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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-25 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Zoom ZDM-1 biggest strength: it's a true all-in-one starter kit — dynamic mic, ZHP-1 closed-back headphones, threaded tripod, windscreen, and XLR cable — so you can record the day it arrives.
• Zoom ZDM-1 biggest trade-off: it's XLR-only and corded, so you must already own (or plan to buy) a compatible recorder, mixer, or audio interface.
• MAONO Podcast Microphone PM320S+ biggest strength: the bundle pairs the PM320S+ podcast microphone with MH700 professional studio monitor headphones, aimed at a cleaner monitoring-first setup.
• MAONO Podcast Microphone PM320S+ biggest trade-off: the spec sheet is thin — beyond the brand and the two bundled items, there's little published detail to compare against.
• Who Zoom ZDM-1 is for: first-time podcasters who want one box, one setup, and monitoring headphones that isolate well.
• Who MAONO Podcast Microphone PM320S+ is for: buyers who specifically want studio-style monitor headphones as the centerpiece of their podcast rig.
The ZDM-1 Podcast Mic Pack is built around a dynamic microphone tuned for voice. Dynamic mics like this tend to handle close-up speech well, and the super cardioid polar pattern is designed to favor what's in front of the mic while rejecting more of the room around it. For a podcast recorded at a desk in a normal room — not a treated studio — that's a meaningful design choice. The 200-ohm impedance and 18,000 Hz frequency response describe a mic that reaches the upper end of the audible range without chasing airy, broadcast-style brightness. It's a "get your voice across clearly" tool, not a character piece.
What really separates this pack is that everything ships together. The ZHP-1 headphones are closed-back, which matters specifically for podcasting: closed-back designs isolate your ears from the outside world so you hear your own voice and your co-host or guest through the drivers, not through the room. That full-range sound makes it easier to catch a dropped level, a clipped plosive, or a guest drifting off-mic while you're still recording. The threaded tripod sets up in seconds and folds flat, and the windscreen knocks down breath noise and pops without smothering your tone — the small stuff that makes a first episode sound amateur.
Who should buy it: someone launching a first podcast, or upgrading from a laptop's built-in mic, who wants mic, monitoring, stand, cable, and pop control in one decision. Who should skip it: anyone who needs a USB plug-and-play mic, or who already owns studio headphones and a good stand and would rather spend on a single better mic. This pack is corded and XLR-only, so a recorder or interface is a requirement, not a bonus.
The MAONO Podcast Microphone PM320S+ is sold as a bundle with MH700 Professional Studio Monitor Headphones. The "monitor" label is the important part. Studio monitor headphones are designed for accurate, uncolored listening rather than the boosted bass you get from consumer headphones, which is exactly what you want when you're checking whether your podcast voice sounds right and whether levels are where they should be. The PM320S+ microphone is the other half of the bundle, giving you the capture side of a podcast setup.
Here's the honest part: the published data for this product is sparse. Beyond the brand, the ASIN, and the fact that the PM320S+ microphone and MH700 headphones are bundled together, there isn't much spec detail to work from — no published polar pattern, frequency response, or connector type in the sheet I'm comparing. That doesn't make it a bad product; it means a buyer has less to verify up front and should read the listing carefully for connection type and what's included.
Who should buy it: podcasters who already know they want studio-style monitor headphones and want a microphone bundled alongside them in one purchase. Who should skip it: anyone who needs the reassurance of a fully documented spec sheet, or who wants accessories like a stand, windscreen, and cable guaranteed in the box. If that completeness matters to you, the Zoom pack is the safer bet.
• Best for a true all-in-one starter kit → Zoom ZDM-1. Mic, headphones, tripod, windscreen, and XLR cable are all included.
• Best for podcast monitoring headphones in the box → both, honestly. The ZDM-1 includes closed-back ZHP-1 headphones; the PM320S+ includes MH700 studio monitor headphones. The difference is the flavor of monitoring, not its presence.
• Best for buyers who want published specs to compare → Zoom ZDM-1. Super cardioid pattern, 200-ohm impedance, 18,000 Hz response, 78 dB signal-to-noise ratio — the numbers are all there.
• Best for plug-and-play simplicity → neither. The ZDM-1 is XLR and corded, so a recorder or interface is required. Confirm the PM320S+ connection type on its listing before buying.
• Best for small, untreated rooms → Zoom ZDM-1. The super cardioid pattern and included windscreen are designed to manage room pickup and plosives.
• Best for recording on the move → Zoom ZDM-1. The threaded tripod folds flat for transport.
• Best for studio-monitor-style critical listening → MAONO Podcast Microphone PM320S+. The MH700 is positioned as a professional studio monitor headphone.
• Best for a documented, self-contained first setup → Zoom ZDM-1, in my opinion.
I'd buy the Zoom ZDM-1. In my opinion, a first podcast setup lives or dies on whether you can actually monitor yourself while recording, and this pack puts closed-back headphones, a voice-tuned dynamic mic, a stand, a windscreen, and the cable in one box — with a spec sheet detailed enough to know what you're getting. The MAONO PM320S+ is the more intriguing pick if you specifically want MH700 studio monitor headphones and you're comfortable confirming the details on the listing yourself. But for most people starting a podcast, the Zoom pack removes more guesswork.
why do you need headphones for a podcast
Headphones let you hear what's actually being recorded while it happens — your own voice, your co-host, and your guest through the mic rather than through the room. The ZDM-1 pack's ZHP-1 headphones are closed-back, which isolates your ears so you can catch level problems and off-mic guests during the take instead of after.
what is the best headphones for podcasting
In my opinion, closed-back headphones are the right starting point for podcasting, because isolation keeps the room out of your ears and full-range sound lets you judge your voice accurately. Both bundles here include headphones: the ZDM-1 ships with ZHP-1 closed-back headphones, and the PM320S+ ships with MH700 professional studio monitor headphones.
what are good headphones for podcasting
Good podcast headphones isolate well enough that you're hearing the recording, not the room, and reproduce a full range so you can spot a muddy voice or a clipping level. The ZHP-1 in the Zoom pack is described as closed-back with excellent isolation and full-range sound; the MH700 is positioned as a studio monitor headphone for accurate listening.
how to set up headphones for podcast
Plug the headphones into your recorder, mixer, or audio interface's headphone output, then set a comfortable monitoring level before you record — loud enough to hear detail, not so loud it bleeds into the mic. The ZDM-1 pack gives you the headphones and XLR cable to connect the mic; just pair them with a compatible interface or recorder.
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See also: KAFRI RGB Dual Headphone vs MAONO XLR/USB Dynamic Microphone, Yealink WH64 vs The Imaging World Zoom ZDM-1, YOSDOM Neckband vs P PUPGSIS Podcast Dynamic Microphone