B&W 805S & BAT VK300x SE Integrated. Synergy??


I have the above speakers(805S, NOT 805 Signature), hooked up to Sony SCD-777ES SACD Player with Acoustic Zen Matrix Reference II interconnects and Satori speaker cable. I listen to all sorts of music except classical. I love the speakers and changing them just yet is not an option.

The BAT VK300x SE Integrated is the amp I'm eyeing, it beat out the McIntosh 6900 and Gryphon Diablo to my ears. This is the amp with the 6H30 supertube...fast, neutral, dynamic, beautifully layered, incredibly transparent and great bass.

The highs however had a slight edge to them, which might be because of the tube used.

Since the B&W 805S can also have a tendency to sound a tad bright in the highs, I'm wondering if the BAT will exacerbate this effect.

Sadly, I cannot audition my speakers with the amp.

So I ask you, can anyone articulate the sonic character of the 805S and perhaps shed some light on any synergy issues that I might want to watch out for.

The other option is to get the 6922 tube version BAT integrated but I don't want to exercise it unless the SE is a lost cause with my 805S.

Another interesting spanner has been slung into the works by the CD player. Though I love my Sony SCD777ES, I am in lust with the looks and sound of the Cary 306 SACD player (which apparently uses the same transport as the Sony SCD-1 flagship). Plus Im intrigued about how an upsampling player can rejuvenate my old collection of CDs.

Even though I heard the Cary for just 2 minutes it sounded decidedly different to my Sony player.

Has anyone paired this player with the BAT integrated and what were the results. If not, I'm also open to informed judgements about what I can expect from this union, from people who may happen to know the character of both these devices.

Thanks
papi_chulo
Thanks guys, I think I'm going for this combo.

Tvad, I haven't eliminated the 6922 version yet, in fact I'm just letting it sink in slowly. I just cant see myself opening the unit and changing tubes ever so often. Can I ask, however....is it easy to open up the amp and change the tubes. Does the packaging from BAT contain an Allen key or something similar?

Just to clarify, I really liked the SE version, I'm just questioning if I can live with such a lively sound day in day out, over a long time.

Some say that there are tubes out there that can replicate the 6H30 tube sound, is this right?

BTW guys, my 805S sit on a pair of Partington Dreadnought Ultima stands and if there are sturdier stands I have yet to see them. Its a one piece construction that is constructed entirely of some sort of proprietary damping material, so the stands need no filling. In fact if you tap your finger anywhere on the stands all you get is the dullest of thuds, no resonance at all.

I think the little brightness that exists is because my room is quite spartan with almost no damping to speak of.

PS. Can anyone (perhaps you, Tvad) comment in a bit more detail on the sonic character of the BAT 6922 Integrated?
You forgot two terrific integrated amplifiers in your list.

The Plinius 9200 is shockingly good, terrific bass and a wide well defined soundstage and it is very warm to boot and it is an excellent buy at $4200.00

Then there is the amazing Edge G3 the Edge is less powerful 115 watts vs 200 watts for the Plinius. The Edge is amazing sounding huge soundstage and remarkable transparency! It is one of the most amazing amplifiers out there.

What part of the country are you in that you can't find a dealer for the BAT to hear with your B&W.s?