Peachtree Audio

I purchased my Carina 300 at the end of May, it only took a week for delivery to the UK, I think that is very good service.
It was to replace two Eversolo AMP-F2 amps that were used in bridged mode with my Eversolo DMP-A8 streamer.
I am really pleased with the results so far. The sound I think is fuller and the bass is much better. I like the fact that the sound is much better at lower levels also. I would highly recommend the Peachtree Carina 300. I would love to hear the Carina GaN. Hats off to Peachtree audio for a fantastic product.

Replaced preDAC+GAN 400 separates to power Zu’s DW6. Don’t need the power and wanted a simple set up in a TV room with a Blue Sound Nose. Works great, sounds great and I like the screen versus the blue lights to indicate which input I am using.

Peachtree is not extremely well known and I ended up buying the Carina after a lot of research. It was not the first name that popped into my head. So far I am happy with it. I upgraded from an older and much cheaper Marantz PM6006. The Carina is driving a pair of Heresy IVs plus an SVS 12 inch powered sub. I am not an extreme audiophile and I am also an old guy with suboptimal ears, but to me the Carina sounds very sharp and clean. I can hear each instrument's voice clearly. At first I thought it was too "sharp," but I began to realize that what I had been hearing before was a bit more distortion and probably intermods in music. I don't know how to explain it technically, but the Carina also makes lower volume listening more enjoyable. There is zero detectable noise added by the amp. There's no hiss, no hum, no anything. It's good enough that I can really discern the quality of the program material to which I'm listening, and its bit rate if it's digital. It's shocking to actually hear how much audio production varies. I have mostly streamed, using a coax cable from an outboard good quality streamer, but I have also played CDs and vinyl. The built in phono amp seems excellent. I have it paired with a Thorens TD 1500 with the standard Otofon 2M bronze cartridge. The improvement over the Marantz with vinyl is extremely noticeable. The amp seems well constructed and is easy to set up and operate. Before I bought it I called Peachtree with a few questions and whoever answered the phone was knowledgeable and helpful. No regrets.

I was happy with my Nova300, but I was intrigued by the new breakthrough technologies incorporated into the Carina GaN and so took advantage of the trade-in offer to upgrade. The astonishing improvement was strikingly apparent with the first cd. And it only got better with each recording. The clarity and resolution are phenomenal. Absolutely no background noise. And, I don't know the proper descriptors, but the is a sense of infinite space in the upper registers, as if the music could continue climbing effortlessly through the highest frequencies without limitation. The Queen of the Night arias in the Magic Flute were jaw-dropping. The same is true in the richness and depth of the bass.
Audiophile exhilaration without having to take out a second mortgage!

I'm writing this review having only been using the amp for a few weeks but I must say I'm really happy with it.
It arrived very well packaged and having unboxed it I love the way it looks.
Its smart yet subtle, and the display is clearly visible from my listening position.
It feels very well built and the black finish is beautifully smooth and shiny, matching my speakers perfectly.

I've got it powering Monitor Audio Gold 100 5G speakers (via Chord speaker cable) and I love the sound. Its very clean without being clinical, and there's plenty of power to really shift some air.
I was undecided if I needed the Carina 150 or 300 for these speakers, but the 150 has ample power for my needs.
The Monitor Audio MPD tweeter can sound lively with some amps but this offers all of the clarity without the harshness or sibilance.
The soundstage is also really wide, even with my less than perfect speaker placement.
(Please also ignore the dangling cables in my photo, these will be placed in trunking soon)

One thing I've noted is how good it sounds at low listening levels, some amps sound rather thin at low volumes but this retains its sound signature.

I find the remote very comfortable to hold and use, it may look a little old fashioned and chunky but it does the job really well.

For sources I'm using my Mac Mini, streaming from Plex and Apple Music, via the USB C input.
I've got my TV connected via the optical input and I'm delighted how much better the TV sounds now.

So as you can tell, I'm delighted with this amp and if anything it should get even better as I get through the "running-in period".
At the close out sale price, its an absolute bargain!

Hello from Belgium, After 30 years of Japanese amplifiers, all doing well, it was time for something else ... I saw numerous reviews and comparisons of amplifiers on Youtube. The all digital character of the inputs, proven Class D technology and very nice , original design made me chose for the Carina. Since volume is not always very loud , the 150 model was enough for me . Together with my Marantz Cd player , Monitor Audio Silver loudspeakers this is a perfect combination for me . The sounds is very neutral wich is good, it will never give too many bases or high tones , it is just well balanced . And , luckally , i did not have to pay extra import taxes yet ... !

This is my first Peachtree purchase. I spent months trying multiple integrateds at my home and returning what I didn't like for one reason or another.
I ordered the Carina 150 and this combo that was listed as a returned pair.

I hooked the combo up to my Mac via USB and that didn't work as the Mac can't control volume of the USB port in USB1 or USB2 mode for some resaon. I used a high bitrate USB to COAX converter and used high end cables. Connected the two with high end XLR cables and let it fly. Connected to my custom pair of Tekton speakers I was literally stunned at the quality. I sighed in relief realizing I had finally found my sound and quality after months of trying different hardware. Thank you Peachtree.

What are folks who want this package to order now that they are listed as archived products?

Just connected a new Carina 150, it replaces a Decco 65 that will be gifted to my son. Have not tried the USB input using a Mac Mini yet, but I expect great things. I did play vinyl through the aux input, with a Lounge Audio Silver phono preamp, Goldring E4 cartridge on a Technics SL1500C turntable. Speakers are older Monitor Audio RX6 Silvers. On my Decco 65, there was a slight analog hum at the listening position playing vinyl. Vinyl fans are used to it, comes with the territory. On the Carina, no background hum at all. This integrated is quiet. Black background, more dynamics, maybe 20 to 30 percent wider soundstage in my 13 by 13 foot media room. Build quality appears excellent. I got this one on close out too. So far it performs as good as amps several times the price. My vinyl playback quality, and enjoyment, absolutely increased an order of magnitude. If you play vinyl, this largely digital integrated will do it with excellent results. I’ve enjoyed my old Decco 65 very much, but this Carina 150 is a whole other level of sound quality.

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