After several years of really enjoying the Response 2, I also tried the 3 and the 2.5 (and still kept the 2). I think a lot of what me, Jperry, Stefan-air and others observed might have to do with amplification used. The 2 had a very benign impedence that was perfectly suited to the Audio Research amps I had at the time, particularly the old, classic D76A, but those same amps seemed to not match up with the 2.5 and like Stefan-air I kept getting bloated bass. And my amps probably didn't provide the 3 with enough boogie factor.
