B&W 802D1 - How can I tame the brightness?

I note that you are now also questioning the bass response as well as the mids and highs. I suspect you have 1) speaker/listening position set up issues and, perhaps, 2) a gross mismatch of preamp/amp and speakers. Do some on-line research. These issues are covered extensively.

Onehorsepony, at 8:26am you posted ’set up could be an issue’. Yet you seem to imply that it is a problem you don’t care to deal with.

There are several people on this site who could help you with the entire set up issue if you choose not to do some independent research yourself. To get this input you need to describe, with specificity, your room dimensions, placement of windows and other openings, and wall furnishings, ceiling, and floor coverings. You then need to identify the present location of your speakers and listening chair in inches so folks can tell where they are and how they are canted. This information could start a meaningful dialogue which might solve your problems, or at least, minimize them.

Or in the alternative you can take the advice of posters who own, owned in the past, or make a living off selling what they recommend, without any of them knowing what causes your issue other than your generic description, or you knowing as much about their system as they do about yours. Your choice.