ScubadudeSA

I have a baby SRS-2170 set that I bought as new old stock a couple of years ago, and also picked up a well-worn but interesting New SR-3 and SRD-5. I now want to venture deeper down the Stax rabbithole, with two great deals available locally. The first is new in box, local stock SRS-5100 (SRM-353x / L500 Mk I) going for around half the normal retail price, and the other a year-old SRM-353x / L700 Mk I eBay-import for 20% more. My current feeling is that the expected superiority of the L700 trumps the sweeter price and local support of the L500 set. From what I have read the L700 pairs better with a warmer amp, and the 353 may be a little too edgy. I've also seen references to mods which sorts out the 353x's sound (I expect by biasing deeper into Class A among other things). Is there a "compendium" of SR-353x mods somewhere?

Can it really be that I'm the first new member in more than two years? In any case, I've been in and out of audio for 30 years, and in the headphone hobby for the last 5. I picked up a little NIB Stax 2170 bundle two years ago and enjoy it tremendously when I use it (as opposed to several Sennheiser, Audeze, Hifiman, Beyerdymanic and AKG's). Now looking to go further up the Stax tree with a lightly used SRM-353x / L700 Mk I, or new in box local stock SRS-5100 (SRM-353x / L500 Mk I) for about 20% less. Both are storming good deals, with local support vs better earspeaker being the deciding factor. My search on the 353 led me here, so here I am!