Shure has produced some of thebest microphonesfor professional use cases, such aspodcasting, radio broadcasts, andstreaming. Before they released the MV7+, you had to be pretty technically savvy to get one of their microphones to sound the best it could. The MV7+ aims to take down those hurdles to good-sounding audio, making it much more approachable regardless of your knowledge of audio equipment and settings.
After the MV7+ received its OBS certification, Game Rant was lucky enough to get a hands-on look at one and put it through a standard testing process to see if this microphone is suitable for gamers and streamers alike. Besides our regular testing, we also handed the MV7+ off to another person who wasn’t as familiar with microphone settings and proper mic etiquette to see if the ease of use actually applies to people across the board.
Shure MV7+
The Shure MV7+ is a premium and high-performing microphone suitable for all purposes, but ideal for podcasting. It comes with a customizable LED panel, an improved auto level mode, both XLR and USB Type-C connections, and a real-time denoiser.
Unboxing and Setup Process
While it might seem like the MV7+ doesn’t come with a whole lot, you would be surprised by the number of high-end microphones that come with nothing besides the microphone itself, so it is nice to see Shure included the mic stand and USB-C cable in the podcast kit. Of course, if you want to save a few bucks and already have a stand and cable on hand, you can also get the microphone by itself.
Getting the mic out of the box and set up was a pretty quick process; the part that took the longest was screwing together the desktop stand. For most of our testing process, we used the USB connection because we thought most gamers would be using it, but if you have an XLR interface, it is still relatively plug-and-play either way.
Our “average user” tester had a very similar experience during their setup process. Because the USB-C cable is USB-C on both ends and relatively long, they found it very comfortable to use this microphone with a laptop in multiple locations, and they never felt like plugging it in for meetings was a hassle.
What It’s Like To Use The Shure MV7+
After the initial simple setup process, the MV7+ continues this accessible trend, making the microphone incredibly enjoyable to use day to day. When connected via USB, the MV7+ has access to a whole swath of features that make it easy to use, but the one that made the most significant difference during our testing process was voice isolation.
This made mic etiquette much easier to manage while playing games and even sitting in Discord calls; you don’t have to be right up on the mic to get the best sound quality out of the MV7+. Of course, proper etiquette still helps, but it is much less of a necessity and just more good practice with this microphone. However, the desk stand is somewhat susceptible to picking up bumps if you hit it with your mouse or hit your desk reasonably hard.
Alongside the physical pop filter around the capsule, Shure has included a digital popper stopper that limits the amount of plosives it picks up. This has been a game-changer during our testing period. As someone who knows how to sit at a microphone, but doesn’t necessarily have the best speaking voice, this has made plosives that generally get me a thing of the past.
Our “average user” also loved the auto level gain feature. They said that it made setting and forgetting this microphone very easy. Being able to talk freely and not have to worry if you are too loud or too quiet is excellent peace of mind, especially when you are in a rush.
It is worth mentioning again that these features are only available when connected via USB; if you choose to use this microphone with an XLR connection, you will have to use your XLR interface and a noise gate, if it has one, for an equivalent effect.
Connectivity
The USB connection is impressive for most users. Still, it’s worth mentioning that the addition of the XLR output makes this microphone much more appealing to higher-level users. Whether you want a versatile microphone that can grow with you as your knowledge base grows. However, if you are looking for a professional-quality mic that can also be used via a USB cable while on the go for impressive sound quality, the MV7+ has got you covered.
On top of that, there is a headphone jack that can be used whether it’s connected via USB or XLR to listen to your levels as you record or stream.
Sound Quality
Special features are great, but if the mic doesn’t sound good, they don’t matter that much. Thankfully, that is not the case with the MV7+. Shure has an excellent reputation for delivering stellar microphone quality, and they have not disappointed this time around. Regardless of how high or low-pitched your voice is, the MV7+ provides a very natural sound quality that can easily be used in professional applications.
Handling noises in the desktop stand is minimal, even with the voice isolation and digital popper stopper turned off. However, unless you are willing to have the mic pretty close to your face and have the gain down quite a bit, it is probably best to have voice isolation on if you want to cut out keyboard and mouse noise while you are streaming or gaming.
Even when we used this microphone connected via XLR and a Zoom H6 as our interface, it was pretty easy to nail down comfortable settings that provided good levels and cut out a good amount of background noise.
Software
The Shure Motiv Mix software might alone be one of this microphone’s most significant selling points, especially if you plan to use it only via its USB connection. The companion software that comes with desktop devices often feels bloaty and unnecessary, but Motive Mix does a great job of avoiding those stereotypes.
Not only does Motiv Mix give you access to fantastic features like voice isolation, a digital popper stopper, auto-leveling, tone, and a high-pass filter, but it also allows you to add multiple microphone inputs on a Windows device. Anyone who has tried to do this before knows how much of a headache it can be, and Motiv Mix makes it simple. All your sources appear in the left-hand column, and you may drag and drop them into the mixer when you want to add them as an input source.
Then, in Windows, all you have to do is select Motiv Mix Output as your input, and you are good to go, whether you have multiple people on your computer for a Discord call or you have a stream with multiple mics. You don’t need to use an XLR interface to give everyone their own mic anymore. You don’t even need to use Shure mics to have them available in Motiv Mix; anything that is usually an input in Windows shows up in Motiv Mix.
Is The Shure MV7+ Right For You?
While a $279 microphone might seem like a steep purchase for some, if you want to upgrade your microphone setup with one piece of equipment that can easily grow with you, the Shure MV7+ is a great way to do it. This microphone is built to last not only for its build quality but also for its tech longevity. Time and time again, Shure is not afraid to make products that will easily last for years to come, even if it means people aren’t buying as many products from them.
On the other hand, if you are not a streamer or a stickler for higher-quality audio, the MV7+ might be a bit overkill. But with Shure making a big push to make higher-quality audio accessible to more price ranges, we might see something that makes more sense price-wise down the road.
Related Products
These alternative mic options may better suit you, if the MV7+ didn’t impress you enough:
Similar Performance with more gamer aesthetics
Professional Quality with smaller form factor
FAQ
Q: Is the Shure MV7+ worth it?
When looking at the raw overall performance, the MV7+ is a worthwhile microphone if you are looking for a high-end solution that provides stellar audio quality, and the OBS certification has only made that price more worth it; if you want a microphone that would be good to go for years and years to come.
Q: Is the MV7+ dynamic or condenser?
The MV7+ is a dynamic microphone, so in and out of noise-controlled environments, the MV7+ delivers a clean audio source and doesn’t need phantom power to work.
