I really have no idea of space limitations in your room so forgive my ignoring problems that may prevent you doing anything, but here is what I would do to optomize the sound, and perhaps correct the 'forwardness' you are hearing.
Bring the speakers out further into the room is a big deal and might just be the best single thing you can do (mine are, for example, on the short wall 6ft out in a14x 20ft room. But if you can getting them spread further apart that can help a lot as well. If you can't do that you can try just pointing your speakers straight ahead which will take your sweet spot well off of your speakers axis.
For example, mine are 2 feet from the side walls and toed in so the axis crosses just in front my head, and I sit about 9 ft back from the speakers. This is close to an equilateral triangle. Sitting them closer to the side walls can increase upper bass a bit (but a lot of systems can benefit from that even if it occurs). Then I toe in the speakers until the axis crosses in front of my head which minimizes side wall sound reflections substantially.
It is really hard to project with any certainty what will work, you just have to move stuff about in small increments until you get something that works. FWIW I think your newer cable has better long range potential for your dialing it in. But your going to have to work at it, a lot. :-)