Meridian 508.20 vs BAT vk-d5se?

I previously had the 508.20 and its successor the 508.24 before switching to the VK-D5SE. Although the Meridians were wonderful players, in my system the BAT is decidedly superior, particularly in rhythmic drive and heft in the bass and upper bass/lower mids. I believe that the BAT's tube output stage has much to do with its sound.

I recently purchased and quickly sold a BAT VK D5 24 bit. Very fat sounding indeed, but it just didn't sound harmonicaly complete and natural. I bought a new Sony SCD XA5400ES SACD/CD player which even raw sounded gloriously full of color and brilliance that immediately revealed just how antiquated the BAT design is...and I've loved several of BAT's reference products over the years!

Thanks all! These comments help a lot.