- Separate regulated power supply [Same output power from 4-8 Ohms]
Amplifier (Carina X)
- 300 watts-per-channel Hypex NCore X power amplifier
- Separate power supply
Amplifier (Carina 300 and Carina 150)
- Hypex NCore power amplifier module
Other
- Peachtree Audio industrial design made from aluminum and real wood available in high gloss mocha or piano black finishes
- High-visibility OLED front panel display with an intuitive dual knob user interface
- Fully-balanced headphone amplifier with a 4.4mm T/R/R/R/S output and standard 1/4" unbalanced output
- Trigger input and output for power on/off control to or from other devices
- Hand-held wireless remote control with integrated commands for Bluesound devices (NODE, VAULT, etc.)
How does Carina sound?
Carina integrated amplifiers are our best sounding integrated amplifiers ever - period. Even better than the highly regarded nova series, the Grand Integrated and the original nova and decco amplifiers that came before. How does Carina compare to the nova150/300/500? Simply stated, model for model, Carina is better. It has a superior DAC section, a more transparent volume control, a better phono preamplifier, more transparent and natural sounding power amplifiers and a fully balanced headphone amplifier. Each of these functions has taken advantage of recent advancements in parts quality and design and integrated into a cohesive design that achieves remarkable sound quality from source to speakers.
Features in Carina that are not available in the nova series:
- Dual DAC chip design
- HD audio input up to 768k PCM and 512 DSD
- Fully balanced circuitry from the DACs to the power and headphone amplifiers
- Fully balanced headphone output
- High-performance, hybrid volume control (combination analog resistor ladder/digital attenuation)
- Bluetooth v5 input with HD audio decoding
- OLED front panel display with large characters
- Numeric volume control range
- Trigger input for on/off control from another device
as a trigger output)
Design
Dual DAC and Balanced Analog Design
The Carina 150 utilizes two ESS Technology 9068 DAC chips in dual-mono mode with one chip dedicated to the left channel and the other to the right channel. ESS is a leader in audiophile DAC design and manufacturing and their 9068 is the successor to the 9038 which, in turn, is the successor to the venerable 9018. The 9068 achieves excellent THD+N (120dB) and DNR (128dBA) and is also the world's first audio DAC with a built-in MQA hardware renderer. The 9068 DAC chip performs exceptionally well on its own, but when two are used in dual-mono mode, the measured performance and sonic transparency is elevated to an even higher level. Peachtree Audio was the first premium audio brand to implement ESS DACs in its products beginning with the original nova in 2009 and has continued to use their DACs ever since.
To help ensure that the high quality analog signal from the DACs is preserved, the current to voltage converter stage features ultra low distortion op-amps, along with a balanced, class-A, discrete output stage to drive the volume control with a low source impedance. The volume control in the Carina 150 is designed to preserve the integrity of the sound even further by utilizing a high-performance resistor ladder (with .1% tolerance resistors) and digital attenuation hybrid design. This type of sophisticated volume control circuit is rare in a product in this price range, but provides ultra-precise control of the output level while maintaining exceptional channel balance throughout the volume range. With such a high quality DAC and preamplifier design in front of them, the power and headphone amplifiers are able to perform while providing greater transparency, less background noise and. ultimately, remarkable sonic clarity.
New Digital Features
The Carina 150 utilizes precision femtosecond crystal oscillators (digital clocks) to minimize phase noise and jitter. A custom designed FPGA with clock management and an additional phase lock loop reduces jitter even further, providing a level of control typically reserved for stand alone DACs. The DACs in the Carina are capable of supporting PCM up to 768kHz and DSD up to 512kHz via the USB-C input. These are the highest input sampling rates we have ever supported in our products and are available for users that want to experiment with sample rates. The Carina 150 also includes a digital filter setting for fine-tuning the sound of the DACs with 3 settings; L-FAST, H-FAST and M-SLOW. Each filter has an objective (measurable) and subjective (audible to most) effect on the sound. We encourage people to audition all three settings to determine the one that sounds the best to them. Most people will hear the differences in the high-frequency reproduction where they are most readily heard. There is also a no oversampling (NOS) setting in the Carina 150, which sends the original digital signal straight to the modulator without any oversampling. This mode is useful for users to experiment with software-based oversampling features in products such as Roon.
Phono Input
The Carina 150 provides the vinyl lover a purpose-designed built-in moving magnet phono input. A high-end AKM analog-to-digital converter maintains the lowest noise floor possible for the delicate phono signal. No vinyl? Just switch the input to AUX.
Streaming
We recommend using a Bluesound NODE or similar in conjunction with the Carina and streaming high-resolution audio from services such as Qobuz, Apple Music and amazon music HD. In our experience, the sound quality of all of these streaming services is impressive. The libraries are huge and the convenience is unmatched!
Bluetooth
The Carina 150 has a built-in Bluetooth 5.0 receiver with HD audio decoding. It provides a convenient way to stream wirelessly from any Bluetooth enabled device. The Carina 150 also has a setting that only turns on the internal Bluetooth receiver when the Bluetooth input is selected. This minimizes the amount of RF inside the amplifier when using any of the wired inputs.
Amplification
The Carina 150 utilizes a 150 watts-per-channel stereo Hypex NCore power amplifier that provides power to drive a wide range of speakers with ease and authority while maintaining low noise and terrific dynamics. The speaker outputs are high-quality CMC 5-way binding posts. The Carina 150 also provides a high-performance balanced headphone amplifier with a 4.4mm T/R/R/R/S output, plus a 1/4” unbalanced output for regular headphones. The power and clarity of the headphone amplifier is remarkable for an integrated amplifier and the balanced output is typically only found on dedicated headphone amplifiers!
Timeless Design
Peachtree Audio prides itself on making products that not only sound great, but look great and are easy to use. All of our products are meticulously crafted out of metal and wood and integrate with a wide range of interior designs from traditional to contemporary to post-modern. Carina introduces a high-quality OLED front panel display with large characters and a dual-knob user interface that retains the ease of use our products have always been known for along with the visual feedback many have requested. This display provides more information than our previous amplifiers and can be easily viewed from most listening positions.
Integration Features
- Hand-held wireless IR remote control with integrated commands for Bluesound devices like the NODE, VAULT, etc.
- Stereo preamp output for connecting a powered subwoofer or an external power amplifier like the GaN 400
- Trigger input and output (1/8”) for power on/off control to or from another device
Specifications
Carina 150 Specifications
Reviews
“A WORTHY & ROBUST UPGRADE”
My existing set up involved the Peachtree Nova150 feeding the beautiful Kef R3Metas/KC62 combination. I also had a standalone DAC and external EQ that ran through the analog connection. I enjoyed comparing the external DAC with the Peachtree DAC and although very close in sound, I slightly preferred the external DAC due to the screen displaying bitrate and file type.
Enter the Peachtree Audio Carina 150. Within minutes of listening to the Carina I was done with the external DAC and EQ. The dual ESS Sabre 9068s won me over instantly. People talk about DACs being transparent or warm or analytical. I just know what I hear: Crisp, clean but full and super clear. The bongos in Steely Dans’ iconic “Hey 19” or just the shimmering cymbal in the background are all, dare I say, transparent.
This amp is robust! Although the same 150 wpc as the Nova 150, man, it seems thicker. It’s like the older stronger brother came out to join the fight. Everything feels sturdier. I even had to adjust my KC62 sub downward a bit. It does run a bit warmer than the Nova. The screen delivers a delightful aqua blue which can be dimmed or even shut off. Showing the bit rate for high-res files is now a must and Carina does this on all digital sources. The remote while feeling clunky at first is perfectly designed and intuitive to use.
Finally, the support team at Peachtree is responsive, energetic, and was happy to engage with me and my endless questions through the sales and support process.
-Gerald J. Backenstoe (jbackenstoe@icloud.com)
Audio Pursuit reviews the original Carina
"While $2499 is no small amount of change, the Carina is an absolute bargain."
"I cannot rave enough about the DAC section."
"Simply put, the Peachtree Carina integrated amplifier is insanely terrific."