Dusty: I too have noticed better bass with the stock cable. Hope that helps. Also, it seems lately, a price for an hp-2 is 550-600, with ref 650-700. The cost for an hp-1 is 650-700, with the ref, 750-800+. It depends on where you are selling it and how good the condition of the phones are.
I know that some head-fiers have found their HP-1000's in the 2-300 range. This of course is going through outsiders (non-head-fiers) who know nothing of their true potential. I wish I had those connections. I have purchased one set from a head-fier and another set from a gentleman who definitely knew what he was letting go, and I paid for it.
I figure it like this: Does one perceive these to be the best dynamic phones? Or at least second best next to the R10's? If so, what is that worth? Does one have an amp with enough juice to power these babies? If so, then how much use will one get from these phones?
This past summer I asked myself those questions, and I dropped the cash in the end. To me it was worth getting them, at least to try out. A lot of money for sure on a whim but I am pleased I did it.
Very few people have sold their only pair of HP-1000's around here. Fewer still if they were HP-2's or 1's, and even fewer still if they had the ref. There must be something about these phones to result in this. Also, I have chatted with Vka saying he prefers the HP-1's over the R10's, kelly who does as well, Hirsch who if given the choice would go with HP-1/Zotl combo over the R10/Ear combo and a few others who I can't recall their monikers had similar views.
This says much about these phones. I don't want to hype them too much since they are difficult to find. But every few months they appear on Ebay or someone sells one here.
I have never heard the R10's so I really have no idea, but the HP-1000's are very special indeed and worth the effort to acquire.