Hey Deep,
Maybe I can lend a few thoughts. Somewhere out here I did my best to compare the SS8's (which I owned at the time) to BRM's Exotica 12's. - They are very different speakers.
I'm also one that believes that given "good" equipment - that 75% or more of a systems sound is still the speakers. (Do I believe amps, pre-amps, sources and DAC's sound different - absolutely, but the law of diminishing returns applies AND the more revealing your speaker is determines what differences you hear).
The SS8 is a very revealing speaker. It's accurate, it's pretty darn dynamic, and in some sense - yes it can sound "bright". I love dynamics myself, I like that super crisp sound of a snare drum, I like to hear that midrange crunch on a good Les Paul ripping through a Marshall stack. But I don't like bright or fatiguing speakers.
It's a very, very tough balance to get. In my case I am a rock/blues/reggae listener. So - I have a lot of bad recordings or remastered stuff that was rendered too bright.
The SS8 is likely the best speaker I've owned (I sold them in a bit of a budget crunch) and the SS7c is the best center channel I've owned. The Klipsch Palladium P27 was the second best center I've owned - why - both are very revealing, crisp, accurate speakers. In a center channel, that is what you want.
There were times that I thought the SS8 was a bit bright/fatiguing, but it was usually when I was listening at bright recordings at 87db's or above. The SS8 was one of the few speakers I could really hear differences in electronics. My favorite combo with them was with Classe gear (preamp and amp). - Classe has a warm sound.
After selling them I ran some old NHT 3.3's for a while - also an extremely accurate speaker with a little more bass punch (didn't play any lower, but was a bit punchier). Again, on the same recordings at the same levels - they were a bit fatiguing.
Before the SS8's - I had the klipsch palladium P37, which is a very accurate speaker also and super dynamic. Also could get fatiguing - with one difference. I felt that when turned up the Palladiums brought cymbals too forward in the mix.
Why do I mention those 3 speakers.
- All are accurate, all are dynamic.
Klipsch - Horn
Salk - RAAL
NHT - Metal Dome
So, three different designs, all accurate - all could get fatiguing.
Now, I've listened to BRM's Exotica 12's.
- I am confident that I could listen to those at 95 db's for hours on end and never get fatigued. Regardless of recording. They are as accurate as the others, and probably image better than anything I've ever heard. They are not quite as dynamic, and while they imaged the best, they didn't have quite that "big" sound that the other 3 (well the NHT couldn't as well because of the baffle design) had. They are awesome. But - they are not for me. I'm not willing to give up the dynamics.
Currently I have some JBL S3900's - a horn loaded speaker that I picked up used. They are dynamic, fast, but in NO way bright. In fact, borderline darker sounding. The center channel (not an exact match) also a bit dark and it's not my favorite center. It's good, but it's not as good as the SS7.
Why do I mention those two.
Exotica 12 - dome
JBL S3900 - Horn
No one I know considers either bright.
As for your SS8's - you can play around with them all you want, but IMO they are what they are (and I consider them the best speakers I've owned, even with the tradeoffs).
It's possible you do like the dyn's better. I have liked some of the Dyn Audio I've heard in the past also (I like the focus 380) it's a dynamic speaker and a little less fatiguing on the top.
I might suggest trying Classe or McIntosh gear if you want to go solid state and stick with the SS8's (I also have a older harman kardon signature 1.5 amp that puts out a ton of current that I found very warm with them).
If it turns out they just aren't the right speaker for you - it happens. Doesn't mean it's not a wonderful speaker, because it is. Just means it's not the one for you. Great speakers and I loved working with Jim.
I've very much considered going back to the SS8 one day when I can afford it. In my case I might talk to Jim about different tweeters also (I'm interested to know how the pair built with the beryillium tweeter sounded different).