A small detail that makes the Profile different is the built-in “tilt” mechanism. For example, while the Yeti and NT-USB can be angled through their brackets, the Profile can be adjusted to your preferred angle without the need for an additional stand. There’s a standard 5/8″ thread on the underside for attaching to the boom and rod holder. You can also purchase the Profile in a $199 kit that comes with a dedicated, slightly quirky design of its own. stronger than competitors like Rode’s PSA1+. Fortunately, Sennheiser went against the general trend of making podcasting/streaming mics louder than usual. The Yeti ($100) is big (even the Nano is a bit bulky), the NT-USB ($170) isn’t much smaller, and other popular options like the HyperX Quadcast ($140) and even the Elgato Wave 3 ($150.) feels big in comparison. At $130, the Profile is also at a more affordable price point than its rivals.
The company doesn’t make many USB microphones, so it’s fair to say that Profile is Sennheiser’s game for the creator market. The space is currently dominated by Blue Yeti or Rode’s NT-USB, among other things. Not only is it similarly priced, it also offers the same key features like gain control, live monitoring, and a mute button (something not all USB microphones have, but probably should).
Of course, no amount of features matters if it doesn’t sound great. Of the three microphones mentioned here – by no means exhaustive but including two popular alternatives – The configuration most closely resembles the Blue Yeti, which is not a bad thing given its continued popularity. There’s a fairly steep stand below 100Hz with slight gain around the 5 and 12kHz areas – the latter is common for adding some of that elusive “light”.
Overall, the sound profile is well-suited to what most streamers and podcasters are looking for – fairly neutral with a slight boost in frequency that makes most vocals clearer. Combined with competitive pricing and a full set of gain/mix/mute settings, this configuration is a very compelling case in itself.