Stuartk - My intention is not to rain on anyone's parade...
But -
2 things are going on here.
1. You bought bad gear. If you have other local dealers around, try bringing home something like a PrimaLuna tube integrated and Von Sweikert speakers. That is just an example, but the problem here is that Rotel gear is mid-fi at best, and if you don't have a room working wonders on your system, it is going to sound harsh with minimal midrange texture. That is SS for you, and Rotel is cheap SS, so.... Also, B&W speakers are known for: harsh highs, spotty and dry midrange, poor driver integration, etc. The 703s are perhaps one of the worst offenders of this. I would bring home some other speakers to compare and find some reference points to these 703s. Are there other local dealers that carry other makes of speakers, or does this one? What brands are local to you?
2. The room needs to be addressed. Become an expert in acoustics, get in touch with a company like Rives audio to talk about your room. Make sure your dimensions are good, the speakers are placed properly (try cardas or AP positioning), and that you have adequate damping in all the important places.
Don't waste your time trying to EQ your stereo with cables or other silly tweaks. Fancy cables will maybe give you a 1-2% improvement, whereas the right speaker choice, well setup room, good speaker placement, and a quality tube amp/preamp system will be 98-99% improvement.
good luck
But -
2 things are going on here.
1. You bought bad gear. If you have other local dealers around, try bringing home something like a PrimaLuna tube integrated and Von Sweikert speakers. That is just an example, but the problem here is that Rotel gear is mid-fi at best, and if you don't have a room working wonders on your system, it is going to sound harsh with minimal midrange texture. That is SS for you, and Rotel is cheap SS, so.... Also, B&W speakers are known for: harsh highs, spotty and dry midrange, poor driver integration, etc. The 703s are perhaps one of the worst offenders of this. I would bring home some other speakers to compare and find some reference points to these 703s. Are there other local dealers that carry other makes of speakers, or does this one? What brands are local to you?
2. The room needs to be addressed. Become an expert in acoustics, get in touch with a company like Rives audio to talk about your room. Make sure your dimensions are good, the speakers are placed properly (try cardas or AP positioning), and that you have adequate damping in all the important places.
Don't waste your time trying to EQ your stereo with cables or other silly tweaks. Fancy cables will maybe give you a 1-2% improvement, whereas the right speaker choice, well setup room, good speaker placement, and a quality tube amp/preamp system will be 98-99% improvement.
good luck