Six tracks of perfect, clip-free audio for music, film and podcasts. The Zoom H6essential is a 6-track handy recorder with 32-bit float recording, four XLR/TRS inputs and Zoom’s interchangeable capsule system 3.0. It is part of Zoom’s Essential Series, the first handy recorders with accessibility features.
Why customers choose it
Who it is for
Bands and ensembles (mic four instruments plus stereo room sound), podcasters with up to four guests, filmmakers who need XLR inputs and timecode, and content creators who want simple, safe recording.
Specifications
| Built-in mic (XYH-6e) | 90° XY, unidirectional, -42 dB/1 Pa, 135 dB SPL |
|---|---|
| Inputs | 4 x XLR/TRS combo (locking), +48 V phantom |
| EIN | -120 dBu or less (XLR, IHF-A) |
| Recording | WAV 44.1/48/96 kHz 32-bit float; MP3 128-320 kbps |
| Tracks | 8 record, 6 playback |
| Media | microSDHC / microSDXC up to 1 TB |
| Outputs | 3.5 mm line out, 3.5 mm headphones, built-in speaker |
| Display | 2.0-inch full-colour LCD |
| USB | USB-C, 6-in/2-out audio interface, 24-bit / 32-bit float |
| Power | 4 x AA, AD-17 (5 V 1 A) or USB bus power |
| Battery life | About 18 h alkaline (2-track), 3.5 h (6-track) |
| Dimensions | 78.1 (W) x 160.1 (D) x 42.8 (H) mm (recorder) |
| Weight | 381 g with batteries (recorder), XYH-6e 42 g |
| Type | 6-track 32-bit float handy recorder |
| USB Audio Interface | 6 in / 2 out, 32-bit float |
| Compatible Devices | Camera |
| Headphones Jack | No headphones jack |
| Number of Batteries | 4 AAA batteries required. |
| Screen Size Unit of Measure | 2 Inches |
| Microphone Operation Mode | Stereo |
| UPC | 635414905940 |
| Box Contents | ZH6e |
Good to know
- BTA-1 Bluetooth adapter and TCA-1 timecode adapter are not included. With BTA-1 you get iOS app control and wireless timecode from ATOMOS UltraSync BLUE.
- Battery life drops when recording all six tracks with headphones.
- Optional: APH-6e accessory pack, AD-17 adapter, HS-1 hot shoe mount.
FAQ
H6essential or H6studio?
Both have 4 XLR inputs and 32-bit float. The H6studio adds 16/24-bit recording with gain knobs, larger 19.4 mm XY mics and up to 192 kHz.
Can I use older H6 capsules?
Zoom lists the 3.0 capsules (XYH-6e, SSH-6e, EXH-6e) for 32-bit float support.
Talk to Suhavi
Aniruddha –
Some flaws but okay
Beware that XLR/TRS preamps are pretty noisy & mic levels are difficult to tweak buried beneath the menus.
The navigation for file system is archaic and follows (date_hhmmyy) naming convention.
However its okay to capture room ambience.
For direct sources as long as the source is atleast 6 feet away you should be fine.
The output speakers obv have no headroom so playing back heavily distorted guitars and drums can be done at around 85-90% volume if you are reviewing the recordings.
Overall it will compress less than your smartphone mic & records PCM WAVs without turning your PC/Laptop on.
If that is your use case then my suggestion is get a touchscreen one.
Camparod –
ROYAL!
Cet enregistreur vous facilite la vie, très intuitif d’utilisation. Parfait pour enregistrer plusieurs pistes. Pour ma part, j’ai un micro par enceinte et le micro intégré dirigé vers la guitare + un micro sur perche pour la voix. Parfait.
alfredo ramirez soto –
buena
llebo unos meses con ella, y hasta ahorita me a funcionado muy bien. la uso mas como interfás pero e echo algunas grabaciones y tiene muy buena calidad, aun faltan descubrir como funcionan bien algunas otras configuraciones, pero sin dudarlo la recomendaria para un uso desde iniciante hasta profecional.
Al L –
Highly recommended
Love this product. Works in professional audio recording environments.
Calvin Jones –
Outstanding recorder at an unbeatable price
Fantastic recorder — and at €159 on Amazon.ie an absolute steal — I was looking at lower models in the range and spotted the H6E was cheaper.
32 Bit Float, 4 XLR inputs, decent XY interchangeable mic capsule. Excellent sound quality, ultimate convenience, and at that price I’d give it 10 stars if I could.
3 to 1 Video, LLC –
Possibly the Best Field Recorder Currently on the Market
Love this recorder. It’s as close to a “set it and forget it” audio recorder as I’ve ever had. The 32-bit float recording ability is amazing. For the price, this is possibly the best field recorder on the market right now.
One thing I really like about this one over the H4 Essential is that it uses 4 AA batteries rather than 2. The H4 Essential will only record for around 30-40 minutes at 32-bit float if you’re using mics with phantom power turned on. I found this out the hard way when I used it to record a choir performance and it died a little over halfway through. I probably should have expected that result since phantom power really drains the batteries.
It’s easy to use and their aren’t that many settings.