Cables to settle brightness

This is the problem with the band-aid approach, otherwise known as system matching. The idea is to cover up flaws of commission with flaws of omission. Proponents of course put it in more favorable language, but the result is the same. 
Somewhere in your system, probably a whole lot of somewheres, is/are the offending component(s). But rather than face that difficult reality the consensus is, cover it up. Thus the band-aid approach. 
Power cords, interconnects and all cables are components in their own right, to be auditioned and selected on their own merit. Not based on how well they hide past errors. Otherwise, even if you do find one that does that job now, odds are the day will come when you go to upgrade and find it cannot be just one component but several as each one merely peels away past band aids and the metaphor collapses, because wounds heal but what’s under the band aid never does, it just sits there festering eating up time and effort and money. 

@millercarbon what is better than a well-matched system?

A second on the Cardas Golden Reference.  (No longer in their line, but plenty floating around used.)

Full, robust, very warm sound.  Just the ticket for your issues. 

Agree on first getting proper source components, sorting network issues, then using cables as the final touch. Speaking of same, I have a set of 1m Cardas Golden Reference XLR’s if they are of any use. Previous components sounded very good with them. My new mono blocs and networking tweaks allow for more revealing silver XLR’s.

While all of my former Cardas Golden Cross and Golden Reference interconnects  found new homes with owners of brighter sounding class A/AB solid-state amplifiers, the new "Clear" line from Cardas is notably different.

Then within the clear line, Cygnus, Reflection, Clear, Clear Beyond, each of these are different from each other. It’s not easy to recommend any of these without hearing someone’s system, speakers, and room. Makes TheCableCo’s loaner cable program a great way to go. Less guessing for those who don’t want to roll the dice.