Marcus Chen

Marcus Chen

Victoria, BC

Audio engineer turned tech writer. Specializes in headphones, speakers, and home theater systems.

Articles by Marcus Chen

Best Wireless Headphones for Running in 2026: Stay Motivated, Stay Safe
Smart Home

Best Wireless Headphones for Running in 2026: Stay Motivated, Stay Safe

Running with wired headphones is a relic of the past—one snag on your jacket and your phone's flying off the treadmill. But not all wireless headphones survive a run. Sweat kills cheap earbuds, a bad fit means they bounce out at kilometre three, and noise cancelling that blocks traffic sounds is ...

Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Under $50 CAD in 2026: Real ANC on a Real Budget
Smart Home

Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Under $50 CAD in 2026: Real ANC on a Real Budget

Active noise cancellation used to be a premium feature reserved for $300+ headphones. In 2026, you can get functional ANC for under $50 CAD. It won't match the silence of Sony WH-1000XM5s or Bose QuietComfort Ultra, but it'll reduce bus noise, office chatter, and airplane hum enough to make a rea...

Best Streaming Device: Cut the Cable, Keep the Content
Entertainment

Best Streaming Device: Cut the Cable, Keep the Content

Cable TV is dying, and streaming devices are the reason. Why pay $150/month for hundreds of channels you don't watch when you can stream exactly what you...

Best Microphone for Podcasting: Sound Like a Pro from Day One
Content Creation

Best Microphone for Podcasting: Sound Like a Pro from Day One

Your podcast's audio quality makes or breaks listener retention. People will tolerate mediocre video, but bad audio? They're gone in seconds. That tinny...

Best Budget Wireless Earbuds: Great Sound Without the Premium Price
Audio

Best Budget Wireless Earbuds: Great Sound Without the Premium Price

Here's a secret the audio industry doesn't want you to know: you don't need to spend $200+ for great wireless earbuds. The budget segment has exploded with...

Best Noise Cancelling Headphones with Microphone: Work From Anywhere
Audio

Best Noise Cancelling Headphones with Microphone: Work From Anywhere

The modern remote worker needs headphones that do double duty: block out distractions AND deliver crystal-clear voice quality for calls. It's a surprisingly...

Best Wireless Earbuds for Running: Stay Motivated Mile After Mile
Audio

Best Wireless Earbuds for Running: Stay Motivated Mile After Mile

Running with wired earbuds is an exercise in frustration. The cable bounces, catches on your arm, and eventually yanks out of your ear mid-stride. Wireless...

Best Noise Cancelling Headphones for Work: Focus in Any Environment
Audio

Best Noise Cancelling Headphones for Work: Focus in Any Environment

Open offices, chatty coworkers, construction outside your window, kids doing homework at the kitchen table—the modern workplace is full of distractions.

Bluetooth Headphones for TV: Watch Without Disturbing Anyone
Audio

Bluetooth Headphones for TV: Watch Without Disturbing Anyone

Late-night movie sessions shouldn't require disturbing the whole house. A baby sleeping in the next room, a partner who goes to bed early, thin apartment...

Your Guide to Building a Smart Home from the Ground Up
Smart Home

Your Guide to Building a Smart Home from the Ground Up

A complete guide to building your smart home from scratch. Learn about planning, network setup, device selection, automation, and security.

Best DAC for Headphones Under $100 in 2026: Affordable Audio Upgrades That Actually Matter
Smart Home

Best DAC for Headphones Under $100 in 2026: Affordable Audio Upgrades That Actually Matter

Your headphones are only as good as the signal feeding them. If you're plugging high-quality headphones into a laptop's built-in audio jack, you're leaving performance on the table. The tiny DAC (digital-to-analogue converter) inside your computer was designed for cost, not quality—and it shows.

Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds for Small Ears in 2026: ANC That Actually Fits
Smart Home

Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds for Small Ears in 2026: ANC That Actually Fits

Finding earbuds that fit small ear canals is frustrating. Most "one size fits all" earbuds are anything but. They fall out during walks, create a weak seal that kills noise cancellation, and cause soreness after 30 minutes. If you've tried premium earbuds and thought the ANC was underwhelming, th...