Over the last few years, it seems like every manufacturer with a stake in the audio-for-video sphere has released a beginner-friendly, easy-to-use wireless microphone system. Most of these products arrived with similar form factors, with little emphasis on variation or innovation—until now. Enter Sennheiser and the Profile Wireless System. Not only are you getting all the connectivity you could ever want with Sennheiser’s tried-and-true audio quality, but you’re getting an all-in-one charging bar that doubles as a handheld microphone.
Other characteristics of the new system include an 803.8’ transmission distance, USB-C and Lightning adapters, and 16GB backup recording on each transmitter unit. Since its release, a lot of people have had questions regarding Sennheiser’s choice to forgo 32-bit float recording. According to Sennheiser, 32-bit float does not guarantee the mic capsule won’t overload from loud noises, causing clipping. To ensure their users can mitigate any source of audio clipping, they decided to prioritize a Safety Channel mode in the system to record a secondary audio track at -6dB. This maximizes your mic’s audio bandwidth for increased reliability, further positioning the Profile Wireless as a tool for content creators delving into the complex world of audio recording for the first time.
I was super excited to take it for a spin myself in a designated meeting room at the office, the perfect environment to test audio quality: think constant drone of the office AC and the murmuring of colleagues. The charging bar is quite the nifty container for the system, boasting separate compartments for each component to fit snuggly inside and buttons to help pop them out when you’re ready to use. I popped out the USB-C to Lightning adapter and realized I had more than one connectivity option. The receiver unit has both a USB-C output port and a designated slot with metal contacts for the L-shaped adapter. Both properly accommodate the adapter component and register that it has been connected on the receiver’s display. Both also connected with my iPhone without any trouble.
The OLED display itself automatically flips to be properly read depending on the orientation of the receiver. This means that if you’ve tricked your smartphone out with a cage, lights, and handgrips, the receiver can be easily integrated without ruining your Feng shui. I found this on-screen feedback super helpful. When it comes to setting up my recording system, I am a check-something-twenty-times-to-make-sure kind of person, so getting a literal message telling me we were good to go saves me the trouble.
Getting into the nitty-gritty settings using the receiver is intuitive with its simple touchscreen. And once you’ve made your selection, use the onboard power button to go back to the main menu. The main display shows you the receiver’s battery, connected transmitters, and the overall volume of your recording.
Listening to the video I recorded, in which I described my first impressions of the product, I found the audio quality to be a great improvement over my phone’s integrated microphone. A given, I know. But the most impressive thing about the audio quality was the ability for the system to virtually eliminate the drone of the meeting room AC. My voice was clear and distinct, with a natural quality, purely accentuated as opposed to magnified. I liked this level of subtlety – getting clean audio is much better than getting loud audio, you get more control over the nuances of your sound. On top of that, the built-in transmitter clip attached nicely to the lapel of my cardigan and didn’t weigh it down in an annoying way.
Now the big selling point of the system is, again, the charging bar. When the transmitter and receiver are tucked safely inside, the bar can function as a handheld microphone unit for on-the-street interviews or mounted to a desktop stand for gaming livestreams. On top of acting as a charging station for the entire system. It houses all key accessories and components - hence the 'bulk', but the level of versatility it brings to the system shows that Sennheiser is paying attention to the needs of content creators. If it were me, I’d invest in a compatible desktop mic stand with a ¼”-20 screw to attach the bar to.
My final thoughts? Sennheiser is bringing innovation to the wireless microphone system market. While it’s true the Profile Wireless doesn’t have the 32-bit float recording we’ve come to expect from most systems, I think it’s more aligned to content creators entering the audio foray as opposed to experienced engineers. Regardless, the Profile Wireless brings a new flavor to the audio for video landscape.
0 Comments