Warm romantic & detailed

I finally went with Meridian DSP speakers. While they don’t sound like they have the same detail it’s all there but in the music instead of in front of it. Good luck with your system.

its interesting that you don’t mention the front end? While I agree those speakers are intolerant of average recordings sometimes a hybrid amp can tame hard speakers.

Some very good and very bad suggestions above. I can't do the Focal
Berries or Magico Diamonds either. Forget ATC. Salk also uses Berries.
Spend the next year or so listening to the British and Italian and Spatial selections above which fit your budget-Which I never quite saw but am guessing is $3-$4k. That is enough to get you excellent sound used. 
Please let us all know what you decide.

I'll second the Tannoy recomendation. Warm, romantic, and involving sound. They look beautiful to boot. 

The ribbon tweeter in the Proac K-series is beautifully smooth. The speaker is also an impressive all-rounder. Works with rock well too. I home demoed the K-6 and was very very tempted. 

The Avalon Ideal is also a wonderful speaker, rich and non-fatiguing. I home demoed this and I very nearly kept it.

I suffer from hyperacusis, which is a sensitivity to loud noises at certain frequencies, and for me it is triggered my harsh trebles so I am fully understanding of your issue with the Focal - I find Focal’s trigger my hyperacusis whenever I hear them at shows.

Having heard many of the ones recommended I would add that the Sonas Faber I home demoed (top of the range Guaneri tradition) whilst the best I have heard for classical and jazz, was not so good with rock, too smooth. Similarly Harbeth and Spendor are great speakers but like many British speakers, strong detail and a sense of driving rhythm is not one of their most potent characteristics, and if this is important to you then you may be disappointed.

I ended up with a Boenicke speaker which is an extraordinary speaker but may not be so widely available in the US.

Thank you for all your recommendations...

Prior to my Mcintosh C2600 / 452 I was a very happy Parasound JC2 / A21 owner. I found my A21 at loud volumes to clip /distort the Focal's in the midrange at high volumes. I then in-home demonstrated the JC1, Gato (class D), and some cables, new DACS...

My thought process was regarding the brightness: try a tube / solid state combo to add some warmth. That did help, or so I thought. I've spent days upon days playing around with room treatment etc etc. 

This speaker is just extremely detailed / bright, and it's very exhausting to hear.

I'm really interested in the Harbeth / Spendors mentioned, but going from so much detail to the other spectrum has me concerned.