Are Harbeth P3ESR's Any Different From B&W???

The Harbeths have better midrange than B&W in my opinion, but the B&W's will play louder.

The Harbeths use a metal tweeter as well, they just roll it off a little more than B&W does.

If you are looking to smooth things out up top look at some of the soft dome tweeter choices - Spendor, PMC etc.

Consider Sonus Faber and Dynaudio too. Most non fatiguing but somewhat laid back (compared to B&W) that I have heard. Vienna Acoustics isn't too bad either.

Ive never heard bright associated with Harbeths. I have compact 7's but I run tube amplification. Oddly I used to own B&W DM602's with solid state NAD gear and never found it bright. I did however connect the B&W's to Rotel gear and I could not bare the 'Bright'. It was unbearable. It depends also on your choice of music. When I had the B&W's I cranked rock very loud and probably finished off my hearing with that and 35 years of rock concerts. Then I got heavily into jazz and bought the Harbeths and tubes. My rock still sounds good, jazz sounds great, and I don't play loud. If you play loud look elsewhere than Harbeth.

My friend had B&W and I thought they were a bright speaker. I have the Harbeths and find them a little bright but just love their sound. If you are looking for a speaker that is not bright check out the Spendor 3/5. I owned them before the Harbeths,they are real easy on the ear.