Hales T8's ot Talon Khorus

As to the T-8's, I think the key here is bad recordings. What one may characterize as bright and harsh another may describe as "revealing" or unforgiving. The T-8's are widely recognized for their sweet midrange and faithful reproduction of the human voice. And this is how I feel about mine. And, as I am also finding with my T-8's, because they are so revealing, (if it is recorded hot, it can sound hot), the choice of associated equipment can pose a challenge.
Also, the case could be made that one man's tipped front end could be perceived by another as a lack of "bloom" in the upper mid/ low highs displayed by another speaker in a comparison test, finding this trait an unwelcome accretion to the source. Is that what YMMV means?

If a speaker by itself makes a bad recording sound good, how is it possible that it is not imparting its own (substantial) character to the sound? And if true, tis neither good nor bad, but dependent upon what one is looking for. And I guess that is what you mean, Mark, by YMMV.

Match Hales T5's and (mine to arrive soon) T8's with tubes or the ever elusive "warm' solidstate amp.