<ul><li>The <keyword id="16924172" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="sennheiser-profile-usb" source="Orion">Sennheiser Profile USB</keyword> microphone is the company's first budget plug-and-play mic for streamers, podcasters, and creators.</li><li>It competes against Blue Yeti, Audio-Technica AT2020 USB+, and Samson Q2U.</li><li>The side-address microphone is available in a table stand version at ₹10,900, and the streaming set is available at ₹15,999.</li></ul><keyword id="179899" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sennheiser" source="Orion">Sennheiser</keyword> has been at the forefront of making professional media gear like headphones and microphones for over seven decades. Still, its range of USB microphones has been limited as it focuses on professional demands that don't prioritize ease of use. To address the given gap in demand, the company has now introduced a budget plug-and-play microphone called the Sennheiser Profile USB microphone. The mic has been launched, keeping the increasing demand for consumer USB microphones that can connect directly to computers and offer zero-latency headphone monitoring - a space that Blue Yeti, Audio-Technica AT2020 USB+, and Samson Q2U monopolized till now. USB microphones have gained popularity among budding music producers, streamers, and podcasters due to their ability to offer high-quality sound without needing a separate USB audio interface, making them ideal to set up and use anywhere they need. The new Sennheiser Profile USB microphone allows users to plug it into their laptop and easily adjust the mic's gain, headphone output volume, and sound mix between the microphone and computer audio, all via the front-facing controls. It also has a USB Type-C port, headphone jack, and a mute button to cut off audio instantaneously when there's a disturbance while recording or broadcasting. <div type="image" title="1" msid="99065810" hostid="261" sizebytes="20200" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Sennheiser Profile USB&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The microphone is said to provide top-notch audio quality and easy access to all controls, allowing content creators such as streamers, podcasters, and gamers to concentrate entirely on their content. The side-address microphone is available in a table stand version at ₹10,900, and the Profile Streaming Set, which includes a 3-point self-locking boom arm, is available exclusively on Amazon at ₹15,999. I have been using the mic for over two weeks for recording voiceovers and trying to podcast and stream, and I have a lot to share, especially for those looking to start their content creation journey in any of the given fields. The unit we received is the streaming set with a boom arm, table stand, user manual, and a 3m USB C cable that passes through a channel inside the mic to connect to the port. It can be connected to any Android or iPhone without needing a mixer, software, or any additional accessory. So it makes for a neat setup without any wire cluttering your desk. <div type="image" title="DSC01378" msid="99065906" hostid="261" sizebytes="49080" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Sennheiser Profile USB microphone with the boom arm&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The boom arm is sturdy, made of high-quality material, and easy to set up. The arm solves multiple problems - first, you don't need to place the mic on the table, leaving space for your keyboard and mouse, which helps gamers and streamers. Also, it allows you to adjust its positioning at any angle to allow a comfortable sitting position while keeping the audio clean. It helps streamers and podcasters to adjust it as per their comfort. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Sound Quality" comment="subhead" text="Sound Quality">Sound Quality</cmsannotation> The most crucial factor to consider while buying a microphone is the sound quality. A microphone that captures clear, crisp audio with minimal background noise. <div type="image" title="DSC01368" msid="99065941" hostid="261" sizebytes="41470" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;It is most sensitive to sound coming from the front&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Note that it's a cardioid microphone, which means it is most sensitive to sound coming from the front and rejects sound from the sides and rear. So it is ideal for the best output when the sound source is located in front of the mic at a 6-inch distance. The mic exhibits a proximity effect, which means that as the microphone gets closer to the sound source, the bass frequencies are emphasized. This can enhance the warmth and richness of a voice or instrument. The sound quality is crisp and clear in suitable surroundings and rejects sound from the sides and rear; it still exhibits some sensitivity to off-axis sound. This can result in coloration of the sound, particularly in the mid-range frequencies like a person's voice to a dog's bark or someone dropping utensils in the kitchen. While it is typically more sensitive to sound coming from the front than other directions, it can result in a higher signal-to-noise ratio when background noise is present. The mic also catches eco if you're recording in an empty room. So the overall takeaway is that you should keep the surroundings silent while recording and also try to soundproof the room if you're concerned about background noises and need a seamless stream or recording. If you are backed up with these, you can get a flawless output without needing to clean it using a software. The Sennheiser Profile USB microphone offers an impressive frequency response as well. Whether streaming or recording a voiceover, the frequency response remained flat. It makes the voice output sound more natural and well-balanced in terms. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Design and build" comment="subhead" text="Design and build">Design and build</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="4" msid="99065982" hostid="261" sizebytes="37710" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;It is made up of metal and features a compact design&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The design of the Sennheiser Profile USB mic follows the classic design language that the company is known for. It's compact and has an all-metal build, which not only looks premium but is also durable. In addition, the metal design only adds a little weight to it, so carrying it for a remote setup isn't an issue. If you're buying the boom arm variant, it'll add around ₹5000 to the overall cost. But if your use case requires the arm, I suggest you go for it. While it might seem pricey, it justifies every penny you pay as it's made of high-quality material and offers high-level customization, as mentioned above. <div type="image" title="Ports" msid="99066007" hostid="261" sizebytes="31868" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The device features a USB Type-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> It has a USB Type-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom. Also, there are quick access physical controls for muting, adjusting headphone output volume, gain, and mixer for sound from the mic and the audio from the computer. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Ease of use" comment="subhead" text="Ease of use">Ease of use</cmsannotation> The ease of use of this mic is the USP, and Sennheiser is highly emphasizing this feature. This is a solid solution for someone like me looking to set up a home studio for doing voiceovers, recording podcasts, and doing occasional streaming without needing to go through the hassle of adding a mixer or learning software. As advertised, this microphone is plug-and-play, but getting the best output will come with trial and error depending on the surrounding you are using it in. <div type="image" title="control" msid="99066045" hostid="261" sizebytes="47404" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The controls offered with the Sennheiser Profile USB microphone&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> I will rate it very highly in this department, but that doesn't mean it's something that was missing in the market. As I mentioned, Blue, Audio-Tecnica, and Rode have been in the space, but Sennheiser has delivered a solid alternative and offers its signature quality performance. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Verdict" comment="subhead" text="Verdict">Verdict</cmsannotation> The Sennheiser Profile USB microphone is a great tool for those starting their streaming, podcasting, or music-making journey at home. Its easy-to-use, plug-and-play nature makes it a no-brainer for anyone who wants to avoid getting into the complex setup process and learn software to get professional-sounding audio. Its boom arm makes it the best option out there. In addition, the frequency range of the Profile mic ranges from 20-18,500Hz, which is a good spread and ideal for capturing a range of instruments and voices.

Sennheiser Profile USB Streaming Set review: The go-to microphone for those starting their streaming or podcasting journey

SteelSeries' Arctis Pro headset and DAC provide gamers with reliable chat and immersive surround sound on the PS4 and PC

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/51494212.cms" /> In line with the converging world of laptops, tablets and smartphones, there has been growing demand for <keyword id="1591358" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Portable-Audio">portable audio</keyword> devices. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Creative">Creative</a> has answered the call with the Outlier <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Bluetooth+headphones">Bluetooth headphones</a>. 
 
Made for the urban commuter and health enthusiast, at Rs. 6499, the Outlier charges a premium over rivals like the JBL T400 BT, Philips SHB4000BK or Skullcandy Uproar <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Bluetooth+headphones">Bluetooth headphones</a> that are available for as cheap as Rs. 3.5k. 
 Since the Outlier stands for everything you (the BI reader) and I (22, urban, fat) would want, I used the <keyword id="3293018" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Creative-Outlier">Creative Outlier</keyword> <a href="http://Creative Outlier">Bluetooth headphones</a> for a week. Here’s what I found out. 
 
Note: This is nothing like a conventional review. If you’re the geek looking for tech jargons, run! 
 
Looks Cool 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/51494251.cms" /> 
Behind the padding is a slot to place what <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Creative">Creative</a> calls ‘Acoustic rings’. They apparently have an effect on balancing the audio. Without these rings, the headphones will offer more bass. No idea how that works #TooTechy. 
 
These elastic rings can be changed easily. Might be a fad, but the young crowd would love it. You can wear a different color every day. If neon colors aren’t your thing, stick to the white or the black bands. I liked the white set. 
 
Ears don’t hurt! 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/51494247.cms" /> 
The soft-feel leatherette ear pads are ideal for prolonged use. I wore it for hours in the Delhi metro, and my ears never hurt. However, the full-enclosure patterns means you can hear s**t if you wore it on the streets. I almost got run over several times (don’t tell my Mom). 
 
As the cups are almost the same size as your ears, you can comfortably wear your glasses, and the padding won’t push your specs off your face. 
At 100 grams, the Outlier is extremely light. Personally, I expected better build quality for Rs. 6,499. Remember, you can have Bose earphones for less than Rs. 6k. 
 
Audio is OK 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Creative">Creative</a> have a solid record when it comes to audio. 
 
I expected average sound at best, thanks to the compact size. However, clarity and sound balance would surprise you. The 32-mm Neodymium drivers offer quality that’ll satisfy most light users. 
 
The acoustic rings offer you two performance modes - with the rings there is a more balanced music. Take them off, and it boosts bass. 
 
Is it best in class? No. If quality is your sole focus, go for the wired <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Sennheiser">Sennheiser</a> in the same price range. 
 
Playback options galore 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/51494241.cms" /> The <keyword id="6411970" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="creative">Creative</keyword> Outlier comes with NFC-Enabled Bluetooth 4.1. There is also an integrated MP3 player. Major audio file formats can be played via the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=MicroSD+card">MicroSD card</a>. 
 
The Outlier also features a 3.5-mm aux input in case you want to connect it to your non-Bluetooth sources. 
 
The more options, the better. 
 
Feature rich 
Creative has added some nifty features to the Outlier. 
 
The hands-free calling function works perfectly. My callers were pleasantly surprised at the results while using the microphone. This is due to the HD Voice and ClearSpeech Engine. It blocks external noises and enhances clarity. 
 
The Outlier can also read messages to you, thanks to Buddy, a free message-reading app. Creative have released a free app for Android. The app integrates Google’s Text-to-Speech engine to read messages from your phone directly to the Outlier. 
 
You also have a Pacer Mode that allows active users to record and announce lap times and total elapsed time. There is also a built-in lap timer which is designed to provide voice prompts about your laps and the total time. 
 
Final Word 
I can confidently say the nifty, compact style and colorful acoustic rings will appeal to the young generation. The music playback is also generous at 10 hours, with up to eight hours of talk time. 
 
However, the huge price gap tells me it’ll be an impulsive buy, and not the most sensible choice.

Creative Outlier – Music for the
Young Hustler

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53e0ce7feab8eaae04a95134-1200-924/screen-shot-2014-08-05-at-82805-am.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2014 08 05 at 8.28.05 AM" />YouTube / MKBHDMarques Brownlee reviews Android Wear</div></div></div>Marques Brownlee is just 20 years old, but there's arguably no one better on the internet when it comes to explaining new technologies to the average consumer. Even former Google VP Vic Gundotra called him "<a href="https://plus.google.com/+VicGundotra/posts/LMY858eYL7y">the best technology reviewer on the planet right now</a>."
YouTubers have taken notice of the young man: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/marquesbrownlee/">Brownlee's YouTube channel "MKBHD"</a> has more than 1.5 million subscribers and nearly 130 million total views on his 640+ videos. 
Still, he's no overnight success: Brownlee has been working tirelessly for over five years, honing his craft by constantly producing and self-critiquing his videos to make the next ones easier to both make and watch.
But despite all of the work involved, "MKBHD" is, was, and will always be a solo effort.
"When I first started making the videos, I didn't tell anyone about it," he said in an interview with Business Insider. "Not [my family], not anyone. But after awhile it was something that was pretty obvious, since I was making a whole bunch of videos… I just didn't necessarily feel like telling people about what I was researching."
Brownlee, a senior at Stevens College in Hoboken, New Jersey, said he's always had a love for technology. His dad works in technology - information systems and programming, specifically - but Brownlee's interests were more centered on consumer electronics, starting with computers and some of the old camcorders his parents had around. He said his first computer was a Dell desktop with a "big old 15-inch CRT monitor."
"It was kind of a background hobby, I didn't have a reason to tell anyone when I first started making the videos," he told us.
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53e0cfdf6bb3f7a873c69a65-1200-924/marques-brownlee-young.png" border="0" alt="marques-brownlee-young" />YouTube / MKBHDOne of Brownlee's first YouTube videos.</div></div></div>
When he entered high school, Brownlee said he wanted to buy a laptop for school, so he researched various computers and watching tutorials on "how to do cool tricks and customizations." And simply by watching others make those tutorials, Brownlee felt encouraged to make some tutorials of his own with some simple screencasting software.
Still, it would take awhile to build an audience.
"It was super slow. The first few videos, there were no comments and no views," he told BI. "But eventually, once someone would comment on the video, they asked about other things I could share."
Brownlee started to gain a small following by answering users' questions with his own handmade videos. By the time he reached his 100th video, he only had 78 subscribers. But Brownlee's operation was not what it is today, and still very much a work in progress.
"Back then, it was all one take," he said. "So when I'd make a video, I'd open the software, press record, talk two or three minutes to explain whatever I needed to explain, and I'd just stop and upload it to YouTube. That was it. 
"I could make multiple videos in a day, but now, the videos are much more elaborate."
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53e0dc5d69bedd7b422f9ee0-1200-667/screen shot 2014-08-05 at 8.32.22 am.png" border="0" alt="marques-brownlee" />YouTube / MKBHD</div></div></div>Brownlee has several different types of videos he currently produces. He's got his reviews, explainers and impressions, but he'll also throw in some special features and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwaW6HR9dw4&amp;list=UUBJycsmduvYEL83R_U4JriQ">advanced projects</a>." But with every single video, there's a great deal of research involved before Brownlee ever starts filming. 
Like most consumers, he'll unbox the product and start forming impressions on it. Over the course of a week or so, he'll jot down various talking points to include in his video. But from the moment he turns on the camera and hits record, "it's probably less than 48 hours before that video is online."
These days, Brownlee uses a Sennheiser microphone and a Canon lens, and he edits using the Adobe suite, but he says the list of equipment he uses changes every few months.
"I'm just picky about certain things in the videos so I'm always switching out things that look or sound better," he said. "These are things behind the scenes that people may never notice, but it makes the workflow easier."
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53e0d83169bedddf322f9ede-1200-924/lg-g-flex-scratch.png" border="0" alt="LG G Flex scratch" />YouTube / MKBHDBrownlee puts the LG G Flex's self-healing technology to the test.</div></div></div>According to Google Trends, Brownlee's videos <a href="http://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=marques%20brownlee">only recently started gaining traction</a> among the internet faithful - around the time of <a href="https://plus.google.com/+VicGundotra/posts/LMY858eYL7y">Gundotra's G+ post</a>, actually. But when asked about his personal favorite MKBHD video, he said there were a couple of "milestone" videos that stood out, including a <a href="http://youtu.be/AMLzrGSdCtQ" target="_blank">video he made for a contest hosted by Wrapsol</a>, in which he won the $1,000 first prize, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-W66HINFLg">and his LG G Flex scratch test video</a>, "because it was something I thought of that literally no one else would do. If you got that phone for 30 days to review, you'd never take a knife to it and see if it heals itself. But when I bought the phone I decided immediately I'm going to take a knife to it," he laughed.
His successful video business keeps growing - Brownlee said the money he makes from his YouTube channel, which is powered by Google Adsense, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-money-youtube-stars-actually-make-2014-2">more than makes up for his production costs</a>. But he said "it's definitely hard" to balance his various works, between school and his videos and everything in between. This balance was tougher to achieve in high school, which took up most of his time "in terms of pure hours in class." 
While it's never been easy for Brownlee to find time to make his videos, at least in college, Brownlee has a bit more flexibility in his schedule compared to high school - even as he majors in business and technology with concentrations in marketing and information systems.
When asked about his plans after college, Brownlee said he'll "definitely keep making videos as long as they're fun to make." 
"But having a degree," he said, "I went so far with school so I might as well just finish. Getting my degree is something I'll be really happy about. I'll wing it from there."

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