What is the Toslink Optical Audio Cable?

Toslink audio cable
Toslink audio cable

 

Toslink digital optical audio is among the most accurate digital audio signals communicated through cabling systems. Receive maximum audio clarity through a thinner and flexible Nylon-braided design when purchased from PrimeCables.

 

For any home entertainment speaker system or soundbar setup, using a mix of Toslink optical audio cable assists in retaining the highest quality audio possible. Simple to use and straightforward in their setup, the more complicated the sound signal is, the more likely it will require Toslink optical audio technology. For example, 7.1-channle audio and more expanded speaker system setups commonly are equipped with these cables to function.

 

As we live in an increasingly wireless world, for general Canadian consumers, they may not have a direct need for the Toslink optical audio cable. Also, let’s face it, they may not even know the best way to employ it. For those that do know though, optical cables face a specific purpose and there’s a reason why so many products have adopted its ports in the past decade.

 

When Toslink optical audio cables were first invented, they were very much viewed as one of the most futuristic, high-tech cables in the marketplace. Though the expensive nature of purchasing it might it impractical for most Canadian households, those that had it experienced the many benefits associated with it. Toslink optical audio cables uses laser instead of copper, which is in part why they were able to provide more advanced sound. Because of this however, optical audio cables are generally more fragile and those that weren’t were typically built from cheap plastics that cut down on quality.

 

Today’s Toslink optical audio cables have improved tremendously over past designs, used everywhere from Dolby Digital and DTS to Roku, Apple TVs, Chromecast Audio, and more. As more advanced cables have come into the marketplace in the last two decades, such as HDMI, Toslink optical audio cables are facing their fair share of competition. Though most devices employing audio-video connections are now being built with ports and connectors other than optical audio, the one product category where these Toslink cables have held on is with home entertainment audio. Many speaker systems and soundbars still count on Toslink optical audio cables to communicate the highest quality sound.

 

For more information on where to buy Toslink optical audio cable in Canada, visit PrimeCables. With a 1-year guarantee on all products, free returns included, and fast, free shipping on all orders above $49 to anywhere in Canada, find the best deals on Toslink optical audio cables at PrimeCables!

PrimeCables New Arrivals 2018, as Chosen by our Editors

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This year, PrimeCables is seeing some big new arrivals under the categories of ergonomic office accessories, TV and monitor desk mounts, smart home technology, and more. Please feel encouraged to browse our top picks for new arrivals 2018 and receive free shipping on any item on this list!

If you’re looking to re-design and innovate in your home entertainment space, PrimeCables has its own Mini Portable LCD Projector 1500 Lumens, Multimedia Home Theater Video Projector for $99.99, in addition to a 100″ Projector Screen Portable and Collapsible Wall/Ceiling Mount for $39.99. These items make it so that you receive high quality, 1080p video without the requirement of a TV. Also, comparing these prices to what one might spend on a flat-screen, save hundreds of dollars!

If you do end up purchasing a flat screen TV, PrimeCables has some of Canada’s top TV wall mounts. Be sure to browse thoroughly as we have more advanced models such as the Full-Motion Above Fireplace Pull-Down TV Wall Mount For 43″-70″ for $169.99 and then more basic models, such as the TV Wall Mount Tilting Bracket for Most 37″-70″ Inch LED, LCD and Plasma TVs for $20.99.

If you know someone who has just bought their first car or if you yourself are concerned about having to jumpstart a battery, may we recommend a 12000mAh Portable Car Jump Starter Battery Booster and Phone Charger for $69.99. This handy item can be used to jumpstart a car battery on its own and also functions as a power source to charge any smartphone.

Ergonomic desks that can have their height adjusted from a sitting position to standing are also all the rage in some of the top corporate offices in Canada. For the average Canadian consumer, they can still have access to these same ergonomic sit-standing desks. For huge discounts, we recommend browsing the PrimeCables® Electric Sit to Stand Adjustable Desk Riser Frame (Table Top Not Included) – White for $259.99, the Sit Standing Height Adjustable desk ergo Riser ADR for monitor 26″ Wide – Black for $189.99, or the Ultra Slim Height Adjustable Sit and Standing Desk for $149.99.

Finally, in one of our fastest growing product categories, mix and match smart home accessories to build the home that is ideal for you. There’s the (3 Pack )LED Motion Sensor Night Light lamp rechargeable with flashlight for $34.99, the Orvibo® Wireless Smart Home Security Kit w/ Motion Sensor, Door Window Sensor, Camera and ZigBee Hub for $149.99, and the ORVIBO® S31 WiFi Smart Socket Yellow- App Control and Alexa Ready, RedDot 2017 award winner – 1/Pack for $24.99.

 

As we have more new arrivals planned later in the year, 2018 is shaping up to be PrimeCables’ biggest yet!

How Strong is a Nylon braided Cable – let’s Find Out!

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Seeking to find the strongest possible cable at the most affordable price point, employing Nylon braided protection across a range of different cable types has produced some of the highest quality cable designs this decade. Consumers that have purchased Nylon braided cable report back stronger, faster, and better performance overall, particularly as it applies to consumer-friendly USB sync and charge cables.

 

PrimeCables prides itself on finding the best quality cable products for Canadians to enjoy. As one of Canada’s fastest growing ecommerce sites in the past decade, we have a long history of high quality products at the cheapest, most affordable price points. Nylon braided cables are among the strongest cables we have. For anyone with pets who like to chew wire and cable, it’s not going to be that easy trying to get through a Nylon braided jacket like this. In addition, they are more difficult to bend and fold over, something which is known to break lesser quality cables over time. The polymer silicone material used on the outside of our high-strength Nylon braided cable is of the highest quality, ensuring a strong cable that will take significant effort to break.

 

As it pertains to the inside of the Nylon braided cable, you will find pure copper wire core 28/24 AWG, a thicker internal design overall, and a more impressive data transmission performance than a non-Nylon braided cable. For a faster performance, there are seven groups of copper wire inside the cable, designed with industrial use in mind and providing faster speeds than what one would find in standard cables. For mainstream smartphones, tablets, and major devices manufactured from giants like Samsung, HTC, Motorola, Sony, and more, you still get high compatibility and functionality simply in a better, higher quality cable.

 

Consumers across the country are using Nylon-braided cables, purchasing them at record low prices with PrimeCables. As you will see from the amazing customer reviews, choose from a variety of Nylon braided cables that are pet-chew resistant, high-temperature resistant, and tangle-resistant. Even better, if you need to take them out with you through one of our unpredictable Canadian winters, Nylon braided jackets and the internal mechanisms that make up the cable have anti-freezing resistant properties. For anyone who has had a cable or set of headphones break on them in freezing temperatures, Nylon braided cable can be part of the solution.

 

Shop PrimeCables today to get yourself an MFi-certified, strong Nylon-braided cable and see the difference!

 

What are HDMI Splitters?

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HDMI cables only go so far in being able to transmit signal to screen. For a user with multiple screens, seeking to get the same visual across every screen is impossible with a single HDMI cable.

HDMI splitters are used to spread the same source visual across multiple screens, providing a way to mirror, amplify, and extend the reach of an image. Buying the right HDMI splitter for your setup means cutting down on cable with a high-performance, high-definition HDMI splitter for the home. Supporting data transfer resolutions ranging from 1080p signals and more, a splitter should not lose any picture quality in spreading the same images across multiple displays.

For gamers, HDMI splitters are a great way to duplicate gaming images across multiple displays. Mirroring makes this possible through other means however to retain the highest picture quality, a splitter like this is almost necessary. In addition, one is not only mirroring video but the audio as well. For some people, an HDMI switch will be preferred over a splitter. A switch function slightly differently as it takes multiple sources of video and allows the user to select the source that they want to watch on their screen. All in all, switches and splitters are very different in their capabilities, and in this day and age of multiple devices and hook-up requirements, an HDMI splitter is likely the most appropriate option.

Fortunately, there are a range of HDMI splitters to choose from depending on your needs. There are 1-in-2 outs such as the PrimeCables HDMI Splitter 1×2 with Full 3D and 4K×2K (340MHz)Metal Shell-Real HDMI V1.4 for $34.99. Then, there are splitters designed 1-in-4 out, including the PrimeCables® 4K Support HDMI splitter 1×4 Metal Powered Amplifier with EP chipsets for $46.99. For more advanced screen setups, the next splitter level up would be 1-in-8. Admittedly, this is unneeded for most Canadian consumers however for some, they may be pressed to purchase the 1×8 HDMI® Amplifier Splitter over CAT5e/CAT6 Complete Solution Kit – Extend Up to 164ft – Monoprice® for $519.99.

 

Buy any of these HDMI splitters through PrimeCables today and receive a 1-year guarantee on all orders, free returns included, and fast, free shipping on any orders above $49 to anywhere in Canada.

 

HDMI splitters are well worth the purchase price for those who need more HDMI ports than their TV is able to offer. When it comes time to connect multiple streaming devices or gaming consoles, you shouldn’t have to get up every time to switch wires and/or connectors. Buy an HDMI splitter today to make your home entertainment setup easy!

 

USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 3 – One Port to Connect Them All!

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For the past few years, USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 3 have completely revolutionized port standards, signifying a new age in how devices connect to one another. Today, more than three billion USB ports are shipped every year internationally and USB Type-C currently stands as the world’s most popular USB connection standard.

Prior to the invention of the USB Type-C peripheral standard, Thunderbolt 3 was released and praised as a potential replacement for the Universal Serial Bus standard altogether. That said, throughout the past two years, Thunderbolt 3 and USB Type-C have both been using the same port type and with amazing results! Now, every Thunderbolt 3 port works in the same way that USB-C does. In the same way, Thunderbolt 3 cables work as functional USB-C cables as well. These technologies go infinitely beyond the limitations of USB-A, USB-B, and previous versions of the Thunderbolt standard.

 

Let’s go back to the beginning with Thunderbolt, which at one time boasted data transfer speeds up to 20 Gbps long before any other similar cable could. With the original Thunderbolt cable and Thunderbolt 2, the cable was defined as ‘active’, meaning that it required a power source to function. This limited the development of the Thunderbolt standard and made it somewhat more expensive, especially compared to cables that didn’t require their own dedicated power source to operate. These limitations are what allowed Universal Serial Bus to advance to the point where they completely supplanted the Thunderbolt standard.

 

In response, the Thunderbolt 3 cable made some key alterations, including removing the MiniDisplayPort connection type and replacing it with USB Type-C, including additional functionality as a USB-C cable, top data transfer feeds up to 40 Gbps, backwards compatibility made possible with the assistance of an adapter, and the ability to connect to USB Type-C devices.

 

Today, we are very much living in a USB kind of world – though that might not always be the case. As tech continues to advance, we simply don’t know what’s around the corner. For the time being, there’s no cable more impressive to daily consumer use than the various combinations of USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 3.

 

Make things a lot less complicated for your devices when you buy Apple-certified USB Type-C cables, available for a limited time through PrimeCables at huge discounts. If you are using less advanced cables for your devices, or if you find that your existing cables lack speed or functionality, browse various USB Type-C cables with PrimeCables today, shipping fast to anywhere in Canada!

What Speaker Wire Gauge should I use?

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Searching for the right speaker wire gauge to use can be challenging. There are many specifications to consider when selecting a speaker wire gauge. To begin, resistance is arguably the most important component to choosing a speaker wire. For example, a low-resistance speaker provides more power from the amplifier to the speaker. All in all, resistance is influenced by three components – conductivity, length, and thickness.

 

Conductivity measures the flow of electricity and is measured in Siemens. All PrimeCables-branded speaker wire is made with oxygen-free copper ensuring some of the highest conductivity ratings in Canada. Then, there’s length of the cable. The general rule regarding length is that the longer the wire, the more resistance. Therefore, the longer the cable is, the better the resistance needs to be, or else one will have to increase power on the other end to achieve the same sound as one might hear from a shorter wire. Please note that it is not recommended for any speaker wire cable to be longer than fifty feet. The last component is thickness. As the thickness of a wire increases – which is measured in AWG, gauge number – the resistance of the wire decreases accordingly. Thereby, for longer wires, a thicker wire is required.

 

There are some golden rules you want to remember when browsing speaker wire. For example, when the gauge of a wire is tripled, its resistance doubles. The best thing we can recommend is to browse the PrimeCables speaker wire chart indicating the different requirements for wire gauge numbers 18-16 AWG and across 2 ohm, 4 ohm, 6 ohm, and 8 ohm loads. Using this speaker wire gauge chart is a great way to get a handle on what’s best for your home setup.

 

Connecting your home theater system begins, in many cases, by knowing how the cable and wire setup is going to be structured. Deciding on a speaker wire gauge can provide some direction on where to begin hooking things up. Though it can seem daunting, hooking up your home theater system is made easy once you get a hang of speaker wire. Be it for audiophiles, casual listeners, and/or for everyday Canadian households, the right speaker wire gauge can help significantly improve and upgrade a stereo system.

 

Needless to say, we know our wires. PrimeCables is a premiere Canadian ecommerce cable and speaker wire retailer, with over a decade of experience serving Canadians far and wide. When you buy speaker wire from PrimeCables, you receive a 1-year guarantee on any purchase, free returns included, and on any orders above $49, fast and free shipping to anywhere in Canada.

What you Need to Know about the USB 3.0 Cable

Buy USB 3.0 cable
Buy USB 3.0 cable

Numerous types of USB cables have come and gone over the years. USB 3.0 cables demonstrate key advancements over USB 1.1 and the long-adopted USB 2.0 standard. Boasting a Type-A connector across each of these standards, USB 3.0 cables do not require their own dedicated port. Instead, they provide advancements on the existing cable standard, consistently delivering a higher quality performance. USB 3.0 cables come with a wide range of benefits for users, including a transfer rate over 10 times faster than its predecessor and top speeds of 5.0 Gbps.

 

If you’ve never had a USB 3.0 cable before, what you need to know is that you should see some noticeable changes in speed and power. For example, USB 3.0 connectors and ports were specially built with more pins than the 2.0 standard, delivering fast, high outputs of speed and power. The arrangement of the pins also means that it does interfere working with older USB ports. There are also different versions of the USB 3.0 cable – such as Micro-USB 3.0 which is used for portable drives. For devices released to market between 2008 and 2013, it is highly likely that they use USB 3.0 cables which are built with host-to-peripheral power direction and Type-A to Type-B cable configuration.

 

The only thing truly required to use a USB 3.0 cable is to have devices that are compliant with this standard. PrimeCables is proud to be able to offer a number of USB 3.0 cables and accessories, including a High Quality USB 3.0 A Male to A Female Extension Cable – Black – 3ft for $3.99, a High Quality USB 3.0 A Male to A Female Extension Cable – Black – 6ft for $4.99, a 3FT USB 3.0 Retractable Cable, A Male to Micro B Male – Monoprice® for $14.64. When you shop with PrimeCables, you receive free returns, a 1-year guarantee, and any order above $49 receives fast, free shipping to anywhere in Canada.

 

USB 3.0 cables are suitable for a vast array of application and are utilized across countless devices in Canadian households. The current series of USB 3.0 cables are high quality and built well. If you are in need of a USB 3.0 cable, you won’t find a better price than with PrimeCables. More than worthwhile to consider for purchase, if you have picked up a new smartphone, tablet, or laptop with USB 3.0 ports, buy a quality, well-built accompanying cable today.

Are you Curious about What is USB Type-C?

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USB Type-C is the world’s most popular USB cable. Over the years, USB has had a profound impact on the way we use, sync, and charge our devices. In this time, the USB standard has been improved upon and re-designed time and time again. As it pertains to USB-A, USB-B, and USB-C, each letter has provided increased speed and functionality. USB Type-C is the fastest and most advanced cable among these.

 

USB Type-C brings together the technology of various USB standards to create one ultimate solution. For example, the USB-C port and connector are almost identical to those of the Micro USB, ensuring it is capable of working with devices both small and large. Since 2015, this adaptability has meant USB Type-C being widely adopted by smartphones, tablets, and storage devices. Almost all devices that were previously designed with USB 3.1 should be capable of using USB-C. Capable of speeds of 10 Gbps and a power output of 100 watts, in the future, USB Type-C could be used to charge a vast array of different devices. Just think about it. The average laptop requires approximately 60 watts of power. Even a device such as a laptop could be charged using this cable.

 

A huge benefit to the USB Type-C cable is that it boasts a reversible design, meaning that both ends of the cable are the same and can be used accordingly. It does not matter what end is plugged into the port, the cable will work to sync and charge the same. To this point, there is bi-directional power employed. That means that in addition to charging a peripheral device, a peripheral device is also capable of charging a host device. In the future, this could mean power adapters no longer existing and a single cable that would charge everything. That’s how powerful USB Type-C is in its current incarnation.

 

USB Type-C is going to cut down on the amount of wires and cables a user requires across multiple devices. Simply put, USB Type-C has taken over the port and connections of devices far and wide. With it, all devices require only one type of port and one type of cable. With regards to older devices, it’s possible to even use adapters to make them Type-C compatible. This is the first and only time, many predict, that adapters are required for USB connections.

 

Designed with the intention of being ‘future-proof’, the USB Type-C cable accomplishes just that. Any Canadian seeking to improve the speed and functionality of their sync-and-charge cables are highly recommended to check out USB-C cables.

Buy the Best TV Antenna in Canada when you Shop with PrimeCables

Get the best tv antenna from primecables
Get the best tv antenna from primecables

Imagine being able to spend literally hours watching your favourite TV shows, news programs, and sports games without having to pay a cent to the cable company. More Canadians than ever before are becoming cord-cutters, as TV rates continue to rise. A part of the cord-cutting lifestyle involves buying a TV antenna to procure the free over-the-air signals that many TV stations send out across Canada and the United States.

 

Buying a TV antenna and setting it up is simple, especially if you have an HDTV ready to go. Simply plug it in and scan for channels. Depending on where you are located and whether it is in a city or rural area, you may want to experiment with placement. With PrimeCables, we have numerous TV antennas to choose from, including several models under $20. There are indoor and outdoor antenna types, and the freedom to choose the range you want.

Buying from some of the best TV antennas in Canada does not have to be expensive, as long as you know where to get a bargain. PrimeCables has been helping Canadians for more than a decade cut the cord and get themselves set up with high quality, 1080p, HDTV antennas. Be sure to read product descriptions and customer reviews for more information on what these antennas are capable of. In terms of pricing, PrimeCables is proud to have matched or outperformed its competitors, ensuring that pulling in free TV signals is made affordable for any Canadian household.

In an age where TV subscriptions are so expensive, it’s no wonder that more are turning to alternative methods such as buying a TV antenna. Among the channels you might be able to receive include CBC, CTV, Global, CityTV, CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, the CW, PBS, and more. While there’s no guarantee what channels you may or may not be able to receive in your specific location, it can vary from a mere three or four to upwards of twenty and more. For a cheap, easy investment though, you should be able to receive at least a few high quality HDTV channels from a combination of local and national stations.

 

Among the top sellers in PrimeCables’ TV antenna catalogue, these include the PrimeCables® HDTV Outdoor Antenna High Gain for both VHF/UHF for $19.99, and a 360 Degree Adjustable Multidirectional Super 8 Bay TV Antenna – Up to 70 Mile Range for $105.99.

 

There are a range of price points, features, and ranges to consider. By hooking up a TV antenna and giving it a try, we are confident you will find these products as a good fit for your home. The models provided via PrimeCables look amazing and provide high quality, HD signals almost anywhere in Canada!

The 10 Best TV Antennas to Buy in 2018

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Here’s PrimeCables’ exclusive list on the top 10 best TV antennas to buy in 2018. Depending on whether you want indoor or outdoor, how much your budget is, and how much reach you want, any of these options might appeal to you.

 

To begin with, there’s the Winegard FlatWave FL-5000 which offers some of the strongest signal reception at its price point and is as easy as just plugging it in. Among the latest releases in the digital TV antenna category, there’s the SKYTV indoor amplified digital TV antenna which comes with a fifty-mile range and with shows up to 1080p in quality. If you’re in an area with poor reception and are seeking an indoor TV antenna, you might want to go with something along the lines of the Winegard FlatWave Amped FL5500A.

 

Then, there are other considerations you may make when searching for the best TV antenna. If you’re on a tight budget but still want an HDTV antenna, the 1byone Indoor Amplified TV Antenna is a strong buy. If you are looking to install an outdoor TV antenna but are in an area where reception may be poor, the Mohu Sky 60 TV Antenna is recommended. If aesthetic design is important, the Mohu Curve 30 TV Antenna is going to be a big trend for the next year.

 

There are also plenty of other high quality, medium-to-low cost items that make our list of best TV antennas in 2018, including the RCA ultra-thin, indoor amplified HDTV antenna. If you’re looking to get the longest range possible from a TV antenna, the ClearStream 2MAX UHF/VHF Indoor/Outdoor HDTV antenna is a little expensive but the extra investment goes a long way. Nab more channels, indoor or outdoor as you see fit, and receive reliable HD signals even in rural areas where procuring such might be a challenge.

 

Searching for the best TV antennas to buy in 2018, we find, is a search usually limited by how much one has to spend. Admittedly, buying a TV antenna is a bit of a gamble when you don’t what channels you have at our disposal, where the best location in or outside your home is to test it, and what signal strength works best. For anyone seeking an affordable option, there are less expensive items such as the slim and compact Digital TV Antenna Digiwave BMX Innovative Super Flat-Digiwave for $14.99 or the PrimeCables® HDTV Outdoor Antenna High Gain for both VHF/UHF 65-mile range for $19.99.

 

These are the TV antennas that made our list for the best of 2018. For the best combination of features in accordance with your priorities and preferences, be sure to browse through the availability for more information on specific TV antenna models.