The Shure MV7+ is a microphone designed with podcasters and streamers in mind. But does it sound good enough and is it worth the money? (spoiler, it’s a really good mic).
But in this Shure MV7+ podcast microphone review, you’ll find out what it can do, you’ll hear it in action and we’ll give you our verdict if it’s worth buying over the alternatives.
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Build & Features
The mic was created by Shure as a lower cost alternative to the Shure SM7B, which has a great sound out-of-the-box and it looks super professional, which is why all the big podcasters use it.
The MV7+ has got the look – but does it have the sound? And how easy is it to use for podcasters?
The MV7+ is an upgraded version of the Shure MV7. It can be connected directly to your computer using a USB cable, or to an audio interface/mixer using an XLR cable. Shure also created an XLR connection-only version. For most podcasters, though, the USB connection makes for a simpler experience.
So you’ll find a USB connecting for direct into computer, an XLR for plugging into an audio interface. You’ll also find a 3.5mm headphone jack – you’ll be using this to listen to playback and monitoring the mic input while recording via USB.
It has a built in clamp for attaching to a mic stand, and an LED for monitoring the volume input level, which you can also tap to mute your mic input.
It also has a big foam pop filter built in, to prevent plosives – those nasty windy sounds you get from ‘P’ or ‘B’ sounds. The construction is all really high quality too.
Setup & Sound
The most important thing with any mic is the sound. And the MV7+ comes with MOTIV Mix software for adjusting settings such as the input and playback volume. It also includes live effects you can apply such as compression, limiting and reverb.
The mic is simple to set up and sounds good out the box. It doesn’t sound quite as warm and punchy as the Shure SM7B, but by applying some subtle EQ post-recording (particularly for boosting the low frequencies), you can get it most of the way there. If you have a podcast editor working on your audio, you won’t have to worry about this.
Another thing to add is that the Shure MV7+ is a dynamic mic. This means it’s not overly sensitive. Therefore, it needs positioning quite closely to your mouth to pick up a strong signal. The upside is that it won’t pick up the reverb and noise in your room nearly as much as a condenser mic like a Blue Yeti.
See the video version of this review above for a demonstration of exactly how the mic sounds.
Verdict
To round out our Shure MV7+ podcast microphone review, it’s an excellent mic which we recommend to our clients. It’s easy to set up, especially because of it’s built in pop filter. It has the look and sounds good enough out the box.
It isn’t the cheapest mic out there at around £260/$280 at time of writing, but if you want to get pro podcast recordings from your home or office, it might be worth it for you.
The only real tweaks that would have made it even better, is that it’d have been nice to be able to adjust the input level on the mic itself like you could in the original MV7.
Also, the USB connection feels a bit wobbly, although this is a common issue with USB mics especially with the small USB-C input.
Overall, the MV7+ solid choice for podcasters.
