Bbilikoi,
I think some of that brightness and hardness may have to
do with the stock Tung Sols. I have replaced the Tung
Sols on my Modwright with a pair of Sylvanias and they
made a big difference. They have all the extension of the
Tung Sols without any of the hardness.
I agree about the powercords. The best I have heard in my
system so far is the Purist Audio Dominus.
Cmach