Sennheiser Profile: Specs
Value: $199 / £177 / AU$349 (as examined with Streaming Set)
Connection: USB
Ports: USB
Condensers: Cardioid
Directional patterns: Unidirectional
Measurement: 7.2 x 4.5 x 8.7 inches
Weight: 12.3 oz (2.6 lbs with increase arm)
In relation to the very best USB microphones, top-tier names like Blue Yeti, JLab, and Shure are among the many extra common. However audio maker Sennheiser additionally has a equally versatile mannequin with the Sennheiser Profile USB microphone to present audio high quality a severe improve for every kind of purposes.
The fundamental version of the Sennheiser Profile USB microphone comes with an enough desk prime/desk stand. I like to recommend choosing the $199 Streaming Set although, which comes with a increase arm, and reworked my cluttered desk right into a studio prepared for podcasting or streaming in 5 minutes.
Sennheiser Profile evaluate: Value and availability
The Sennheiser Profile USB microphone with desk stand is obtainable at $129 by way of the Sennheiser web site (£108 / AU$239), with hyperlinks to on-line retailers together with Amazon, B&H, and Sweetwater. Alternatively, patrons can go for the $199 Profile Streaming Set as examined (£176 / AU$349), which offers price financial savings on the mic, increase arm ($99 when offered individually) and USB cable ($19).
Sennheiser Profile evaluate: Design
I put collectively the increase arm that got here within the Streaming Set field earlier than I toyed round with the mic. It’s straightforward to arrange and doesn’t add to the litter of an workplace or desk. The black steel end appears nice, and there’s a groove within the arm to suit the USB-C cable in order that it doesn’t get in the best way. An adjustable desk clamp on the backside of the arm is the precursor to that studio really feel.
The Sennheiser Profile mic itself is a ravishing piece of engineering. The entrance of the mic has 4 buttons, from prime to backside: mute/mic, acquire management, combine management (between the mic and laptop) and the headphone quantity management. The again of the mic has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB-C port.
The mute/mic button glows purple when in use, and the acquire management has a characteristic the place that very same mute/mic button will glow a yellowish orange within the presence of sizzling alerts and plosives. The combo management permits for monitoring between the mic and laptop, and the headphone quantity management is self-explanatory. With its black steel end and sturdiness, the Profile mic is a murals.
Put collectively, the mic and increase arm are a match made in heaven. The increase arm has three factors of movement for various ranges of entry, and the mic screws in simply to supply high quality sound. Each the mic and increase arm are sturdy, and sure, I spiked the mic like a pigskin soccer a number of occasions on my sofa simply to simulate the impact of getting two children beneath the age of 5. Plug the USB-C cable into your laptop, and also you’ll see a inexperienced mild. It’s time to go.
Sennheiser Profile evaluate: Sound high quality
In brief, the sound high quality is wonderful. I’ve been podcasting for near 10 years, so I perceive the significance of controlling plosives and different high-frequency alerts. With that stated, even a novice can perceive that seeing the yellowish-orange LED mild means to take warning with the acquire management and with your individual quantity. Take the acquire down a bit, or transfer again from the mic. Such a plug-and-play know-how is nice and can assist anybody on their strategy to nice audio shows.
Whereas the externals of the mic and the increase arm are essential, what actually counts is on the within. Sennheiser’s trademark German engineering reveals up within the type of a cardioid condenser capsule that gives an excellent sound and retains out the stuff we don’t need. The sound high quality would possibly change a bit with a desk stand, however one of many nice benefits that comes with a increase arm is that the tapping on a desk or inadvertent bumps don’t present up almost as a lot within the enhancing course of. The truth is, I recorded a session with the Profile and didn’t must edit something out because of background noise or plosives. First-time customers ought to be capable of learn the fast begin information and make nice sounding recordings like a professional.
Nonetheless, the presence of a pop filter would have been helpful. It appears petty as a result of the sound actually is amazingly clear. However each little bit helps when constructing your recording setup.
Sennheiser Profile evaluate: Verdict
My extra skilled mic setup is the Rode Podcaster, which is a multi-mic setup that is put in in my major workplace. At residence, my Blue Yeti setup — ranked prime in our greatest USB microphones shopping for information — has now been changed by the Sennheiser Profile champion.
The explanations for changing the Blue Yeti are the Sennheiser’s performance and professionality — it’s cool to have a mic in tow with out having the litter {that a} mic with a base entails. The Sennheiser Profile turns any workplace right into a recording studio inside minutes and works remarkably nicely with audio and visible shows.
I might have simply given this mic 5 stars for its design flexibility and efficiency, however the lack of a pop filter retains it from an ideal rating. Do not let this cease you from attempting out this masterpiece of a USB microphone although.
