I've heard it described that way.
I think it depends greatly on your speakers....as well as your outlook on what you hear.
one mans bright may be another mans detail.
With my speakers...which are not bright...but big , bassy and just meaty sounding...the Sony comes through as detailed to a point ofrazor sharp. a "honed" soune, if you will.
then again, knowing what my speakers sound like with other amps, I think my 3000es sounds lean. A tad shy in the bottom end. It can still dig down there when it needs to, but there is no upper to mid bass richness to it at all.
A tube amp would have all of that.