B&W can be bright and forward but they are not inherently bright or forward. It all depends on the room, equipment and set-up. When looking for speakers I did audition GE and B&W together. I went with the B&Ws but it was not because they were bright or that the GEs were smooth. It was simply because I preferred the overall presentation of the B&Ws over the GEs. I can certainly understand why someone might prefer the GEs over the B&Ws, if the GEs presented the music in a way they appreciated. Both the GEs and the B&Ws are excellent speakers.
