Hi No Regrets - certainly.
The 211AE comprehensively beats the 805 when it comes to bass, macrodynamics (though not microdynamics), and versatility. Beyond that, it is much of a muchness. The 211AE's bass is more plentiful, and it is much better controlled. Because there is more power on tap, you can use it with more types of speakers. With my speakers, the 805AE always seemed to run out of juice, and it would sound compressed whenever the orchestra reached a fortissimo. The 211AE is a much more impressive sounding amp.
In the midrange and top end, you can take your pick. The 211AE sounds richer and fuller, but the 805AE sounds more transparent, ethereal, nimble, and light. The 805AE also has a beauty of tone that absolutely kills the 211AE in the midrange. Not to say the 211AE is bad, but the 805AE is better. Microdynamic shading is better on the 805AE (provided it is not being run too hard).
With the 211AE, tube matching is critical. If you use a pair of mismatched tubes, you will run into all sorts of weird problems. The soundstage will never sound centered - adjust it to center with a mono disc, and it will pull to the left or right with the next disc. Carefully matching tubes is essential.
Both are fine amplifiers, but for me the 211AE won out because I can listen to more types of music with it. The 805AE is a small ensemble / vocal specialist - if your music is of this type only, the 805AE will slaughter the 211AE. But with anything bigger, the 211AE has it all over the 805.
The 211AE comprehensively beats the 805 when it comes to bass, macrodynamics (though not microdynamics), and versatility. Beyond that, it is much of a muchness. The 211AE's bass is more plentiful, and it is much better controlled. Because there is more power on tap, you can use it with more types of speakers. With my speakers, the 805AE always seemed to run out of juice, and it would sound compressed whenever the orchestra reached a fortissimo. The 211AE is a much more impressive sounding amp.
In the midrange and top end, you can take your pick. The 211AE sounds richer and fuller, but the 805AE sounds more transparent, ethereal, nimble, and light. The 805AE also has a beauty of tone that absolutely kills the 211AE in the midrange. Not to say the 211AE is bad, but the 805AE is better. Microdynamic shading is better on the 805AE (provided it is not being run too hard).
With the 211AE, tube matching is critical. If you use a pair of mismatched tubes, you will run into all sorts of weird problems. The soundstage will never sound centered - adjust it to center with a mono disc, and it will pull to the left or right with the next disc. Carefully matching tubes is essential.
Both are fine amplifiers, but for me the 211AE won out because I can listen to more types of music with it. The 805AE is a small ensemble / vocal specialist - if your music is of this type only, the 805AE will slaughter the 211AE. But with anything bigger, the 211AE has it all over the 805.