The Cary is too lush sounding in triode for those speakers. You wouldn't like it in utralinnear, either. The Stingray (with those speakers) is a better match.
The seps would be an improvement; but you really need to find a way to get an Ars Sonum Gran Filarmonia for audition. You will find a way to afford it if you hear it with Bobby's speakers. Beats out all the expensive OTL's he's shown his speakers with for years, easily.
I never really liked his speakers until I heard them with the Ars Sonum. The synergy is such that I could now easily live with this combo long term.
You could cheap-out and buy a used non-Gran, and then save your ducats for a Gran (not sure if you can upgrade); but the non-Gran would just be a teaser, I'm afraid.
I know I'm heaping on the praise; but it's not as much for the Gran and the Merlins as it is for the insane amount of synergy they share. It's incredible. Ask anyone who's heard them together.
