To answer my own problem where it seems that I had to take resolve the hard way. I ended up having to make my own ear hook for my HS-700.
I used length of jewelers type brass tubing like what is used in clock making and repairs. I am used to doing precision work with small pieces. This was very time consuming.
I got as close in diameter as possible to the width of the ear hook plastic channel. It was about 2.6 mm dia. I could have used a flat rod of 2.6 mm X 1.6 mm to start with. I chose a round type because this was easier for me to work with.
I used the broken pieces to take exact measurement for the shape and length. I made a template from the original pieces. I reproduced its pattern exactly, using the brass tubing. For the insert end, I squeezed the tubing down, and filed it to exactly match the original plastic part. I used a micrometer to make sure it was as precise as possible.
The next step was to plastic coat the tubing, because brass is not a good metal to use in constant contact with skin, as like with copper. I was not going to want to make it out of gold or silver because of the great cost, even though I could do that. I slid a cut length of 3.5 mm heat shrink plastic tubing over the length of the brass part of the new ear hook that was not going to be inserted in to the earphone's hear hook slot. I shrunk down the heat shrink tubing using a heat gun at about 270 Deg F. This made it form a nice smooth plastic type finish on the new ear hook.
After inserting the new ear hook, I had to fine bend it to the right amount so the earphone would sit exactly in the correct height postion to my ear with the rubber insert. This worked out exactly perfect for me. It was sort of like when the optomitrist adjusts your glasses frame to fit exactly to your face.
The original ear hook was made of a sort of springy plastic that would self adjust to the proper fit position. This made it less critical than with using a metal that is sort of solid.
I have no idea of what the hundreds of people out there are doing for a replacement ear hook for this earphone. I think it is pathetic that we cannot purchase replacement hear hooks for such an expensive product. For the Motorola, Jabra, and the others it is possible to buy replacement ear hooks. and rubber ear inserts. They come in bags of multiples for under $10 to $12 for most makes.
When I went around to a few stores, some of the sales people told me that they are not recommending the Blackberry Bluetooth earphones because of this problem. They had customers come in who were extremely angry about this problem. These are major sales places for electronics and phone products.
As far as the performance of the HS-700, it is the best performing and simplist earphone I ever used. That is why I did not go through with the temptation of returning it and buying another brand. Unfortunately, the average person is not skilled enough or equiped with the proper tooling to make their own quality ear hook like I did.
Jerry G.
Jerry G.
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