Z&H Designs originated in 2018. It took 5 years of R&D before the first commercially viable model came out, leading to the brand's official launch in 2024. Today, Z&H is based in the United Kingdom, continuing its mission to create premium, handcrafted pro audio gear for modern studios.
Z&H Designs is rooted in a global community of audio engineers. Over 30 engineers from the UK, EU, and US participated in the development and testing of Z&H's models, providing feedback on aesthetic presentation and hardware performance. The community included several Grammy Award winners and many content creators specializing in Hip-hop, Reggae, Soul, Pop, Jazz, Rock, and other genres. As a result, Z&H has gained deep insights into diverse markets for pro audio gear.
Apart from analog technicians, Z&H gathered a team of talented music producers and audio engineers in-house. Each design stays for one year in our commercial studio, undergoing rigorous testing on high-budget projects. Before a model gets launched, it would have been listened to by a million ears to ensure it meets both pro audio standards and audience approval.
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.
