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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-05 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Zoom Zum-2 — biggest strength: It's a full podcast starter pack: a supercardioid USB condenser mic with 78 dB signal-to-noise ratio, plus ZHP-2 closed-back headphones (40mm neodymium driver, 68 ohm, 3-meter cable) designed specifically for accurate monitoring while you record.
• Zoom Zum-2 — biggest trade-off: The headphones are a monitoring tool inside a kit, not a general-purpose listening pair — they're wired, tied to your recording setup, and the mic needs a PC or Mac with a USB port.
• ARTIX Headphones — biggest strength: A simple, durable wired on-ear headphone with an inline mic and volume control, 40mm dynamic drivers, 32 ohm impedance, and plug-and-play 3.5mm compatibility with almost anything — computers, tablets, phones, consoles.
• ARTIX Headphones — biggest trade-off: Wired only, no Bluetooth, no active noise cancellation — the "noise isolation" is passive, from the cushioned on-ear fit, so it won't erase a loud room.
• Buy Zoom Zum-2 if you're actually producing a podcast and want mic and monitoring headphones matched for that job.
• Buy ARTIX Headphones if you need a cheap, tough everyday wired headphone for library listening, online classes, calls, or travel.
The Zoom Zum-2 is a podcast production kit first and a headphone purchase second. The centerpiece is the ZUM-2 USB condenser mic with a supercardioid pickup pattern — that pattern is aimed at rejecting room noise and off-axis sound so your voice sits forward in the mix. The included ZHP-2 closed-back headphones exist to serve that mic: closed-back design gives you isolation from what's happening in the room, and the 40mm neodymium driver with 68 ohm impedance is voiced for full-range monitoring while you track. A 3-meter cable means you can sit back from the desk without yanking the plug out.
Who should skip it: if you mostly want headphones for music, commuting, or studying — not recording — you're paying for a microphone, tripod and windscreen you won't use, and you're locked to a wired connection to a computer. In my opinion, the Zoom Zum-2 only makes sense once you've committed to actually recording. Also worth noting: it's USB-only, single-channel, and the warranty is listed as one year replacement.
ARTIX Headphones: Who It's For
The ARTIX Headphones are the opposite kind of product: one job done simply. They're wired on-ear headphones with a 3.5mm aux jack, 40mm dynamic drivers, 32 ohm impedance and 88 dB sensitivity — an easy load for a phone, tablet, Chromebook or laptop to drive without a headphone amp. The inline remote gives you a mic for calls, meetings and gaming, plus volume control (noting the spec sheet: volume control works on mobile devices only). Plug them into a PC, Mac, PS4/PS5 or Xbox and they just work.
The pitch here is focus and durability, not studio accuracy. The soft cushioned ear cups and adjustable headband are built for all-day wear, and the passive noise isolation from the on-ear fit helps block out distractions while you study, commute or work. The foldable over-ear-style design and metal-and-plastic build make them easy to toss in a bag — which is exactly why they keep showing up in "back to school" and library contexts. If you want sweatproof headphones for library sessions, note that the sheet doesn't claim a sweat or water rating, so treat them as a quiet-space headphone rather than gym gear.
Who should skip them: anyone who wants wireless. There's no Bluetooth and no rechargeable battery here — that rules them out if you need the best long battery life Bluetooth headset for library use. They're also not a monitoring headphone for recording; the inline mic is for calls and casual voice chat, not for capturing a broadcast-quality podcast vocal.
• Best for recording a podcast → Zoom Zum-2. The supercardioid USB mic plus closed-back ZHP-2 monitoring headphones are designed as one workflow.
• Best for listening, calls and study → ARTIX Headphones. 3.5mm plug-and-play, inline mic, 32 ohm — works with nearly any device you already own.
• Best for room-noise rejection while recording → Zoom Zum-2. Supercardioid pickup pattern and 78 dB signal-to-noise ratio are working in your favor.
• Best for passive isolation in a library → ARTIX Headphones. On-ear cushioned cups and a snug adjustable headband cut ambient distractions.
• Best for travel and packing → ARTIX Headphones. Foldable design and lighter build; the Zoom kit is a desk-and-tripod setup.
• Best for a beginner who owns nothing → Zoom Zum-2. Mic, headphones, tripod, windscreen and cable in one box, no drivers.
• Best for wireless freedom → neither. Both are wired. Zoom uses USB-C to USB-A; ARTIX uses a 3.5mm jack.
• Best for budget-first buyers → ARTIX Headphones. If you only need a headphone and not a mic, don't buy a kit.
For podcast production, I'd buy the Zoom Zum-2. In my opinion, the value of having the mic, monitoring headphones, tripod and windscreen matched to each other — and knowing the headphones are closed-back with a 3-meter cable for tracking — beats buying a random headphone and hoping the mic keeps up. If your actual need is a for-library headphone for listening, classes and calls, skip the kit and take the ARTIX Headphones: lighter, foldable, 3.5mm everywhere, and built for quiet focus. Two different jobs, two different answers — pick the one that matches what you're doing this week, then check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
You need headphones so you can hear your own voice and the mix while you record. On the Zoom Zum-2, the included ZHP-2 closed-back headphones provide isolation and full-range sound with a 40mm neodymium driver and 68 ohm impedance, which lets you monitor accurately without room sound bleeding into your ears or your mic.
It depends on the job. For recording and monitoring, I'd point to the closed-back ZHP-2 headphones included with the Zoom Zum-2, because closed-back isolation plus a 3-meter cable suits tracking at a desk. For casual listening, calls and study, the ARTIX Headphones cover that with 40mm dynamic drivers and a 3.5mm plug.
If you already own a mic, the ARTIX Headphones are the simpler spend: wired, 3.5mm, inline mic and volume control, 32 ohm so they're easy to drive. If you own nothing, the Zoom Zum-2 kit usually makes more sense because the headphones come bundled with the mic, tripod, windscreen and USB cable.
With the Zoom Zum-2, plug the ZUM-2 mic into your PC or Mac using the included 2-meter USB-C to USB-A cable — no drivers — and connect the ZHP-2 headphones to your monitoring output. With the ARTIX Headphones, plug the 3.5mm aux cord into your computer, tablet or phone and use the inline control for volume and calls.
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