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How to brand Zoom ZHP-1 headphones

Allan Tépper

You may recall that back in 2018, I reviewed the unbranded —yet brandable— CB-1 isolating headphones from Status Audio. After about three years of nearly daily use, the cushions on the CB-1 finally wore out. I had the Zoom ZHP-1 here from when I reviewed the Zoom ZDM-1 microphone a year ago in November 2020. I hadn’t reviewed the ZHP-1 since the prototype review unit I received of the kit was missing the cable for the headphone, so I didn’t review it. The main focus at that time was to review the ZDM-1 microphone. However, since in the past, I had trouble replacing pads on headphones, rather than trying to do that with the CB-1, instead I decided to brand the the Zoom ZHP-1 headphones and put them into service, by adding a cable to it. Ahead are the steps to brand your Zoom ZHP-1 or other branded headphones, as well as how I compare the ZHP-1 with the Status Audio CB-1 and the Sony MDR-7506.

Link to the Status Audio CB-1 review article

Review: Status Audio CB-1 review (illustrated above)

About the Zoom ZHP-1 headphones

As of publication time of this article, Zoom is not (yet) selling the ZHP-1 headphones by itself. Instead, it comes as the package if you choose to purchase the Zoom ZPH-1 headphones as part of the Zoom ZDM-1 Podcast Mic Pack (Filmtools link), which includes the ZDM-1 dynamic microphone I reviewed here.

Regarding the ZHP-1 headphones, Zoom says:

The Zoom ZHP-1 are over-ear headphones designed to deliver a neutral, transparent sound for music tracking, editing, and mixing applications, location recording, and monitoring film sound on set. The 40mm neodymium dynamic drivers provide high sensitivity and a wide frequency response of 10 Hz to 20 kHz while the closed-back design enhances acoustic isolation.

Thanks to the self-adjusting headband and replaceable leatherette earpads, the ZHP-1 offer comfort and a fit that accommodates a variety of head sizes. The earcups are rotatable to allow easy single-ear monitoring for vocal sessions and quick signal checks. The detachable single-sided cable is terminated with a 3.5mm TRS mini plug for compatibility with mobile devices and portable audio recorders, and a 1/4″ adapter is included for hookup to audio interfaces, headphone amps, and mixers.

Even though Zoom left it out of the above text, the ZHP-1 can also plug into cameras and camcorders which have a headphone jack. According to Zoom, the ZHP-1 impedance is 68 Ω (Ohms), so almost any output should be compatible and drive it very easily. The ZHP-1 officially weighs 190 grams (6.7 ounces), which explains why I find them so much lighter than the Status Audio CB-1 I have used for that past few years, which weighs in at ≈374 grams (13.2 ounces) which is nearly double. The very popular Sony MDR-7506 headphones officially weigh 230 grams (8.1 ounces). This makes the Zoom ZHP-1 the lightweight champion among these three headphones.

Like the Status Audio CB-1, the Zoom ZHP-1 fortunately allows detaching the cable (which is something not available from the Sony MDR-7506). However, the ZHP-1’s local port is a male 3.5 mm plug, rather than a female receptacle, which is more common among headphones with detachable cables I have seen before. However, that is easily solved by using a cable with has a female receptacle (i.e. an extension) or a with a female<>female coupler.

How to brand the Zoom ZHP-1 headphones

Unlike the CB-1 from Status Audio (which already came unbranded and brandable), the Zoom ZHP-1 comes branded with the Zoom logo and other words. That’s why I knew I would have to have my graphic designer (Andreína of ViniloArt.com) make the adapted CapicúaFM logo opaque, not transparent. I wanted the stickers to have a black matte finish in the background. First, I measured the diameter of the circle on the exterior side of the branding area of the ZHP-1, since that information is not published by Zoom. I measured it to be 57 millimeters. However, Andreína recommended that I order the stickers for only a palindromic 55 millimeters diameter instead. I ordered them from Sticker Mule, where I had ordered other stickers before. For that, I uploaded the pre-designed and pre-sized PDF file I received from to Sticker Mule.

I was a bit concerned at first since the edges seemed to have a white border. However, that white border was apparently from the paper backing. Once I removed the paper backing, the remaining sticker was fortunately just matte black. Applying them was much easier than separating the backing paper, but fortunately I accomplished both in a reasonable amount of time.

Conclusions

I am delighted to know how lightweight, comfortable and brandable the ZHP-1 headphones from Zoom are. I hope this article helps you brand your headphones. Although Zoom doesn’t currently offer the ZHP-1 headphones by themselves, they are indeed available as part of the ZDM-1 Podcast Mic Pack (Filmtools link) which also contains the ZDM-1 microphone, which I reviewed here.

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FTC disclosure

Some of the manufacturers listed above have contracted Tépper and/or TecnoTur LLC to carry out consulting and/or translations/localizations/transcreations. Many of the manufacturers listed above have sent Allan Tépper review units, including Status Audio and Zoom. So far, none of the manufacturers listed above is/are sponsors of the TecnoTur, BeyondPodcasting, CapicúaFM , SpeakCastilian or TuSaludSecreta programs, although they are welcome to do so, and some are, may be (or may have been) sponsors of ProVideo Coalition magazine. Some links to third parties listed in this article and/or on this web page may indirectly benefit TecnoTur LLC via affiliate programs. Allan Tépper’s opinions are his own. Allan Tépper is not liable for misuse or misunderstanding of information he shares.

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