Sennheiser Profile USB Review / Test (vs. Blue Yeti, NT-USB+, AT2020X-USB)

HQ Audio Of Review: podcastage.com/rev/profileusb
Today I review a new USB mic from Sennheiser, the Profile. This thing offers an inoffensive sound that will work for people who don't want to think about audio, but I don't think it sounds amazing. The low end is controlled, the mids are a bit forward but not overly nasally, and the top end is a bit relaxed compared to USB condensers around the same price. The feature set is also really nice if you don't want software on your computer, and the build quality feels great.
Buy the Sennheiser Profile USB (Affiliate Link)
Amazon: geni.us/profusb
Sweetwater: sweetwater.sjv.io/profusb
B&H Photo: bhpho.to/3OLr6uh
Thomann: www.thomannmusic.com/sennheis...
NOTE (FULL DISCLOSURE): As an associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info check my FAQ page links below.
RECORDING SETTINGS:
Conversion: 24-bit / 48kHz
Mic Gain: ~2:00
Computer Level: 100%
Boosted in Post: +7dB
SPECS:
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Freq Response : 20Hz - 20kHz
Sensitivity: -50dB
Max SPL: 125dB
Equivalent Noise: 34dBA (min gain), / 28dBA (max gain)
Bit Depth: 16/24-bit
Sample Rate: 44.1/48kHz
Headphone Freq Response: 20Hz - 18.5kHz
00:00 - Intro / Price / Disclaimer
00:22 - What’s in the Box
00:43 - Build Quality / Walkthrough
01:41 - Specifications
01:52 - Polar Pattern Test (Tone / Rotation)
02:11 - Plosive Test
02:24 - Distance Test / Proximity Effect Test
02:45 - Background Noise Test
03:00 - Untreated Room Test
03:20 - Shock Rejection Test
03:37 - Mic Resonance Tap Test
03:50 - Mute Button Test
04:05 - Desktop Stand Test
04:35 - Intro to Comparison
05:17 - Razer Seiren Mini Comparison
05:45 - Samson C01u Pro Comparison
06:08 - Blue Snowball Comparison
06:39 - Samson Q2u Comparison
07:08 - Blue Yeti (Original) Comparison
07:43 - Rode NT-USB Mini Comparison
08:08 - Blue Yeti Nano Comparison
08:38 - Elgato Wave 3 Comparison
09:07 - Audio Technica AT2020X-USB Comparison
09:37 - Rode NT-USB+ Comparison
10:03 - Blue Yeti X Comparison
10:39 - Neumann U87 Ai Comparison
11:04 - Music Test
12:28 - Pros & Cons
13:35 - Overall Thoughts
15:14- Recommendation
19:24 - Outro
#USB #Condenser #MicReview
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Company Relationship Disclosure: podcastage.com/disclosure
Personal: www.bandrewscott.com
My KZbin Setup: podcastage.com/studio
My Favorite XLR Mics: podcastage.com/rev/favxlr
My Favorite USB Mics: podcastage.com/rev/favusb

[@frausty5577]

Been in this channel for quite some time. You know, you're a blessing to many people. Your videos provide both useful information AND a nice time, something that is hard to achieve when a review is this detailed. I just think you don't get enough praise so I'm trying to make up for that.

[@Podcastage]

Wow! That means a lot to me Frausty, I really appreciate that. Thank you for the kind words. I hope you have a fantastic rest of your week.

[@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole]

I think Bandrew should host the Grammys.

[@V4NDIT]

its not sad bro, thanks for doing a community service !im currently looking for a mic and you testing lots of them is giving me a clear vision of what i want.

[@yaona.lifestyle]

Thank you so much for testing different distances from the mic🤩 this is super useful. what a thorough review!!

[@Podcastage]

You're very welcome. Thanks for watching and for the kind words. Glad it was useful.

[@MarlonGaldamez]

the lyrics that you do for all the music test in your videos makes me so happy, keep it up Man, your content is the best!

[@Podcastage]

Thanks so much Marlon, that means a lot. I just try to have fun with it.

[@jarnix2]

the sound of this microphone seems really natural, like it very much. Thank you for the complete test GG.

[@curtisjudd]

Really appreciate your perspective on the Profile, Bandrew, Thanks so much for this and everything you share here!

[@Podcastage]

You're very welcome Curtis! Thank YOU so much for all you do. You're the best.

[@floor.mp3]

Sorry for commenting on your videos so much but I've just been watching you so much since i found your channel like a week ago, i can't get enough! so informative and calming to listen to. and i absolutely love the face you make when you say "kind of" maybe im weird but hey good job on the video ur such a great guy

[@ethan.......]

Came for the review. Stayed for the vibes. Not many reviews can make me laugh so you’re definitely doing something right!

[@Podcastage]

Thanks Ethan, I really appreciate the kind words and you taking the time out of your day to watch.

[@j_bubblez279]

yr videos are something me and my friends always come back to when its time to get another mic. ❤

[@Podcastage]

I am honored. Thank you so much for watching.

[@b_shulha]

Hey man, thanks for all you are doing to give truly useful reviews. The best series I have ever seen. Just bought Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set (it comes together with a "hand"), and now I understand how bad I sounded on all my important meetings. :D This thing is really awesome for someone who doesn't need super-high-quality sound and lots of controls, as it is really just plug-n-play. I didn't have to make any configurations to start recording with my Mac. 5 out of 5 for amateur voice recordings.

[@MikeBurton-td5jg]

Nice one Bandrew. When you can make a review of what is basically a pretty bland microphone interesting then you’re doing an excellent job. Greetings from the depths of the West of England where it’s drizzly.

[@Podcastage]

That really means a lot Mike. Thank you so much. I'm glad the video is interesting. I hope it brought some light to your drizzly day in the West of England. Happy recording!

[@pierremayer94]

Thank you for taking the time to set this up.

[@pacmanwa]

Thank you for mentioning where the product is made. This does factor into my purchasing decisions when there are choices.

[@Podcastage]

You're very welcome. Manufacturing location is a consideration when I am making personal purchases so I like to include so people can make the most informed decision. Glad it helps.

[@fluphybunny930]

Don't know how we got here Bandrew but just seeing you have a review up makes me happy lol

[@Podcastage]

Glad you enjoy it.

[@AldousTyler]

I think the only thing I was missing here was the price comparison on the various models. That's always very handy, as even though the price can vary a bit, it DOES give a value contrast.

[@IcecalGamer]

Same here. I missed the $$$ comparison. ;_;

[@Podcastage]

Yes it does. I just had a stack of usb mics on my desk and I thought "I don't want to look up and verify all the prices" while I was recording. And then only realized I had to look them up anyway in order to place them in order from lowest to highest price. I gave myself a false sense of laziness.

[@AldousTyler]

@@Podcastage ah, live and learn, I guess? :)

[@captainvector]

Sennheiser Profile USB $129 Razer Seiren Mini $50 Samson C01u Pro $90 Blue Snowball $70 Samson Q2u $70 Blue Yeti $130 Rode NT-USB Mini $99 Blue Yeti Nano $100 Elgato Wave 3 $150 AT2020USB-X $129 Rode NT-USB+ $169 Blue Yeti X $170 Neumann U87ai $3500 All prices as of this date at Sweetwater or MSRP for bare mic or standard selling configuration

[@OlexanderZnaharenkoUA]

Hi. I'm glad what have found your channel. I have helped my friend to choose a good microphone. Blue jetty classic. We spent 7 hours listening different microphones. And your channel was best from all I've seen. Thanks 😊

[@OlexanderZnaharenkoUA]

I want to buy Shure mv7. Because it sounds same to xlr version. And I LOVE it's sound. 😊 Good luck 😊

[@Podcastage]

I'm honored to have been able to help you and your friend find the right mic. I hope they treat you well and you have a great time recording.

[@OlexanderZnaharenkoUA]

@@Podcastage my friend has bought. I've not. Maybe later, if I'll get some money). Now I have Behringer c 1 and old Swissonic usb studio d. It's ok for "starter pack" working with recording.😊

[@unafflicted]

WOOOOO LETS GOOO, I've been waiting for this one!

[@Podcastage]

It has finally arrived.

[@kuntalgo]

This is the most comprehensive review of Sennheiser Profile Mic. Thanks a ton. I purchased it after watching your video. May be in future I will consider Elgato and Rode for their software capabilities.

[@marcosboav]

Thanks for another great review!

[@Podcastage]

You're very welcome. Thank you for watching!

[@travsmac]

My wife was wondering what was up with the hoodie, Bandrew. Thanks for clearing that up!

[@Podcastage]

I'm glad I could provide clarification that was as clear as mud. It's an answer no one ever wants to hear: "I don't know".

[@noodlotgg350]

It's not sad bro! You are helping me to get a new mic (and you helped me with my old shure). I still think this is a good one just for the arm bundle though, and i want it for streaming, so the simpler the better, BUT we'll see. Are you going to review that Rode headset you have shown lately? Those are also in my list (some others sound youtubers are using them already) and i would like to know your thoughts

[@Podcastage]

I'm glad to know that the video was helpful for you. I hope the mic bundle works out well for you. I do not plan on reviewing the Rode headphones that I wear. I have left the headphone review side of things to the masters of headphone reviewing, so I'd suggest checking to see if The Headphone Show, DMS, Crinacle, etc have covered them because they can cover headphones in a way and to a level I would never be able to.

[@techmed-rainer]

Hallo Bandrew, greetings of an earthling. I liked how you sound on the Sennheiser profile. I didn't like the electric guitar, it sounded a bit harsh and artificial. The acoustic guitar was fine for me. For me it sonically outperformed all Blues and the Samsons. When compared with the the different Rode variants I would slightly prefer some of those. The Profile's self noise is a bummer, though. What I like about this microphone is it's plug and play functionality with no need of proprietary software. Thank you so much for this thorough review.

[@Podcastage]

Rainer - Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on the mic. I think it's perfectly acceptable on my voice, it's just not my favorite sound. The self noise is a bit of a drawback, but as you say the plug and play nature is going to be a big selling point for people. I think Audio Technica and Sennheiser are really wise to be going this route, because with all the conference calling that's been happening over the last few years people need mics like this and for a corporate computer you can't have a bunch of recording software.

[@johnheiser2604]

I love it. The Sennheiser rejects more ambient noise than any of the other USB mics I have used which I think totals 10.

[@Podcastage]

It does a pretty decent job at that. I noticed it in the keyboard test and in the untreated room test. Also pretty surprised by the shock rejection on this thing, they did that really well.

[@francescofarina5331]

wow, great review. Thank you!

[@Podcastage]

Thank you so much Francesco, that means a lot.

[@kanny8742]

First saw his video 3 years ago, Now that I was in market to buy a mic I immediately remembered him

[@user-rx8ex3jg4q]

Hello, I wanted to express my gratitude for your excellent review! I genuinely learned a lot about the microphone from your video. In the video, you mentioned that the microphone offers zero-latency monitoring and computer playback. I was wondering if this means that I can hear my voice without any delay while also listening to PC audio through the headphone connection to the microphone. Thank you once again for the informative review!

[@Podcastage]

That is exactly what it means. Zero latency monitoring means that you can hear what the microphone hears with no noticeable delay. So you can hear your voice and the computer playback simultaneously.

[@chillpengeru]

How do you loop your voice back through your headset? Can you do this without plugging your headset into the mic?

[@iu1191]

Thanks for such a comprehensive video. I have been looking for a mic that I should get for my setup. I was committed to the Samson Q9U, thinking I would grow with it, and the XLR would be a good thing if I did. However, I play to podcast and am not planning to do anything else. If I really need to do anything else, I will get another mic, but in the 5 or so years I have been working with things, I have mainly used a USB mic. I am thinking about the interface that I might get, but I have absolutely no need for an interface at this time. Nothing whatsoever. This mic fits the bill for me completely, and your video helped me make the decision. Additionally, it is cheaper than every mic I compared it to, and the sound is just what I need. It also has more physical controls than any of the mics that are in its price range. I just can't find a con that makes it a no deal vs a USB/XLR mic. I am not learning an instrument and am not planning to get into audio. I just need a podcasting mic. I want to have it with my PC and be able to have it work with that and possibly a tablet and maybe my phone. This mic does what I need and much more. Thanks for the video. Saved me some money and helped me feel good about meeting the needs that I have and not creating needs that I don't. Not saying I will never need an XLR mic, but I do not have any of the needs that spending on one would have. The killer feature that made me want to get this over the Samson Q9U is the noise rejection. I am a fairly energetic speaker on a podcast and sometimes touch the mic. My podcast partner, who has been doing some of the editing, mentioned that he had to take out some of that noise because I was touching the mic. Given I have to change mics - it makes sense to get one with great touch rejection. The Q9U does not have that. It is very good for not taking on noises from around the room, but it is not good for rejecting noises to do with touching the microphone. Thanks again. Now you know my whole situation - if you have any further thoughts - please let me know - in the meantime, both are on the way, and I am leaning very hard towards keeping the Sennheiser and sending the Samson back. (Saving me at least 50%). If you have any other thoughts, I would love to get them. Thanks again.

[@tushar.rastogi_official]

Thanks for this video you made my day, I was eagerly looking for a good USB condenser microphone. I am singing from my school times and just got the job after completing my college. Now I feel like setting up my home studio so that I can pursue my hobby, but didn't know a word about it. Hence going for a USB microphone as a beginner. Here in India I can have this microphone in less then $100 USD during sale, the perfect price I was looking to begin with. Thank you so much for putting such effort in your videos and keeping us out of dilemma. Really appreciate your work, God bless, keep going, lots of love from India 🇮🇳❤.

[@Podcastage]

Thank you for the incredibly kind comment. Congratulations on the new job and with the home studio. Have fun pursuing your hobby and singing, I wish you all the joy you can get from it.

[@mdspluswidelec]

Thank you for this great review! I was ready to get this mic (over the Rode NT USB+) but after reading the comments I’m not so sure! Of these two, which one would you suggest for indoor voice/talking recording with iPhone 13 Pro Max (lighting connection) Is Sennheiser profile even compatible with iPhone if I get the USB c to lighting cable?

[@zess_]

제품의 객관적인 장점, 단점을 설명해줘서 많은 도움이 되었어요! 당신 덕분에 구매하기로 결정했습니다. 이렇게 자세하게 영상을 제작하기까지 많은 시간과 노력이 필요했을 거 같아요. 너무나 감사드리고 앞으로도 좋은 영상으로 만나길 기대하겠습니다! 고맙습니다!

[@IPerfectDark]

You clearly know your stuff. This is only my second day looking into microphones, and this video was very helpful. What I'd really like though is a solid recommendation. If this isn't the best microphone for under £250, I want to know what is. The only other one I'm looking at currently is the Rode NT-USB+. I prefer the sound on the Rode, but I'm put off by the lack of mute button as I know at times I want to cough or fart and I'd like the ability to quickly mute it without going into software. Am I asking too much? I'm willing to spend more if needed.

[@J_International]

I bought the Rode NT USB+ and have had endless audio issues like clicking, popping and scraping sounds that occur at random times. I used it on a Windows Laptop so perhaps it would be better with a Mac. The Rode software is required to use the microphone as well. The Sennheiser profile has lower sound quality but fewer audio issues in my experience.

[@ateliersgraphica]

Thanks for this video!

[@Podcastage]

You're very welcome. Thank you fro watching and commenting, I very much appreciate it.

[@wtulin1970]

You know you've made an impact when many of your viewers look forward to Tuesdays even if they aren't mic shopping. That said, I think there's something missing here. Sure, podcastage is great, bandrew says is great, but it's time you finally pursued your true dream. The podcastage ASMR channel. You're ready, I know you are...

[@Podcastage]

That really means a lot Wtulin. I'm honored that you spend a portion of your day watching the videos and hanging out talking about gear in the comments. However, I will eat a sticker before I start an ASMR channel. HAHA!

[@wtulin1970]

@@Podcastage a guy can dream...

[@prabhugandham]

I loved your all reviews please can you review The Mackie Condenser Microphone, USB (EM-Carbon)?!

[@Podcastage]

Thanks so much for the suggestion. I don't currently have one, and don't have one on order so it's nothing that will happen any time soon. I really do appreciate the recommendation though and perhaps I'll give it a shot in the future.

[@lucas_92]

Great review! You and Tom Buck are crushing the mic game. I personally still prefer the NT USB+ because of the stronger bass for voice recordings and singing. That said - I had to apply a 150 Hz high-pass filter and the aural exciter to record an acoustic guitar. The profile may do better with instruments out of the box.

[@Podcastage]

That's so nice of you to say Lucas, thank you. Tom Buck is an absolute legend and does such amazing work, so thank you for including me in any list with him. I'm glad you were able to find the right mic for you and that it's working well for you. Have fun with the recordings.

[@lucas_92]

@@Podcastage Thanks! Keep up the great work!

[@markusz1956]

Thank you for your video. Which mic would you recommend when it comes to eliminating as much background noise as possible in a gaming chat (aircon, music, TV, etc.)? Greetings from Switzerland....

[@Podcastage]

I don't have an absolute answer there. That's something I'd need to do further testing and ranking on to determine. Sorry I cannot give you an answer immediately.

[@9RepeatingMonkeys]

I wish you seperated these videos, the pros/cons, overall thoughts recommendations section and the actual full testing work way better as different videos for me, I wanna know the thoughts and opinions before I spend the 10 or so minutes to listen to testing

[@9RepeatingMonkeys]

I skip to the end btw, but just letting you know because it would likely get a lot more views

[@markcalaway6249]

"Hello, Neumann"....gets me every time. So unfair, but it's a staple. Thanks Bandrew.

[@Podcastage]

Thank you for saying that .I had someone tell me I need to stop doing it because it throws off the listening sample and makes it useless.

[@attaboyBrad]

I saw your "Bandrew Says Podcast" logo in the background and my first thought was "whoa! this guy listens to Bandrew too?!". Brains are dumb.

[@Podcastage]

Are you kidding me? I'd never listen to that hack Bandrew. That guys crazy!

[@aidanperdomo5485]

Hello, I'm thinking about buying a USB microphone to sing, but I can't decide which one to choose. At the moment the following ones attract a lot of attention: Rode NT-USB Mini, Sennheiser Profile, Rode X XCM-50 and Rode NT-USB+. What order would you put them in (with the intention of singing)?

[@Podcastage]

I haven't used the XCM-50, I like the Sennheiser the least out of the mics I've tried and out of the USB Mini and NT-USB+, I personally prefer the sound of the NT-USB+.

[@johnnychipello919]

You rock Bandrew

[@uncle-english]

4:35 It's interesting to see Bandrew holding a sE Electronics Neom USB without actually using it in the comparison series.

[@Podcastage]

I had it in the comparison but the comparison section was just way too long so I cut out a bunch of the mics.

[@techmed-rainer]

Danke!

[@Podcastage]

Thank you so much Rainer. Your support continues to shock and amaze me. You are the best.

[@kirtiazadyadav7305]

Thank you brother ❤

[@Podcastage]

You're welcome. Thank you for watching.

[@kirtiazadyadav7305]

@@Podcastage I purchased this microphone after watching your review, it is worth every penny, I am recording education lectures for a college . Only issue I am facing is that it also records my inhale and exhale voice .

[@kirtiazadyadav7305]

@@Podcastage Is there any solution?

[@misterwhyte]

That's a good review but I wish you did your comparison in the non treated room. Nowadays most microphones will perform fairly decently in a treated room so that makes it harder to really appreciate how they compare to each other.

[@Podcastage]

Sorry that the treated space doesn't provide as useful of a comparison as the untreated space. I include the untreated space test so people can hear how the mic performs, but if possible I advocate treating the space you're in. It's the same reason I don't do the full review in the untreated space. Sorry the video didn't provide the info you were seeking. Thanks for the feedback.

[@misterwhyte]

@@Podcastage No stress mate. I agree treating the room is best but I travel a lot so I don't have this possibility most of the time. Ideally getting both treated/untreated rooms would be the best comparison, but I get that it's a lot of work for you. Maybe comparing less mics? Either way, I still appreciate the review and you taking the time to reply. Thanks!

[@kiwigeeknz]

Your videos are so good. I have a blue snowball. How can I tell if my snowball is malfunctioning. It is crazy quiet with max gain and the floor noise is horrible.

[@Necropolis20123]

Finally! Waited for this one for so long. I already own this mic as an upgrade to a Razer Seiren Mini for gaming. I love it!

[@Podcastage]

That's so awesome that you got a mic that's working well for you. Happy recoding Necropolis!

[@JGuilhermeMatos]

Hello! I am considering buying this microphone to use on my my streams. Since it is a usb - c and my pc only has regular usb port, how do I use the microphone? Is there an adaptor? Can you suggest one, please? Thank you so much!

[@naveenperpaga1821]

I had just purchased Sennheiser Profile USB Microphone. It is Great. 😃😃

[@Podcastage]

Glad you're liking it and it's working.

[@deathrager2404]

bro i felt so bad for you when you said ''this is how i spend my friday night.'' ''losing my mind''. but many thanks for all of this.

[@IcecalGamer]

The HISS and selfnoise, for how much it costs is a no-go. There are mics (usb) a quarter of the price of this one, that you've reviewed and compared Bandrew , that are way less noisy. Sad because i liked the spoken word pickup and the packaging (form factor, construction and feature set).

[@Podcastage]

Yes it's lacking in the noise department.

[@QuantumGamingUploads]

Sennheiser mics rock

[@Podcastage]

Sennheiser is a great company. That's for sure.

[@cruiser2673]

Can you tell us please what is your favorite USB microphone?

[@gudegudegude]

Hello @podcastage, can you help me decide between this Seinheisser profile vs the Elgato wave3? (And possibly the at2020usb x or rode podmic usb) This would be my first dedicated mic, and outside of video meetings, my main use case is for recording keyboard typing videos. For video calls, I’d prefer if it can easily pick up the audio when used as a table stand and doesn’t show up in video calls (~1 foot distance or so). I think I prefer condenser mics for the sound and I am open to any USB mic suggestions you may have. Thank you

[@gudegudegude]

I am leaning towards the profile as it seems most practical for me (least software tuning needed), good build quality and rejecting handling noise. The main con is as u described, very unsexy…

[@vanidotau]

Besides being cheaper, how does this one compare to the Rode Podmic USB? Got the Rode a month ago here in Australia and although it has a lot to like, the noise rejection leaves a lot to be desired. Btw, usb only is fine for me as I’m only doing voiceover for the foreseeable future.

[@Podcastage]

This does a decent job of noise rejection. Neither of the mics offer my favorite sounds but they are passable and functional. I would say that this is for someone who doesn't want to worry about their audio at all. Connect it, don't download software, it doesn't have excessive rumble, it doesn't have sibilance, and then just talk into your mic for your calls. The podmec usb is hard to screw up. It doesn't give you the greatest sound but it's inoffensive and you're easy to understand and then you get all the processing through software. Hope that helps.

[@artysanmobile]

I’m such a fan of Sennheiser that if I needed such a microphone, this would save me the job of looking at the other 294 on the market. I guess that’s not really what you want to hear.

[@Podcastage]

I honestly don't mind hearing that. My job is to help people make informed decisions. You are well versed on mics and you know and trust sennheiser, so you're already making an informed decision. I don't make videos expecting any one to watch them all. They're just there when someone is looking for the information.

[@Maverick_A]

Possibly the most comprehensive review and the most practical comparison between microphones. Thank you 👍🏼👍🏼 Can you please recommend any other USB microphone in the same price range whivh is better for the spoken word or podcast (not music). Thank you

[@Ade1004]

If i am looking for a super bass heavy sound/voice of god. What mics are good for that?

[@Amarok347]

So what is the best microphone to give the "voice of God" effect? I'm currently looking for one, and I was also considering buying this Sennheiser. Thanks in advance for your help.

[@LearnByLeo]

what song are you playing on the guitar??

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

I have the Blue Yeti infront of Me, not feeling that it needs replacing, still serves its purpose.

[@Podcastage]

As the old composers said: If it aint Baroque, don't fix it. Wait that doesn't apply here, but if the mic is still working for you don't upgrade. Only upgrade when a mic breaks and you need to replace it, or if you're trying to solve specific problem that will make your life easier. Hope you have a great day.

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

@@Podcastage Respect to you.😀🎙

[@JayzBeerz]

I have the Hyper X Quadcast? I was thinking about getting this. Would this be an upgrade? Thank you.

[@Podcastage]

I don’t think so. I’d ask you what it is you dislike about the quadcast that is making you want to upgrade? Is there something actually wrong with it, or are you just looking for a reason to upgrade?

[@JayzBeerz]

@@Podcastage I've had the Quadcast since 2019. it picks up alot of background noise and the fans from my pc since it's on a tabletop mount.

[@glitch9257]

Can I change the cable to a usbC x usb. Or is it only possible for usbC x usbC. My pc doesn’t have a usb c port

[@RICHIE11420]

Need a comparison with Profile vs XSM 50 plz😢

[@mohitmojito]

How does this compare to the HyperX Solocast?

[@thevijayraj34]

Is it better than rode nt mini?

[@nelsonricciardi7087]

I'm quite surprised by the great off-axis rejection. Any comments on that? Almost dynamic level, no?

[@Podcastage]

I'm confused. Didn't I mention the shock rejection and background noise rejection in the pros section?

[@nelsonricciardi7087]

@@Podcastage Indeed you did.

[@Richy1anita]

Is this good to record singing? And does it cancel background noise?

[@Podcastage]

I have a singing sample @ 11:53 I discuss background noise in the pros @ 12:30 I discuss the singing @ 14:25

[@jimmmy2002]

have you reacted epos b20 usb mic?, love to see it

[@Podcastage]

I have not reviewed any Epos mics before. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@jimmmy2002]

@@Podcastage yea np

[@CWU2006EOY]

I don't know why USB mics don't all have mute switches. Bandrew, would you consider doing a review of what you consider to be the best audio gear NOT made in China?

[@Podcastage]

I'm not sure why they don't all have mute buttons either. It's such a great feature. I don't know if I would make a full video of gear not made in China. Also, I've kind of been bitten by this because manufacturing locations change, and people leave comments telling me that they bought the same mic and it wasn't made in the same location as it was when I listed it. I have whereitsmade.info which has some of this information (although I don't really update it anymore since I include the location in each video).

[@vigamortezadventures7972]

I think the key is to treat your room because all basically sounded the same except the last mic .

[@Itslegitman]

I did not suspect NT-USB mini to be darker than NT-USB+. For its price i think rode nailed it. Sennheiser sounds little too bright to me.

[@Podcastage]

The NT-USB mini isn't the best sounding mic but it's pretty good especially when you account for the software.

[@asmrpinak]

Which one d best in your opinion sir

[@Podcastage]

Depends on your personal use case, your required feature set, and your personal preference. If I was picking between these mics, since I don't like super bright mics, and I can have software on my recording computer, I'd probably go NT USB mini or +. But if I was using this on my work computer, I'd probably go with the profile usb because I can't install just any software I want on it and it has the functions I would need for conference calls. So it is all a personal choice. Hope that sheds some light on it.

[@KabuTheFox]

was kinda digging the hood up look tbh 😅

[@staci-layne-wilson]

I can only hear sound on mine if I have earbuds in. Is it supposed to do that? (No sound comes out of the computer speakers, ever. Is there a button I'm not seeing? I may not want to wear earbuds all the time.)

[@Podcastage]

If you're talking about computer sound, when you take out your earbuds, you would need to change your computer audio output from Sennheiser Profile to the computer speakers.

[@DevilsRockContract]

Hi! I have problems with Senn Profile. When I monitor mic. through headphones it sounds perfect BUT when i record audio the quality is bad :( I've tried matching hz in audio software and changing asio setup but I always get bad audio quality, not sure why. Everything is up to date etc. Do you know why?

[@Podcastage]

I don't know why that would be the case without hearing the bad quality audio you're referring to. Is it noisy? Is it distorted? What is making it bad? If you've made sure that you're talking into the correct side, and that you sample rate and bit depth are all matching between your operating system and your DAW, then the last thing I would recommend is to make sure your system wide audio level is set properly. If I remember correctly this mics input level needs to be set at 100% in windows/Mac audio setup.

[@DevilsRockContract]

​@@Podcastage Hi thank you for rply. There was a problem with "Audio Enhancer" I had to turn it off in windows in order to get the mic sound normal. Now it sounds great I really love it, amazing unit. :)

[@ObscureMics]

I was not impressed by this where so many were..... Glad to be validated by the mic master

[@Podcastage]

I haven't seen other reviews yet, but if a lot of people were praising this thing I'm glad I didn't watch them because then I might feel crazy. I'm glad that my opinion matches up with yours and we're not crazy...or if we are we can be crazy together. SO SAY WE ALL!

[@ObscureMics]

@@Podcastage I know dark corner wasn't impressed.... Everyone else I've seen has been. The mic is fine... And even quite good for the 1 and done non mic addict like you suggested. SO SAY WE ALL!

[@GoTellJesusSaves]

I think this mic sounds way better on instruments and singing vocals than spoken word.

[@Podcastage]

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on it.

[@CWU2006EOY]

The Profile needs 100% computer volume? Doesn’t that introduce more recording noise? I didn’t really hear it, but you’ve got much better ears than me. However, as a matter of course, wouldn’t you want to have to have to push the computer level so hard?

[@kennethbailey7105]

I’m going to go on a limb here and assume that it’s usb mic season 😬

[@Podcastage]

It seems to be and I have no idea how it happened. I'm not particularly keen on USB mics, but I somehow ended up buying a stack of them.

[@coffeehigh420]

To be honest, I'm a little more than surprised that Sennheiser would come out with a mic like this.. It's just very bland and does not have that Sennheiser sorta sound (extra bit of top and bottom end usually to SOME extent at least). This one just sounds bla. I'm really shocked. Do you agree or think i'm being a bit to picky here ? I know it's a USB-only mic but considering it's got Sennheiser branded on it, I expected a little more of a pop even at this price point. I'm comparing it to the same price point as the e835. Dramatic improvement over this thing, no? - As always, you do an awesome job, Podcastage, so thanks :)

[@Podcastage]

I think that they are trying to create a no brainer mic for non-audio people to use for conference calls and the like. Not too much bass to worry about, not overly sibilant. Just plug it in set the level, and you'll have audio that's good enough.

[@coffeehigh420]

you make a very good point.. designed for the guy / gal who basically wants to do for example, a zoom call sorta situation and has absolutely no or minimal knowledge regarding audio production. - agreed with you.@@Podcastage

[@spitfyre1551]

Anyone have any recommendations on a longer usb-c to usb-a cable this this microphone?

[@FrankPoule]

"Let's do some more!" Wow. Never tought that I would laugh my ass off looking for a usb mic. I'll never buy one because it'll never be as good as this experience.

[@yuriys.6352]

why not to compare to HyperX QuadCast S???

[@PODCASTSHALA]

Which microphone is Best to get voice of God under 200 $

[@platinum10000]

Anybody knows if there is an off switch, I just bought this mic and can't imagine there is no other option than to unplug it to turn it off.😅 Thanks!

[@brianchristensen9319]

About those with stinky butts... This is the truest thing about this video. Great shares and details on the product but the use of it to speak so correctly about something that 100million gullible impressionable souls don't get is super important beyond measure!

[@waldowsxxghostxx8577]

So that is a blue yeti designed by the original blue not Logitech?

[@Podcastage]

Blue Yeti Nano & Blue Yeti X were released right after Blue was acquired by Logitech, but they were released so soon after that I do not believe it had anything to do with Logitech, blue must have already had them finished before they were acquired. That's my guess.

[@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole]

Made in China to make it affordable. VERY smart move on for this veteran German company. Bring Sennheister to the masses! Also, my two-cents, this mic, for spoken word & podcasts cold very-well excell for a female voice, or any high-tenor voice. If it lacks that Howard Stern studio "boom" in the bass there is no need for it anyway if you have a high voice. I would say if you are not going to record much vocal tracks or instruments and it's only for your show/podcat, it's a good choice as a no-nonsense, plug-n-play mic. You can tweak it in real-time, and it requires no software. Therefore it's sort of like decent sound, but great strength in reliability and ease of use. // One thing that wasn't mentioned is that you can order one with it one with it's own company-made mic arm wich is reportedly very smooth and sold in as you position it, and it also hides the cable inside the medal tube of the arm. For recording the Rode NT USB Mini seems to have a lot of character in general. These are the options of _The Acoustic Rabbit Hole_

[@CirphrankGG]

I went from watching your videos from 6years ago to watching this, you've aged... finely. Quality content remains the same though.

[@Podcastage]

Wow that is insanely kind of you. Thank you for the kind words and for watching sir.

[@anan7s294]

Any Compatible shock mount?

[@Podcastage]

It couldn't be a standard shock mount that holds the mic by pressure because of the dials. It couldn't be a screw on shock mount because it doesn't have that. It would need to be a 5/8" threaded shocmount like the one for the blue yeti. I haven't seen one though.

[@WillianMaier]

Wasn't there a comparison with the Neom 😔

[@Podcastage]

It was pulled out to try and cut down the time on the video.

[@WillianMaier]

@@Podcastage What a pity! It's a superb USB mic. Who knows, maybe you'll review it someday. Thanks

[@this_is_lemon]

Curtis Judd, on the other hand, praised this microphone for its low self-noise levels and concluded that it is a great-sounding microphone. Something doesn't seem right here, and I am confused.

[@Podcastage]

Everyone has different opinions on the performance of a mic which is why I always recommend getting multiple opinions. I found the noise floor a bit on the high side, they even list the equivalent noise level at 28 - 34dBA depending on your gain setting. Even listening to the comparison in Curtis' video, I hear it noticeably having the highest noise floor of the mics.

[@cruiser2673]

Is this microphone suitable for ASMR?? :D

[@fenerbahceyikilmaz1907]

Why are you doing all mic reviews at 100% level? I listen to your reviews with earbuds, and many microphones you review have a white noise sound because of this. Then, for example, when you review another microphone, use the other microphone to compare, you use the right levels there and the microphone sound is much better. In summary, using 100% level is very bad for review... Other than that, thank you for helping other people dealing with this business. I appreciate the work you do.

[@Podcastage]

Microphones like the Sennheiser have a gain dial on the mic as well as a level setting on the computer. You need to follow proper gain staging etiquette. That means my level setting on the computer should be set to 0dB so it is not boosting or attenuating the signal at all, and the gain required is instead being added at the microphone. When the level is set at 100% for this microphone, the signal is neither being boosted or attenuated so that is where it should be set and should provide the optimal signal to noise ratio. The blue yeti is slightly different and I found that the unity setting was around 37% on my computer. The Yeti X is quite strange with its behavior in this regard and it just takes some fiddling about to find the optimal signal-to-noise ratio. Microphones like the Razer Seiren Mini, AT2020X-uSB, Samson C01, Q2u, Etc. do not have any mic gain function so you do not have any option to gain stage. The only way to adjust the level for these microphones is via the level slider on your computer. In my audio device settings, I did learn that it informs you the dB impact each level setting is having on the mic, so to get the ideal noise floor performance you would theoretically set this so the level is imparting 0dB boost and 0dB cut, but this will be different from mic to mic. When I am setting levels for USB mics without gain dials, I set them so my recording level is approximately where I would record at (hitting between -18 and -12dB, and sometimes getting higher like -6dB). TLDR: For the sennheiser profile USB the level should be set at 100%. For USB mics without a gain control, theoretically you are correct, but since you do not have the ability to properly gain stage, you need to set the level so that you're recording an appropriate level.

[@VinhNguyen-ye9fx]

At2020x-usb when?

[@Podcastage]

Sometime in the near future.

[@VinhNguyen-ye9fx]

@@Podcastage just reuse your old video if the sound doesn’t change… much

[@nobodyhaslogin]

But can we test a microphone in a vacuum?

[@Podcastage]

You know what Ducky! You just gave me an idea! I have always wondered how you would test a microphones self noise. Why not put the mic in a vacuum? That's easier said than done, but probably easier to build a small vacuum enclosure as opposed to an anechoic chamber.

[@nobodyhaslogin]

@@Podcastage and you can make another educational content: phun physics with microphones! ;)

[@unafflicted]

I expected you to rhyme "truth" with "poo", but I prefer butt. 10/10

[@Podcastage]

I keep you on your toes because my rhymes are about to hit you in the elbow!!!!! You thought I was gonna rhyme toes with nose didn't you!? FOOL YOU FELL FOR THE OLDEST TRICK IN THE BOOK!

[@unafflicted]

@@Podcastage LMAO, you're the best

[@atomsofstardust]

At 13:28, I don’t think it’s a nitpick, as a colorblind person myself I find it appalling that designers and engineers of both software and hardware (as well as map/city sign designers and so on) still often don’t design products with colorblind folks in mind. There are anywhere between 3 and 8 percent of colorblind people in the world, mostly men, it’s literally millions of people, yet often I find almost non distinguishable pale red and green indicators for totally different states. I’m sure if you’re colorblind you understand what I’m talking about. It’s frankly annoying at this point. The only company who’s done a great job at using Green/Amber colors to indicate the states is Apple with their AirPods. They’ve clearly tested those colors because they look absolutely distinctly. Too bad they’ve also put basically non replaceable, non standard crappy batteries in them, so now a perfectly functional pair of headphones is just a paper weight on my desk, fk them for that, but that’s another story.

[@Podcastage]

It is annoying. I can't recall who it was, I think it was Elgato (I could be misremembering), but they allowed you to adjust the color of the LED meters which was great. Another company, maybe Focusrite had a way to change the colors too. I can't recall really.

[@billlord4203]

I heard this mic on someone else and sounded quite nice, so I had high hopes for it! But the reviewer had more of a baritone voice. That 600 - 1K cut does not sound pleasant on your voice, at least to my ears, on spoken word. It actually gets on my sonic nerves. I did kind of like it on electric gtr. Did not like it on acoustic. Sigh. I mean, I might be able to find a use for it, but am less than excited.

[@Podcastage]

Yeah for some people it may be great. For many I think it's tolerable. For conference calls or something, I think it'd be pretty sweet.