Tom, I would not define the highs as neither soft or bright but as natural as I would expect them to be. I really feel this cartridge has a knack for presenting a true and accurate timbre from top to bottom. To say soft, bright, warm or cool is applying margins where none exist. In my opinion of course. I have had catridges that are bright or harsh and some that are bland or mushy. To me the Lyra house sound is true to voice, as I imagine it to be, since I was not in the studio. I just think the Kleos exemplifies the best qualities of that Lyra sound at a price that could easily be 1000.00 more.