Z&H Designs is a UK-registered pro audio equipment designer studio with a global footprint. The idea originated from an international community of mixing engineers in 2019, as the access to those time-tested vintage gear was nearly impossible for most people. Jaky Zheng, an influencer instructor of pro audio engineering who owns a number of studios, helped gather top designers, engineers, craftsmen, as well as co-creators from the UK, US, and EU. The goal was not only to revive the greatest models in history, but also to meet the needs of studios today.
The development was music-driven. Each model got ultimately tested in real studios by real musicians, so that we knew it wouldn't be a geeky thing. There is a great chance you may have already listened to the productions by our gear, as we have been using them in lots of popular game projects.
Fast forward to 2024, and new ideas are still being designed and refined with mixing engineers that are active in the industry. We believe it is a good time to finally launch the brand.
Today, all units are handmade by craftsmen with 10+ years of experience in Shanghai. Z&H Designs efficiently combines the UK's sound technology and the precision manufacturing roots of Shanghai, where many other popular pro audio brands make their high-end units.
Let's explore how we came up with commercially-viable solutions to the craziest ideas:
Sound like the golden days, or the brightest future.
Equipped with modern-day know-how in analog sound technology, our gear is capable of delivering an honest sound, yet the tempting replication of golden records all the way back to the 70s is just a few tweaks away.
We use plenty of high-capacity components, precisely matching transistors, and sophisticated discrete high-voltage op amps in order to facilitate the vibe of "Zen". They sound clean and clear without being tasteless. There is a sense of musical vibe which cannot be replicated by software.
In contrast, we achieve the vibe of "Hit" by introducing distortion and harmonics while keeping such characteristics enjoyable and controllable. We custom-made almost all transformers out there by hand, and experimented with almost all classical discrete driver circuits.
We eventually found the modern transformers to be quite consistent across the spectrum, while driver circuits turned out disruptive. Different combinations between transistors and driver circuits would cook very different results, defining the musical side of our gear. The subtleties of transients smoothify the sound - along with some intriguing distortion, many of our models are born with unique "Hit" expressions. Those manageable flavours are what we call the beauty of analog gear.
When Zen & Hit join forces, it reaches an harmony.
Handcrafted & verified by human, for human.
We handbuilt our first prototype, and we handbuild every unit that goes to our customer.
Before it gets shipped, a real mixing engineer will test it and sign their name, so will every craftsman who participated in the making. Boutique-grade craftsmanship does not lend itself to mass production.
We make our own parts.
The 5-year-long pursuit included initially the sourcing and eventually the making of parts.
It was quite an investment, but we managed to achieve full control over the quality, shape, texture, and color of many parts. Some affect the circuit, while some others are on the panel.
That way, customisations became possible - it is up to each customer what colour of knobs should be, and even more!
Where it is unseen, there is no compromise.
While others are switching to more affordable power supply units (PSUs), we stick with what has been proven to work well. Our linear power supply is solid as an armoured car, with extremely low ripples.
It is the same type you can find in the older equipment, providing a foundation of timeless sounds. Further costs are incurred for the cooling system to pair with this power solution.
This stands as a great example from the inside.
