Tips for warming up Rotel + B&W system?

So there you have it - it's probably your room, interconnects, amp, source, and speakers. If you replace those, you are on your way to audio heaven. Of course, that's what most of us are doing, it is just a matter of optizing order and priority around a budget constraint. Although I agree with Dr. Lou, I believe based on my observations that your situation would dictate starting at the other end of the audio delivery chain.

forget room, interconnects,cables, any kind of voodo treatment and get instead some tube amp, push pull is ok but all the better if you can get something which will work in triode mode. I gave up of SS gear a long ago, and it is the best advice I can give. there is no way to make SS to sound THE SAME as good tubes. maybe similiar, but never weighty, fully, and nicely rounded as tubes. go straight to it if you like to avoid frustration, loss of money and desperation.

I've never tried it, but what about a tube buffer, like the one made by Musical Fidelity?

I'd suggest giving Dakiom Feedback Stabilizers a shot as well, understanding that they can be returned and Dakiom will even pay shipping. Dakiom claims that "break-in" is primarily if not exclusively a psycho-acoustic phenomenon. I respectfully disagree, based on my own empiric experience with their product. I DO think the stabilizers break in after a while.

OK, Dr. Lou, as you clearly have much more experience than I, (I'm obviously no audiophile-- just a passionate music-lover who's currently in over his head re: acquiring gear)-- I will bring up this issue with the salesman. I thought the Rotel was a very well-thought-of piece of gear, but it could be that it is outclassed by the speakers, which have been described by more than one person as "revealing". If what they are revealing is in fact the shortcomings of the
digital source, then of course it makes perfect sense to address this part of the system.

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