Elloway - welcome to the forum
Having spent many thousands of pounds buying and selling a variety of analog, digital and VA synths.....I'd say I'm in pretty good position to comment on this topic - however, all opinions differ....but I do feel quite strongly....you might find my take on it quite interesting....
I've been through practically every synth worth owning - Roland Jupiter 8's, Prophet 5's, Pro-One's, MonoPoly's, Juno 60's, DX7's, D50's, FS1r's, Wavestations, Nords 2 & 3, JP8000's, K-Stations, Casio CZ3000's (im not kidding), AN1X's, Andromeda A6's, MiniMoog Voyagers and practically every softsynth ever made - in a nutshell - the Virus is definitely the darkest sounding synth.....
This is pure speculation......but I believe the Virus designers decided to suppress certain frequencies in an effort to reduce the audiable effects of aliaising oscilators. I might be talking complete bullshit....but to my ears...thats what it sounded like. Ironically, by doing this they created a unique sounding synthesizer.
I have used many of the brighter sounding VA synths....and they just do nothing for me. Don't get me wrong...I like bright sounds....and often use my DX7MKIIFD purely for bright, crystaline type twinkles and bells.....but on a VA.....bright sounds just don't work too well. I find bright sounding VA's (ala JP8000 and Nords) to sound 2Dimensional, sterile, cold, lacking depth and ultimately boring/uninspiring.
If somebody forced me to pick just one synth out of all the ones I've ever used....it would have to be the Virus TI (and I dont say that lightly as Im an analog enthusiast). The reality is that the Virus is one of the most unique, versatile, warm and silky sounding synths ever made. It has an original tone, its not trying to be anything else...its not trying to imitate, its not trying to be a Moog.....its trying to be unique....and it is.....its a Virus.
If you want the Virus to sound brighter then just EQ it abit....or layer it with a cheap/free softsynth of your choice - you'd get the best of both worlds then....warmth and depth and top end poke.
I only use three synthsnow: The Virus TI, DX7MKIIFD and MiniMoog OldSchool. It took me many years to realise what I needed.....you're probably on a similar quest.
Why not check out this video to get a feel of the Virus
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8o1mdUncJxo&fmt=18
or MP3
http://www.alanmarcero.com/mp3s/virusti.mp3
Cheers
DS