Sennheiser Profile Wireless review: a well-designed DJI alternative
Sennheiser Profile Wireless: One-minute review
With upstarts such as DJI, Rode, and Hollyland all recently releasing tiny wireless microphones, established audio manufacturers are starting to take action too. Sennheiser’s Profile Wireless is a foray into the market from the company (long known for its excellent studio microphones and headphones), and I found it to be another impressive compact mic that’s perfect for anyone looking to step up their game. People of their own level. Record vlogs, podcasts, interviews and more.
Profile Wireless features a lightweight, compact design (each of the two transmitters weighs just 27 grams, while the entire package including charging stick weighs 290 grams) and a solid 20-ish hours of battery life, making it easy to carry around all day . Its 24-bit audio quality beats the built-in microphones used in smartphones, laptops, and cameras—which you might pair with it when recording content. Since each transmitter has internal storage for recording, it can also be used completely independent of other hardware.
While its lack of so-called “advanced” features like Bluetooth recording, 32-bit floating, and automatic noise reduction may turn off potential perfectionists and professionals, I don’t see much of a problem with Sennheiser’s less-is-more approach. By keeping it simple and effective, Profile Wireless becomes a worthy affordable alternative DJI Microphone 2 and Rode Wireless Pro.
Sennheiser Profile Wireless: price and release date
- 2-channel kit with receiver, two transmitters and charging stick, $299 / £259 / AU$549
- Replacement receivers and transmitters sold separately
- Now available
I think the best way to buy the Sennheiser Profile Wireless, now available, is as a complete kit. 2-channel kit includes one receiver, two transmitters, one charging stick/interview microphone, three adapters for mounting the receiver on a camera shoe, USB-C or Lightning device, two for connecting transmitters magnet suit for the transmitter, a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable, a USB-C to USB-C cable, three windshields (two for the transmitter and one for the interview microphone), and a soft zipper carrying case, Holds everything securely.
The transmitter and receiver components can also be purchased separately, but I see this more as an option to replace damaged or missing components (or buy spares) rather than building a wireless microphone setup.
The Sennheiser Profile Wireless is a bit cheaper than high-end competitors like the DJI Mic 2 and Rode Wireless Pro, but more expensive than the compact DJI mini microphone and rhode wireless micro. I think the pricing is appropriate since the Profile Wireless can’t compete with the premium models in terms of features like 32-bit floating recording.
Sennheiser Profile Wireless: Specifications
| aspect | Charging pole: 152 x 41 x 55 mm (L x W x H) Receiver: 45 x 42 x 19 mm (L x W x H) |
| weight | 30g (receiver) 27g (transmitter) |
| Transmission range | 245m |
| Connectivity | Receiver: USB-C, USB-C/Lightning out, 3.5mm headphone, 3.5mm output; Transmitter: 3.5mm input |
| Battery | 7 hours plus two additional charges |
| vocal | 24 bit |
| Noise reduction | No |
Sennheiser Profile Wireless: Design
- All major components plug into the charging strip
- The whole package weighs 290 grams
- Includes USB-C, Lightning and cold shoe adapters
The two main components of the Sennheiser Profile Wireless kit are the transmitter and receiver units. The transmitter is a small, lightweight microphone that can be attached to clothing via a built-in clip or magnet (the latter only works on thin fabrics such as T-shirts) and can be used in tandem (for stereo or binaural personal recording) or solo (for mono recording). It connects wirelessly to a receiver, which is a slightly larger unit that can be connected to a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or camera; the receiver receives the audio signal and converts it to digital audio in a video or audio recording data, and also features an OLED touch screen for adjusting settings and viewing input levels in real time. The touchscreen is small, which can make adjustments tricky at times, but considering one of the key features of this setup is its compact size, I think it’s just par for the course.
Both the transmitter and receiver elements look nice (if not flashy or gimmicky) and are well built, as I’ve come to expect from Sennheiser products. They also come with a cleverly designed charging pole that features space for storage and charging, as well as room for adapters and magnets. Its shape is long and narrow, and the transmitter is stored at one end, meaning it can be repurposed as a traditional handheld microphone, held by the user and pointed at the interviewee – much like you see a news reporter wielding a microphone . Vox Pop or red carpet interviews. This is something I’ve never seen on other wireless microphones, and it’s a good reason to consider buying the Profile Wireless if you plan on creating this kind of content. The charging pole also has a standard tripod mounting point on one side, so you can attach it to a tripod or microphone arm if you wish.
Like most small wireless microphone kits, the Profile Wireless can connect to a variety of devices. Included in the box are adapters for connecting the receiver to Lightning devices, USB-C devices, and cameras (the latter uses a cold shoe mount). The transmitter can also be used completely stand-alone, thanks to onboard recording controls and 16GB of built-in storage – enough for around 30 hours of audio playback. Each also has a 3.5mm input for connecting an optional lavalier mic, which is also a nice high-quality metal connector with screws to hold the lavalier mic cable securely. Again, this is a premium touch that I’ve never seen in a similar wireless mic system – the DJI Mic 2 has a lav input, but it’s just plastic and not screwed in.
Sennheiser Profile Wireless: Performance
- 24-bit audio quality
- Automatically backup recordings
- Wireless range up to 245m
Like most 2.4GHz wireless microphones, the Profile Wireless records audio at 24-bit quality. Some recent microphones, such as the DJI Mic 2 and Rode Wireless Pro, offer the option to record at higher 32-bit float quality, but that’s not available here. I don’t think most users will find this to be a huge loss, as 24-bit audio sounds great here, and 32-bit floats (whose files take up more space than 24-bit files) are indeed a big loss. Designed for professionals and uncompromising perfectionists rather than casual users.
As mentioned above, I found the audio quality of the Profile Wireless to be excellent, and tested it in a variety of ambient noise conditions, both indoors and outdoors. The lack of active or smart noise cancellation means you might want to consider an alternative microphone if you’re likely to be recording continuously in a noisy environment, but as long as you can tolerate some background noise, I don’t think this is a feature for you. Too much will be missed. It also comes with a removable furry windshield to help reduce noise on windy days.
Whether you’re recording to an external device through the receiver or directly to the transmitter using the onboard controls, 24-bit audio does a great job of making things sound clear and thick. An adjustable gain control is included on the receiver, as well as a safe channel mode that allows a second version of the recording to be recorded at -6dB when using two transmitters, in case the main channel is clipped due to unforeseen loud noise.
Another feature not included here but available on some competitors is direct Bluetooth recording, which allows you to pair the transmitter directly with your mobile device to record audio, bypassing the receiver entirely.
One great audio feature Sennheiser has added is a backup recording mode that automatically switches to onboard recording when the wireless signal is weak or dropped. The wireless range is good (up to about 250m in clear conditions), but for some it might be a godsend as a fallback option in case of connectivity issues.
Battery life is pretty good, with about 7 hours of operation for each transmitter and receiver, and an additional 15 or so hours with the charging stick. So, at any one time using a single transmitter, you’re looking at about 21 hours of total recording time – about the same as the Rode Wireless Micro’s.
Should I buy Sennheiser Profile Wireless?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Sennheiser Profile Wireless: Also consider
How do I test Sennheiser Profile Wireless
- Two weeks of regular use in quiet and noisy environments
- Pairs with iPhone 13 and Panasonic Lumix GH6 II
I tested the Profile Wireless indoors and outdoors with the receiver physically connected to the device (my Apple iPhone 13 smartphone and Panasonic Lumix GH6 II camera) and in standalone mode, making sure to record in a variety of environments so I could see it How to deal with different background noise and weather conditions.
