Earbuds Vs. Headphones: Which Do You Buy?

April 25, 2022 Andrew the Cable NingaLeave a comment

A guide for headphones & earbuds will typically rule in favor of one over the other but for audiophiles, there are a range of products in both categories each producing amazing quality sound. It would be very unfair to pick one over the other based on quality alone. That said, it’s usage. That’s what really matters.

When listening to music, you might have a specific setting in mind. At the gym. While you’re commuting. Around the house while doing chores. Listening to records at home. How you play music will ultimately lead a person to lean more towards either earbuds or headphones. Analyzing listening experience and other factors, here are the advantages of both.

Why Earbuds Might Be Better

There are three main types of earbuds – wired earbuds, Bluetooth wired earbuds, and Bluetooth wireless earbuds. There are, naturally, design variations, such as the feel of the earbud in the ear canal, whether there is a microphone or volume control, and how long a charge lasts for a Bluetooth set.

There is a lot of cross-over in terms of features between earbuds and headphones. For example, while True Wireless earbuds exist, so do wireless Bluetooth headphones. Why lots of people prefer earbuds is their compact size and their affordability. You can get a great pair of earbuds for under $30 easy. Whether you get the same audio quality from headphones varies by the brand.

Why Headphones Might Be Better

There are many types of headphones. Noise isolation headphones. Active noise cancelling headphones. You can find headphones at Walmart for very cheap. Of course, they aren’t very good. Then, there are headphones that cost hundreds. You don’t have to spend that for an excellent pair of headphones, thankfully.

Headphones do not fit in the ear. They go over the ear. This slight design variation helps protect hearing health in a way that earbuds do not. That said, turn up the volume loud enough and whatever pair of earbuds or headphones that you have, they will cause damage. A possible advantage for some is headphones covering the air and being overall better at blocking the outside noise from ruining your listening experience.

Which Will You Buy To Listen To Your Audio?

There are lots of deciding factors in analyzing earbuds vs. headphones. There’s the feel, the affordability of a pair, and what’s more comfortable to wear according to the activity you’re wearing them for.

If you aren’t sure what’s best for you, check out earbuds vs. headphones at PrimeCables.ca today. Check out all types of headphones and high-quality earbuds, with premium sound, features, and mixes.

What Are The Best Speakers To Use If You’re Throwing A Party?

July 12, 2021 ShopperPlusLeave a comment

A party has to have a little bit of everything to succeed. If you want to throw the best party possible, music and audio have a lot to do with it. You need a way to fill the room with fun atmosphere and music’s the exact way to do that.

What speakers you use kind of relies on what sort of party you want to throw. A dorm room get-together, for example, isn’t going to necessitate the same speaker requirements as a small gathering, pool party, or formal dining event.

Here are some ideas on where to start in your search for the best speakers for a party.

Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Are you at the beach or by the pool? If it’s less than a dozen people, you don’t want to blast music across large, overpriced speakers.

Try a waterproof Bluetooth speaker instead. It syncs easily to your device and is portable so you can take it with you without it taking up a ton of space.

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Bluetooth Soundbar

If you’re having your party inside, a la by a home theater system or a dining room, using a Bluetooth soundbar may be the easiest speaker you can get.

Anyone can sync up a playlist, allowing you to rotate through different music as you feel. Also, no wires!

2.1 Bluetooth Multimedia Speaker Set

Though on the smaller side, a Bluetooth multimedia speaker set still packs a punch in attack, volume, and bass.

These speakers are great for small get-togethers or if you’re just hanging out with a few friends in your room. They connect to your computer or laptop and offer plenty of acoustic power.

491fe primecables cab m106bt speakers subwoofer 2 1 bluetooth multimedia stereo powered speaker and subwoofer set primecables

High-Performance Bookshelf Speakers

For larger rooms, you want to start looking at bookshelf speakers. They make them as small as 6.5 inches but they offer the most volume out of all the options on this list.

For DJ-style dance parties and get-togethers where you want lots of loud music, start here.

D3980 primecables cab bk265 all speakers subwoofer bookshelf speakers high performance 6 5 inch 2 way pair primecables

DJ-Style Over-The-Ear Headphones

A silent disco dance party, anyone? A silent party allows people to bring their own devices, toss on a pair of DJ-style over-the-ear headphones, and listen to their own tunes while dancing with others.

It’s fun. It’s way different. It might be a great way to introduce different music tastes to another and get more people involved. Fortunately, over-the-ear headphones are pretty inexpensive.

Whether it’s a pool party, BBQ, or you’re having an overnight DJ-style rave, there are plenty of options here on affordable speaker sets for parties. Shop them all at PrimeCables.ca and while you’re there, you may also want to check out their party décor, party accessories, and party supplies.

7 Situations Where Over-The-Ear Headphones Can Help You Relax

June 29, 2021 ShopperPlusLeave a comment

Wired and wireless earbuds are a very popular phone accessory, second in sales only to USB cables. Unfortunately, headphones don’t get the same love. That’s despite being a great investment for a lot of very common situations.

Over-the-ear headphones provide a lot more noise cancellation than earbuds, even those not noise cancellation-specific. They fit comfortably, often have better sound quality at more affordable price points, and can aid in focus and concentration when there are a lot of distractions around you.

Here are 7 situations where over-the-ear headphones can help you relax.

Gaming

If you’re a gamer, earbuds aren’t the most reliable in reproducing the sort of immersive sound most want. Note every serious gamer and what they’re wearing for sound. It’s always DJ-style headphones.

Work-From-Home

A work-from-home office is not always the neatest and most convenient of places in a multi-person household. When you need to block out the noise around you, nothing does it like a premium set of headphones.

Watching A Concert

When you are watching a concert, you want to hear it as if you were there. The best music headphones put you in the room as an audience member, allowing you to hear the warmth of the bass, the pretty highs, and the movement of the music.

Zoom Calls

If you can get a pair of headphones with a mic or are concerned about missing speech or dialogue, the right headphones can make it a lot easier to listen in and hear everything that’s being said.

Noisy Roommates

Roommates can get noisy. Loud arguments. Parties. Watching television a little louder than preferred. For all these situations where you don’t want to be constantly harping on them, headphones can help block out those sounds and put you in a calmer state of mind.

Sound Editing

Any sort of sound editing, i.e. music, video editing, or animation, should be done on a set of headphones. Earbuds are built for convenience. They’re great at the gym. For accurate and detailed sound quality though, you’ve got to go with hi-fi headphones.

Home Theater Application

It’s late at night. You want to watch a quick episode of your favourite show but don’t want to wake anyone up. Plug in your headphones. It’s a simple and easy fix. You can turn it up as loud as you want.

Unless you’re on the move, you can’t go wrong with premium headphones DJ-style that fit over the ear with a mic included. They will serve you well in all sorts of situations. Shop your best headphones on sale at PrimeCables.ca today.

The Best Headphones And Earbuds With Built-In Microphones For Work, Gaming, And More

April 12, 2021 ShopperPlusLeave a comment

Headphones with a microphone built-in, aka headsets, have been a key work-from-home tool aiding so many Canadians communicate over Zoom, Skype, and video-calling technology throughout the pandemic.

Are you looking for the best headphones with built-in microphones – check out our quick list below!

HP Earbuds With Mic

These are the cheapest of the cheap. HP earbuds with mic are under $7 and while they work, unfortunately, the sound isn’t the best. These earbuds make this list more for their price than evidence of quality. If you want to communicate clearly, try these. They just may do the trick.

Bluetooth Earbuds With Mic

The PrimeCables.ca Bluetooth earbud with mic is a relatively basic earbud-and-mic combo, however, is quality all the way. If you’re doing outdoor activity, stuff at the gym, or are doing chores and need a mic to make phone calls with, this is your best bet.

Wireless Bluetooth Sports Stereo Earbud Headphone w/ Mic & Volume Control – PrimeCables®

Monoprice Wired Earbuds With Mic

The next step up from HP is this pair of affordable premium-grade Monoprice wired earbuds with mic. For Android and Apple devices, you have some good-quality sound in the microphone pickup. If you need something passable but you don’t necessarily have to have a mic that’s high-tech, try this.

Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds with Mic

Let’s say you want a totally wireless experience, go for these True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds with mic. A lot of True Wireless earbuds are equipped with a mic though at all. It may not be what comes to mind when buying Bluetooth earbuds like this but it’s a key feature users come to appreciate when they have to get through a day of Zoom meetings or answer a call.

HP Stereo Gaming Headset with Mic

An HP gaming headset with mic works like headphones except they’re really designed for gaming. They work well for gaming and all sorts of uses, and plug into your PC, smartphone, gaming consoles, and more.

Premium Over-the-Ear Headphones With Mic

For cheap headphones with mic, you won’t find a lower price on headphones-and-mic than PrimeCables.ca has on this model. These over-the-ear headphones with mic provides clear, focused sound for taking calls, gaming, work-from-home, and streaming.

Premium Headphones Hi-Fi DJ Style Over-the-Ear Pro – PrimeCables®

Monoprice Over-the-Ear Headphones With Mic

The prior headphone design was by PrimeCables.ca. At a slightly higher price point, these are Monoprice headphones with mic. A great pair of headphones, its built-in mic picks up audio clearly and is a major asset during virtual meetings, remote work calls, and can be used for streaming as well.

Built-in mics have to do two things – pick up your voice and hopefully tune out the noise around you. A high-quality built-in mic on headphones helps a ton on phone calls, Zoom meetings, recording audio, and more. Shop all these headphones and earbuds this week at PrimeCables.ca.

Do I Need Noise Cancelling Headphones?

April 12, 2021 ShopperPlusLeave a comment

Noise cancelling headphones block what you’re listening in and keep outside sound from interfering.

Have you ever put in earbuds or headphones and listen to a podcast or music only to have everything around you still cramping your ear – this happens all the time. Sometimes, the only listening we want to have is the music we’re listening to.

That said, not all of us need noise cancelling headphones per se. Here is everything you want to know about them, including how noise cancelling headphones work and a few of the advantages they bring.

Active Noise Cancelling Headphones v. Passive Noise Cancellation

Noise cancellation falls into two main categories – passive and active.

Passive noise cancellation blocks out outside noise. It’s essentially a design built on isolating the ear, insulating them from outside noises almost like an earplug would except it’s in an over-the-ear headphone.

Active noise cancellation uses circuitry to create inverse audio that will cancel out sound. Microphones on active noise cancellation headphones capture surrounding outside noise, processing it in the headphone and delivering in your ear an inverse signal in real-time to completely eliminate it.

Active noise cancelling works best with tones that do not vary in pitch or volume, i.e. an air conditioner that hums or the rumble of a train. Unfortunately, it will not work so well with things like clapping, singing, and the like.

Why Buy Noise Cancelling Headphones

Every year, noise cancelling over-the-ear headphones get a lot of attention. They are used for various reasons.

People who want to work out at the gym without talking to others, being bothered, or being forced to listen to the music playing over the loud speakers.
People who do not want to be bothered on public transport as they commute to post-secondary, work, or elsewhere.
People who want to focus on their work and avoid a talkative co-worker or to ignore distractions around the office.
People who just plain do not want to be bothered no matter where they are and what they’re doing.

There are a lot of benefits of noise cancelling headphones, including helping you concentrate while working from home. Demand for noise-cancellation has gone up since the COVID-19 pandemic began for this reason.

Some of the additional features of noise cancelling headphones include a wireless option, Bluetooth compatibility, a foldable or easy-to-carry design, high-definition sound, and playtime ranging from a few hours up to 18 hours of playtime with enabled active noise cancellation.

Browse some of the best noise cancelling headphones in Canada at PrimeCables.ca. Find Bluetooth earbuds, over-the-ear headphones cheap, and more. If you truly want noise cancellation, active noise cancellation is your best bet. It will help a ton in minimizing what’s surrounding you from impacting your concentration.

Must-Have Home Gadgets for Under $45 to Keep Your Home Tidy and Trendy

February 22, 2021 ShopperPlusLeave a comment

Don’t live in a boring, uninspired space. Make it exciting! Here are life-changing must-have gadgets for under $45 to help give your home something new to fixate on and get you hyped waking up in the morning.

TV Wall Mount

The home theater area or where you watch TV is a popular place to install home gadgets for regular use. A TV wall mount offers a specific theatrical presentation you can’t achieve with a screen on a table or stand. Choose from basic non-tilt mounts to over-the-fireplace TV wall mounts.

1080p HD Pan and Tilt Webcam

No matter who good your Windows or Mac laptop is, the camera probably sacrifices a lot in quality. Buy a 1080p HD webcam and never have to worry about poor lighting conditions or unfocused, pixelated video at least on your end.

Full 1080P HD USB Pan & Tilt Rotantion Video Webcam with Microphone & Privacy Cover – PrimeCables®

Indoor HDTV Antenna

An indoor HDTV antenna picks up free over-the-air signals you don’t have to pay for. You may discover after a few weeks of using your antenna you don’t need your cable subscription. It’s happened!

Monitor Mount for Displays Up to 27”

Create more space on your desktop. An underrated life hack for home offices is the use of a monitor mount. Elevate your screen and craft a more advanced-looking desk without losing stability.

Monitor Desk Stand H80 Fits most 17″ to 27″ displays

Portable Wireless Multimedia Keyboard

A mini 2.4GHz wireless multimedia keyboard is a remote control that rules all! Have a single keyboard and remote to operate your TV, PC, Android TV box, Blu-Ray player, gaming consoles, and more.

Over-the-Ear Headphones

Over-the-ear headphones with a mic included is perfect for gaming, work, and any circumstances where you need to be able to communicate over the Internet. The over-the-ear design also delivers more immersive listening that eliminates outside noise.

5-Port USB Smart Charger

A multi-port USB charger gives you a place to charge your smartphone, tablet, FitBit, or any devices that need a regular charge. You can never have enough cables or ports. Stop denying yourself the chance to charge multiple devices. Equip yourself with the right tools to always guarantee a healthy charge!

Selfie 10” Ring Light with Tripod Stand

Capture professional-grade photos with this selfie ring light and tripod combo. Snap photos or videos in the best light. Put them up on social media and create a persona tailored to your ambitions personal or professional.

Selfie 10” Ring Light with Adjustable Tripod Stand & Phone Holder for Makeup Live Streaming

Adjustable Laptop Stand

Do you have a work-from-home setup – if so, a home office is heightened in appeal with an adjustable laptop stand you can take with you to bed, the couch, or in travel. Increase productivity and work comfortably no matter where you are.

There’s a gadget for every room in the house! Visit PrimeCables.ca to find home theater tech, cables, adapters, tech accessories, and more.

What Are the Best Headphones in 2021 For Sound Quality?

January 18, 2021 ShopperPlusLeave a comment

Try out a new pair of over-the-ear headphones in 2021 for better sound quality, clearer frequencies, and louder audio.

Think about the features you love in a set of headphones. None of it matters if the quality of sound’s not any good.

Here are the best headphones in 2021 on sound quality, as voted on by the customers at PrimeCables.ca.

Logitech H600 Wireless Headset

The Logitech H600 wireless headset offers wireless Bluetooth audio, a noise-cancelling mic, and has on- ear controls. Work-from-home headsets like this have been in high demand since the pandemic began but in terms of sound quality, they’re not the best. The sound quality rating is 40/100.

Hi-Fi DJ Style Over-the-Ear Headphones

Equipped with a detachable cable with a mic included, this premium brand of over-the-ear headphones has a near-perfect rating of 91/100. The sound quality is crystal clear and comparable to much more expensive brands. The padded ear cushion also offers maximum comfort, keeping great-sounding audio in and outside noise out.

Metal Dynamic On-Ear Headphones

An entry from Monoprice is these metal on-ear headphones, boasting decent quality in both sound and design. The customer rating assigned to the Monoprice metal headphones is an average 70/100 and their price isn’t as cheap as other headphone types. That said, the rich frequencies on the low-end and the clean highs make it worth it for some.

Monoprice Lightweight On-Ear Headphones

The Monoprice-branded lightweight on-ear headphones are a newer model, with a superior audio quality and priced very affordably. The sound’s hi-fi, the frequency spectrum is wide, and they’re comfortable on the ear. There’s a reason this model is on the list. The audience rating for Monoprice headphones is 90/100.

Hi-Fi Lightweight On-Ear Headphones – Monoprice®

Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones

One of the more expensive designs on this list but also rated highly at 89/100 is this nice set of Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones. The sound quality has high-definition stereo, noise cancellation, and up to 18 hours of playtime once charged. If you are looking strictly for a Bluetooth-enabled headphone design, this is your best bet in 2021.

Wireless Hi-Fi Bluetooth Active Noise Cancelling Stereo Over the Ear Headphone – Primecables®

SonicSolace Active Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones

SonicSolace has proven to offer exceptional sound quality on its pair of noise-cancelling headphones. There’s nothing more comfortable over the ear and being wireless, there’s no messiness involved in listening. The only drawback to high-quality SonicSolace Bluetooth headphones is their price, at $160.99. The sound quality rating is a perfect 100/100.

SonicSolace Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Over Ear Headphones, Black – Monoprice®

Don’t let a cool design fool you. Sound quality is what counts most. As types of headphones like those mentioned rival to be the best, headphones in 2021 are fast-advancing towards better quality. For now though, check out the best on the market today from PrimeCables.ca.

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