I’d be lying if I said I didn’t underestimate the overall quality of these kids headphones. Being labeled as for “kids” and looking at the ridiculously low price, I wasn’t expecting any meaningful qualities that would make them worth my time. But once I put them on and started listening to the Zamkol ZH100s, that was when I realized I was actually enjoying myself. As these headphones are aimed towards kids, I also decided to get the help of my little kid sister in providing me with her inputs for this review, but more on that later.
Company Overview
The Zamkol brand has been dedicated in developing, manufacturing, and marketing premium electronic products. They strive to keep the “customer first” mindset by making sure their products are always up to quality. In their case, they’ve mostly been handling and selling portable Bluetooth speakers, with several models already being made. However, the ZH100s are their very first take on headphones. Time will tell if they will continue with the kid-friendly headphones direction, or branch out to more premium options for adults.
Technical Specifications
Volume-limiting Switch: 85dB / 95dB Weight: 289g Form Factor: Over-ear Microphone: Yes Batteries: 1 Lithium Polymer batteries (included) Battery Life: 40 hours Bluetooth Version: 5.0
Packaging
The ZH100 comes in a brown box with a lot of plastic padding and cardboard to ensure a snug fit inside the outer box. The box itself is brightly colored orange, with the ZH100’s design plastered on both sides. It’s a simple white and orange box containing a few accessories and is definitely what you’d expect within this price range. My only concern would be that the box had a bit of damage on the upper lip (where you’d open the box), which is surprising to me since it was sufficiently cushioned with plastic padding and cardboard.
In the box
The Zamkol ZH100 kids wireless headphones Micro USB charging cable Zamkol carrying pouch User manual
Design
Right off the bat the first thing I notice is the bright combination of orange and blue. While I’m not personally a fan of the aesthetic, these colors appeal to younger kids while making it easier to spot for the adults. You and your kids won’t have to worry about misplacing the headphones since the eye-popping colors will make it hard to miss. While I can definitely see heads being turned while wearing the ZH100 as a fully grown adult, it does spark feelings of nostalgia. The color scheme reminds me of those Nickelodeon lunchbox sets which every single kid begged their parents to get back in the 90s. One of the other things that surprised me would be the overall feel and design of the headphones. At its current price, I was expecting a more flimsy build quality, but was shocked with how sturdy it felt in my hands. The matte finish gives it a “semi-premium” feel, if such a thing ever existed. When it comes to durability, I love the fact that Zamkol reinforced the retractable headband sliders with metal instead of plastic. Kids don’t exactly have the lightest of touch when it comes to handling their devices, which is why this small change can ensure the headphones’ longevity in a child’s hands. I can tell that these can take quite a beating. I asked my sister for comments regarding the overall design of the headphones and this is what she had to say: I’d have to agree with her in saying that it’d be nice if there were other colors or different design choices, but I’m not complaining with its current iteration. It makes for a great gift for both boys and girls because of its unisex design.
Comfort
The ZH100s have plush padded earpads that are just large enough to fit over my ears. The earpads are pretty soft and are comfortable to wear. I have no problems wearing these for extended periods of time because the fabric is breathable as well. I was expecting to feel irritated wearing these headphones with my glasses on, but with how soft the pads are, it didn’t pose a problem at all. The headband cushion that sits just on top of my head adds to the overall comfortable feel of the headphones. I think one of the main reasons why I find them so comfortable is that I have a small to medium sized head. I know this because I don’t need to extend the retractable sliders all the way to get a proper fit. I can imagine other people with larger head shapes can feel constrained or uncomfortable wearing these. I asked my sister for comments regarding the overall comfort of the headphones and this is what she had to say:
ZH100 Sound
When it comes to the overall sound quality of the ZH100s, I’ll be honest and say that I have mixed feelings about it. However, as I am not the main demographic of these headphones, I believe it would be fair to acknowledge that kids may experience the sound differently than I do.
Bass
As someone who listens to music with a lot of bass, I am quite disappointed with the ZH100s performance in this aspect. Don’t expect any deep kicks, thumpiness, or any kind of detailed bass in your music. The bass seems almost non-existent, and I would honestly believe this to be true if I didn’t try my best to listen for it. Oh it’s there, but just barely hanging on to dear life. Bassheads please avert your eyes and look somewhere else.
Midrange
Now this is where the ZH100s shine. Vocals are distinct and clear with no distortions whatsoever. Whether I was listening to music, watching a tutorial on YouTube, or in a call with someone, the voices definitely stood out and took center stage. I’m not necessarily saying that these headphones provide the best midrange detail, but for what it’s worth, I think it does a good job at it.
Treble
When listening to the higher pitched sounds, these headphones came out sounding adequate. There are hints of distortions especially within the higher ranges of music as it would sometimes create this “screamy” effect, but other than that, I don’t see any immediate problems within this aspect. I’m pretty sure kids wouldn’t think twice about this and would probably not notice it in the first place.
Microphone
While testing the ZH100s out, the microphone is exactly what I expected. My voice is audible and understandable, not exactly crystal clear, but definitely suitable for voice calls.
Volume-control
Because these headphones are for kids, I’m glad to see (more like hear) that the volume-control is relevant. To me, the audio volume is quite low even when set to the maximum level, but that just goes to show that it is working as intended. You can rest easy knowing that your kids won’t have the chance to expose themselves to hazardous levels of noise. I asked my sister for comments regarding the overall sound of the headphones and this is what she had to say:
Where to Buy
Additionally, you can get 35% off of your purchase if you use the promo code T8U76VFX. Hurry though, this promo code is only valid from 2021-1-13 00:01PST to 2021-01-18 23:59PST.
Conclusion
For what you’re getting at the price you’re paying, the Zamkol ZH100 is definitely a steal. While specifically aimed at younger users, I can definitely see the appeal of these headphones for older kids as well. Hit or miss, you ask? Well, they kinda pulled off both. On one hand, I love the overall build quality, comfort, functionality, and how the voices/vocals sound on these headphones. On the other, some music tracks sound absolutely atrocious without any semblance of bass supporting it. Regardless, I’d still recommend these headphones for what they can offer. I believe they’d make for a great gift that any kid (or adult) can appreciate.
