Carina Carina is a name in the Italian language that roughly translates to “pretty" and is derived from the Latin word Carus, which 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, with its headline feature being the Gallium Nitride (GaN) power amplifier technology introduced in our revolutionary GaN 1. The unique topology provides a remarkably short, direct, and pure pathway from the inputs to the outputs and also utilizes a zero-feedback design for the ultimate in sonic purity. Want to hear all of the intricate details in your music that have always been there, but you couldn't quite hear before? That is exactly what the Carina GaN does. 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 Magnet (MM) phono, AUX, and Home Theater Bypass. 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 section. It has several inherent advantages for a high-power application such as 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 compared 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 speaker outputs. The GaN-FET power stage output functions as a “power DAC” creating the analog waveform that drives the speakers directly! It is a remarkably clean and direct path from your music sources to your speakers. Carina GaN also uses a separate regulated power supply for the power amplifier section, making it 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 transparent signal for the GaN-FET power amplifier to drive the speakers. The Carina X The Carina X is a 300 watt-per-channel integrated amplifier incorporating the NCOREx technology 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 amplifier with a high amount of global negative feedback to achieve remarkable measured performance and sonic transparency. It is the only class-D power amplifier that we are aware of that achieves the same sonic attributes we experience when listening to the Carina GaN while offering astounding output capabilities into harder-to-drive speakers (low impedance and/or low sensitivity). Like the Carina GaN, the Carina X utilizes a separate power supply for the power amplifier section, making it more like a separate preamplifier and power amplifier that share the same chassis. The Carina 150X The Carina 150X is a 150 watt-per-channel integrated amplifier incorporating the NCOREx technology by Hypex. The X technology takes traditional class-D power amplifier design to the highest level. Unlike the Carina X, the power amplifier in the Carina 150X uses a smaller power supply for the power amplifier. It achieves the same sonic attributes we experience when listening to the Carina X but with lower output capabilities intended for easier-to-drive speakers. The Carina 300 & Carina 150 Both of these units incorporate the regular 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 GaN, Carina X, and Carina 150X in terms of ultimate sonic transparency and musicality. The Carina 300 is a great match for difficult-to-drive 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 easier-to-drive speakers, smaller rooms, or 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 crafted with an eye for sonic purity, simplicity, and sound quality. The result was a new price/performance benchmark for integrated amplifiers. Add in the intuitive dual-knob user interface, the OLED display, and timeless Peachtree Audio cosmetic design and Carina could very well be the last integrated amplifier you will ever need. Carina highlights Digital Two ESS 32-Bit Sabre DACs in a dual mono configuration (one for the left channel, one for the right channel) [The DACs in the Carina GaN are only used for the headphone and preamp outputs] Accepts HD audio input up to 768k PCM and 512k DSD User-selectable Digital-to-analog filter settings High performance I/V conversion Analog Analog input configurable as Phono (Moving Magnet), AUX or Home Theater Bypass Preamplifier Fully balanced design High-performance analog resistor ladder volume control User selectable digital volume control option for silent volume control 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 power amplifier performs the digital-to-analog conversion function] 200 watts-per-channel GaN power amplifier with zero global negative feedback Separate regulated power supply for the power amplifer [Same output power from 4-8 Ohms] Amplifier (Carina X) 300 watts-per-channel Hypex NCOREx power amplifier Separate 1.2kW power supply for the power amplifier Amplifier (Carina 150X) 150 watts-per-channel Hypex NCOREx power amplifier Amplifier (Carina 300 and Carina 150) 300 and 150 watts-per-channel Hypex NCORE power amplifier modules, respectively Other Peachtree Audio industrial design made from metal and 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 a standard 1/4" unbalanced output Trigger input and output for power on/off control to and 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, notably cleaner power amplifiers, and a fully balanced headphone amplifier. Each of these functions has taken advantage of recent advancements in quality and design, and we have engineered them into a cohesive design that achieves remarkable transparency and musicality from source to speakers. Features introduced in the Carina platform that were not available in the nova 500/300/150 platform: 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, analog resistor ladder volume control Selectable digital volume control option USB-C input Bluetooth v5 input with HD audio decoding OLED front panel display with large, easy-to-read text Numeric volume control range Trigger input for on/off control from another device