But it’s the pitch, and at higher volumes especially, brashness or tinnyness, that is a bit unnerving.
That sure sounds like what I heard when I auditioned Spendor D7s (which were broken in).
They were just about the only speaker I had to keep turning down because the brittleness/steely quality in the highs bothered my ears. Couldn’t have been more surprised that this was coming from a Spendor product, of all brands!
(I heard a similar quality in the "A" line of floor standing speakers as well).