Carina
Home Amplifiers   Carina   FAQ   Photos   Options Background About Us Reviews Tech Papers Forum Links Ordering Contact Us		The Vaughn Audio Carina. Pure Single Ended Magic! Many manufacturers proclaim their amplifiers to be liquidy smooth and grain-free. Many claim a velvety black background. Many claim to sound lifelike and realistic. But how many actually deliver the goods? Truth is, until you’ve heard an amplifier designed and built without the shameless cost-cutting measures used in most all commercial tube equipment, you’ll never know that most don’t deliver as promised. The old proverb says "ignorance is bliss," which is just what many companies are counting on. In stark contrast to that, we have no need for "smoke and mirrors" marketing techniques or the outrageous advertising hype that is so prevalent in today's hi-end audio world, because we deliver exactly what we promise.......great sound. Make no mistake about it, the Carina is very different from other production single-ended amplifiers. (Click image for larger version) First of all, let's look at what the Carina is and what it isn't: What it IS: 100% handmade, hand-assembled, hand-soldered, and ear-tested, with loving care and a genuine passion for quality A high performance amplifier that represents the finest in engineering practice and Old World craftsmanship Sold direct and reasonably priced, with no dealer or distributor markups Marketed by word-of-mouth advertising from our satisfied customers, not product reviews that can easily be bought for the right price What it ISN'T: Mass-produced or machine assembled A trendy, well-marketed piece of mediocre, average quality audio gear Compromised in any manner, in either design or parts quality Insanely priced to pay for a huge advertising budget You see, the Carina is a different breed; an amplifier designed for the music lover, without compromise. It was conceived from the ground up to do just one thing: make music sound like music! Music was meant to be enjoyed, and that's what the Carina does, it gets out of the way and lets you listen to your music instead of your gear. Simply put, it sounds more like music, and less like "hi-fi." Or as we like to say, "It feels more like music." Carina owners frequently report hearing rich new microdetails, microdynamics, textures, nuances, and colors they’ve never heard before. They’re amazed by the velvety black background and the liquid, 100% grain-free presentation. They sing the praises of the effortless and completely tension-free way the music flows, and how the crisp dynamic attack and high resolution are perfectly complimented by the warm, vibrant midrange tonality. We often hear about the way it can throw an airy, open, three-dimensional holographic soundstage like no other amplifier they've ever had in their system, and do it with precisely focused imaging. But what usually shocks them the most upon first listen is the quality of bass performance, which some say isn't just excellent for a SET amp, but exceeds that of any amplifier they’ve owned (including some quite highly touted solid state gear). You'll find plenty of that "triode cream" midrange magic here, but you won't find the rolled-off highs and shallow, mushy bass you hear in so many SET amplifiers. The Carina has clean, sparkling highs and tight, deep, accurate bass that reaches way down low. However, the compliments we truly enjoy hearing the most are simply when customers thank us for curing their "upgraditis," that endless merry-go-round of selling and buying gear in the search for that one special amplifier. But, don't just take our word and theirs for it, try it for yourself in your own system. We're so confident you’ll love the Carina, we back it up with a risk-free, 30 day guarantee. If you don't like the sound, return it for a full refund, without the return fees many companies charge. You're out nothing but shipping/handling charges. Our goal is to provide you with great sound, and it's our firm conviction that if we can't do that, then we're the one that should be penalized, not you. We provide this guarantee, but we really don't think you'll need it. In the 3 years that have passed since the Carina's introduction, not one has been returned, which is a far greater testimony to its performance than any magazine or e-zine review could ever be. And, after your 30-day trial period has expired, we back you up with a limited lifetime warranty on parts and workmanship, and unlimited technical support. Be sure to read the Carina FAQ. Get acquainted with it, compare it to any commercial SET amplifier in the price range and beyond, and then see how the others stack up against it. Be aware than many manufacturers embellish their specs, and post outlandish figures that any honest engineer can tell you are simply not attainable. They may instead just omit certain specifications, because SET amplifiers simply do not spec out well on paper. However, in the real world, specifications tell you little to nothing about how the amplifier will actually sound anyway. How it sounds to the ears is by far the most important specification, so try the Carina and hear the difference for yourself! Features Point-to-Point Hand Wired Your Choice of 2 Different Overall Voicings Switchable Triode/Ultralinear Operation Modes Tone Mode™ Voicing Switch Polypropylene In Oil Power Supply Capacitors No Negative Feedback Self-Biasing Tube Rectification Electra Print Transformers Audio Note and Riken Ohm Signal Path Resistors Kiwame Circuit Resistors Mundorf Supreme/Silver in Oil or V-Cap Teflon Coupling Caps (Voicing 2) High Reliability, Long-Life Rated Switches Military-Spec PEC Volume Control Premium Quality Azuma Tube Sockets Solid Pure Silver RCA Input Jacks and Cotton-Insulated 99.995% Pure Silver Signal Wiring Optional 3 Pairs Solid Silver RCA Inputs & Swiss-Made ELMA Selector Switch GoldSnake Gold-Plated 3-Way Binding Posts (Eichmann Cable Pods are optional) Military-Spec, Silver-Plated Copper Circuit Wiring with Teflon Insulation Non-Magnetic, Non-Resonant Aluminum Chassis Detachable IEC-Type Power Cord Export Version Available For Any World Voltage Limited Lifetime Warranty Specifications Overall Dimensions   16" L x 10.5" W x 6.5" H (41 x 27 x 17 cm) Weight   26.5 lbs. (12 kg) Shipping Weight: 30 lbs. (13.6 kg) Input Impedance   100K ohm Input Sensitivity   .7 V for full power in either Triode or Ultralinear operating modes Rated Power Output (RMS)   (w/6 ohm load) Triode Mode: 1.5 WPC, Ultralinear Mode: 3.2 WPC Speaker Connection   6 ohms, 3-way binding posts Noise & Hum   <.3mV, inaudible on all speakers Frequency Response   -1dB from 40Hz ~ 26kHz Tube Complement   5AR4/GZ34, 6DJ8/6922, EL84/6BQ5 x 2 Power Consumption   67 Watts (25 Watts in Standby) Recommended Speakers   4 ~ 8 ohms, >94 dB/1W/1m       Pricing & Options Vaughn Audio Carina   $1629       Options:     Voicing 2   $45 3 Pairs Inputs   $190 Eichmann/ETI Cable Pods   $100 Bybee Purifiers (Signal Path)   $190 Bybee Purifiers (Power Supply)   $210 PSSS Output Transformers   E-mail for Pricing Custom Finishes   E-mail for Availability & Pricing
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