I get it. There are a lot of microphones out there, and frankly, many of them are quite good. So it can be difficult to choose the right one for you. Sennheiser's Profile Streaming Set is a combo of a great sounding mic and a sturdy boom arm that gives you everything you need to start podcasting and streaming for under $200.

Profile comes in two packages: $129 for the stand-alone mic and $199 for the Streaming Set (which we are testing). The latter includes the microphone and a boom arm for desk mounting. The microphone is the same in both packages, so the decision depends on whether or not you need the boom arm. The Profile has a sturdy metal enclosure and a flashier design than one might expect from Sennheiser. Don't get me wrong, Sennheiser makes some of the best audio equipment in the world, but their headset design in particular is a bit boring.

The Profile is sleek and looks good on camera, especially when attached to a boom arm, if you are a streamer. Overall, it's a good design, and I really like the on-board mix, gain, and volume controls on the headphones, as well as the mute button on the microphone. At a time when microphone manufacturers are scaling back features to keep costs down, it's great that Sennheiser has found a way to do both.

As you can hear below, the Profile has a very warm sound and gives my voice a crisp quality. This is great if the content you are creating involves a lot of conversation or if you need to sound professional on a work call.

I added the HyperX Quadcast S and AT2020+ to my playlist because they are the closest competitors in both sound and price; the Quadcast S handles placebo a little better than the Profile, but my voice quality is better with the Sennheiser.

So you will want to invest in a pop filter to handle light noises. This isn't as bad as the Audio-Technica AT2020+, but still needs to be addressed.

On the software side, nothing special: the Profile is a plug-and-play microphone and does not come with any software to adjust the sound. So if you want to filter your voice or do something fun like that, you will need to use a third-party app. Since all the controls are on the microphone, there is no need to install a separate app for accessories.

The only real problem with the Profile is that it has only one polar pattern, so it lacks versatility; unlike other microphones like the Quadcast, the uni-directional microphone is really only suitable for one person, so you can't put it on a table and interview people on location. It is not possible. Anyway, the Profile Streaming Set does not come with a desktop stand, so you can't put this on a table. In other words, this is a very specific one-person use case, not a mobile one.

It is curious that the Streaming Set does not come with a desktop stand of some sort. The stand can be purchased for $29 (opens in new tab), but you have to use the boom arm. On the other hand, the stand-alone Profile comes with a stand, so keep that in mind if you choose either the mic only or the boom arm combo.

Not surprisingly, Sennheiser makes quality boom arms that are easy to set up. A decent boom can cost $100 or more, so $70 with a three-point lock and cable guide is a very good deal, and worth getting if you don't plan to take the mic anywhere. It should also fit most desks.

This excellent boom arm will honestly last longer than your podcasting career. Easy to use, on-board controls give you complete control over your sound. [Sennheiser has entered the podcasting and streaming arena, showing everyone how it's done.