Retro touring bikes compared. Which is best, comfort or performance?

The difficult question: if two touring bikes are covering the same distance in the same time, which would you ride: the comfiest one or the fastest one?
Every now and again I do actually ride my bikes. This time, putting retro (if not necessarily vintage) road touring bikes to the test. Three days and a few hundred Ks around beautiful Shropshire, Staffordshire and South Cheshire.
Bikes compared (not including the Kona Sutra!):
1. Spa Audax Titanium, with Shimano 105 road groupset, Mavic Ksyrium Elite S wheels.
2. Hewitt custom tourer, Reynolds cromoly frame, Shimano Deore XT transmission.