Yes the brightness is characteristic of Triangle speakers from the XS and 202 range. I haven't heard the new ES line but my impression is that the treble has been increasingly tamed as you move from the older to newer series. However, it must be emphasized that there is something magical about Triangle speakers paired with tube amplification. Paired with good cables and (most importantly) quality source components, this is the cheapest ticket I know of to audio nirvana. One of the best-sounding systems I ever assembled consisted of an ASL AQ1001DT (KT88 based integrated) matched with Antal XS speakers. Some solid state amps will work too though, I got good results driving Comete XS monitors with an Audio Refinement Complete. But you really have to get tubes in there to hear the Triangles at their best. I don't look at this as a design flaw, I just think it's something people should take into consideration when it comes to Triangles. I find their tower speakers to be well balanced and full-sounding, plus you can bi-amp if you really want to get nerdy. Have fun!
