If you want child-sized, wired headphones with a volume control for a laptop, choose Califone 2810-PA; if you need over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation for a laptop, choose SOUL by Ludacris SL300MS. The Califone is the more focused fit for young listeners, while the SOUL offers features aimed at adult listening and travel.
Neither is a universal pick: the right choice comes down to who will wear it and whether child-friendly sizing or noise cancellation matters more.
• Califone 2810-PA: Its adjustable headband, volume control, and child-oriented design suit young listeners; its permanently attached cable means there is no wireless option.
• SOUL by Ludacris SL300MS: Active noise cancellation and folding earcups are useful for adult listening and travel; the listed connectivity is wired, despite its noise-cancelling feature.
• Califone is for: Families seeking straightforward headphones for a child’s computer, story time, or library listening.
• SOUL is for: Adults who want over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation and articulated, folding earcups.
The Califone 2810-PA is built around a specific listener: a young child. Its adjustable headband and child-sized design make it a more natural fit for children than an adult-style over-ear model. The panda theme also gives it an unmistakably kid-focused look. For a family setting up headphones for a child’s laptop, that focus is the main reason to consider it.
Its wired connection is simple and predictable: a permanently attached 5.5-foot straight cord ends in a right-angle 3.5 mm plug. That length gives a child room to sit at a computer without turning cable management into a separate project. The right-angle plug can also sit closer to a laptop’s edge than a straight plug. The trade-off is that the cord cannot be removed or replaced separately if it becomes damaged.
A volume control lets the listener adjust sound without relying only on the computer’s controls. Foam-filled leatherette cushions, ABS earcups, and protective slotted baffles round out a design aimed at regular listening. The headphones weigh 9.6 ounces, and their stated frequency range is 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Those details describe the hardware, but the clearest practical case remains everyday listening for a child—not a feature-packed adult travel headset.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-22 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip it: Skip the Califone if you need wireless listening, active noise cancellation, or an adult-oriented headphone for travel.
The SOUL by Ludacris SL300MS is the more adult-focused option. It has an over-ear design, active noise cancellation, and full ear-cup articulation; the headphones are also described as folding. Taken together, those features point toward a listener who wants earcups that can move and a design intended to be easier to pack than a rigid, non-folding pair.
Noise cancellation is its most important distinction from the Califone. It gives the SOUL a clearer role for someone listening in surroundings where reducing outside noise is a priority. The available information identifies the feature as active noise cancellation, but does not specify its strength, adjustment options, or performance in particular environments. I would treat it as a meaningful feature to consider, not a promise that every sound will disappear.
The SOUL connects through a wired 3.5 mm jack and includes media controls. Its listed frequency range is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, and its ear-placement design is over-ear. Compatibility information names several Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, and iPod models; the 3.5 mm connection is also the key detail for a laptop buyer to check against the computer’s available port. Unlike the Califone, the SOUL is not described as child-sized, and the specifications do not list a volume control.
Who should skip it: Skip the SOUL if you specifically need headphones sized for a young child or want a dedicated volume control on the headphones.
• For a young child using a laptop → Califone 2810-PA. Its child-sized design and adjustable headband make it the clearer fit for smaller listeners.
• For adult over-ear listening → SOUL by Ludacris SL300MS. It is described as an adult-oriented, over-ear headphone rather than a child-focused model.
• For a headphone volume control → Califone 2810-PA. Its listed controls include volume adjustment, which can be handy when a child wants a quick change without navigating computer settings.
• For active noise cancellation → SOUL by Ludacris SL300MS. The Califone’s noise control is listed as none, while the SOUL explicitly includes active noise cancellation.
• For a permanently attached cable → Califone 2810-PA. The 5.5-foot cord is built in, so there is no removable cable to manage; the trade-off is that it cannot be detached.
• For folding and articulated earcups → SOUL by Ludacris SL300MS. Its folding design and full ear-cup articulation make it the more travel-oriented option on paper.
• For a child’s computer or story time → Califone 2810-PA. Its stated use and child-focused fit align with those quieter, seated activities.
• For media controls on the headphones → SOUL by Ludacris SL300MS. Its control type is listed as media control, while the Califone’s stated control is volume.
For a laptop, first check the connection you actually need. Both models are listed as wired headphones with a 3.5 mm jack. Neither is described as Bluetooth or wireless, so someone specifically searching for the best Bluetooth headphones for laptop use will need to look beyond these two.
Next, think about who will wear the headphones and where. The Califone’s child sizing, adjustable headband, and onboard volume control are practical distinctions for a young listener. The SOUL’s adult-oriented over-ear design, noise cancellation, and folding earcups make it the more plausible option for adult listening or travel. Those are different priorities, not small variations of the same use case.
Fit and controls matter more than a broad label such as “headset for laptop.” Neither data sheet lists a microphone, so I would not choose either specifically for calls or voice chat based on these details. The Califone’s cord is 5.5 feet long and permanently attached; that may suit a child seated near a computer, but it offers no cable-removal option. The SOUL lists media controls, though the available details do not explain exactly which playback functions they cover.
For someone searching for head phones for laptop use, the key decision is therefore not simply which one sounds better. The specifications do not provide a basis for declaring one the sonic winner. Instead, choose by the documented fit and features: child-focused simplicity and volume adjustment with the Califone, or adult over-ear construction and active noise cancellation with the SOUL. If the current price affects your choice, check the current price on Amazon using the page’s button.
I would buy the Califone 2810-PA for a child using a laptop: its child-sized design, adjustable headband, and volume control make its purpose clear.
For an adult who values active noise cancellation and folding earcups, I would choose the SOUL by Ludacris SL300MS instead.
My pick for a family buying specifically for a young laptop user is the Califone, not because it does everything, but because its listed features fit that job more directly.
FAQ
No Bluetooth connection is listed for either headphone. Both are described as wired models with a 3.5 mm jack.
The SOUL by Ludacris SL300MS lists active noise cancellation. The Califone 2810-PA lists no noise-control feature, so it is not the choice between these two for noise cancellation.
I would not assume that either is suitable for calls or voice chat based on these specifications.
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