I listened to both at the dealers thru speakers and then with headphones.
The 300sei was the clear winner with the phones.
I bought the Cary 300sei, also bought Shunyata Annaconda Helix power cord because using headphones again, you could hear the improvement in the Annaconda over the Python.
I drove a pair of Meadowlark Heron i easily and now A pair of Tannoy Ardens.
I never felt the need for more power and I have a larger than average room.
Cables and speaker wire sonics , especially with the Ardens, are very easy to distinguish.
So far 20 guage solid core copper are the answer.
The 300sei has qualities that are more like real instruments and not like hifi components.More subtle.
The 300sei was the clear winner with the phones.
I bought the Cary 300sei, also bought Shunyata Annaconda Helix power cord because using headphones again, you could hear the improvement in the Annaconda over the Python.
I drove a pair of Meadowlark Heron i easily and now A pair of Tannoy Ardens.
I never felt the need for more power and I have a larger than average room.
Cables and speaker wire sonics , especially with the Ardens, are very easy to distinguish.
So far 20 guage solid core copper are the answer.
The 300sei has qualities that are more like real instruments and not like hifi components.More subtle.