I also heard Dynaudio Sapphire in Singapore, I lived there for 2 years and just moved back to US. Like you, I was not impressed. Many will not agree (including Bar81), but I believe any good audio components should sound at least good in the dealer show room and better at home. If it can't even sound good there, it is either "bad" or just not your cup of tea.
I also heard Gryphon Atlantis in Adelphi and Taiwan audio show; they sounded much better in Taiwan audio show BTW. In Adelphi, dealer was using Gryphon amp (the new one) and sounded better than the initial setup which was Rogue Zeus. The top end still has a trace of ceramic sound, meaning hard and stiff. but midrange and below are pretty musical. I like paper cones for woofer, though a bit slower than hard cones, they have more soul.
one speaker I can't praise high enough is Usher BE-20. I was ready to trade in my Cremona in my second system for the BE-20, only reason I haven't done so is I am moving soon.