soft dome speakers

Lots of bookshelf speakers use soft domes. Vienna Acoustics, Dynaudio, Reference 3a, Usher, Quad, PMC, Spendor, Fritz, Morel, Sonus Faber, Silverline Audio, RBH, LSA, and others, I'm sure. FWIW, I tend to agree with you. Some people are more sensitive to the ringing metal domes typically produce. Also, I think a lot of this has to do with the voicing and crossover design. The KEF Referrence line, which uses metail tweeters, sounds as smooth as silk to my ears. Also, you might want to audition speakers that use ribbon tweeters. Although they don't sound like soft domes, they sure don't sound like metal domes, either, IMHO.

I am in the soft dome boat;I have usher rw729's and I really enjoy them driven with tubes or solid state amplification.

I replaced some speakers with metal drivers that were fatiguing for me with soft-domed Northcreeks. I've enjoyed them for four years. They should have something at your pricepoint, though a bit of diy may be required. John

I have no bias against soft domes, I like both, but don't count out metal domes when done right. I believe a well designed metal dome does not necessarily have that sharp or ringing signature. I would think it has a lot to do with crossover design also. On the other hand, -sometimes- soft domes can tend to sound soft on leading edges, and don't do the sound of metal percussion well.
In my experience some Totem and Alon speakers using metal have stood out as having vivid high end response without harshness.

Another vote for Quad L series.