In this review, I’ll be looking at the Shure MV7 dynamic USB/XLR microphone.
Shure is a reliable company and is responsible for a number of advancements in audio technology. Let’s see if the MV7 holds up Shure’s reputation.
Final verdict on the Shure MV7
For those of you who are podcasters or streamers, the Shure MV7 is hands down one of the better USB microphones available to you when it comes to capturing spoken word. However, for the music makers, it has little to offer.
Likewise, while its performance definitely outshines almost all of its competition, it is far more expensive than the average USB mic. You’ll have to decide whether the extra money is truly worth the expense.
What I like
- Great for spoken word.
- Convenient (XLR/USB).
- Durable.
What I don’t like
- Not versatile.
- Expensive for what it is.
Why you should trust me
I’m a producer and audio engineer with over 10 years of experience with a wide range of gear and recording techniques.
I’ve recorded with a plethora of groups, artists, and vocalists throughout my career and have a passion for helping others achieve sonic excellence.
As for the gear, I’ve worked with a huge variety of microphones from Shure, Electro-Voice, Neumann, and AKG, among others.
Contents
Use these jump links to navigate to the desired section of the review.
Polar pattern and frequency response
The Shure MV7 is a dynamic microphone with a cardioid polar pattern and a frequency response of 50 Hz – 16 kHz.
The sound signature of the microphone is very, very similar to that of the SM7B, although with less precision and clarity in the high end.
The MV7 was designed specifically to cater to spoken word artists, podcasters, and streamers. It is highly directional, has amazing off-axis rejection, and a has supremely low noise floor.
Overall, its frequency response is fairly flat with a slight high-end boost around 4-6 kHz.
Vocals 4.0
While the Shure MV7 is okay at capturing singers, it excels when it comes to spoken word.
It doesn’t quite have much to offer to vocalists, but for podcasts and streamers, it is smooth and silky.
It seems to respond somewhat well in the face of sibilance, although, at times, it can start to sound unnatural.
This isn’t a microphone I would recommend for live applications. On paper, it seems as though it would work well, as it has great off-axis rejection and a high SPL, but overall its performance leaves a lot to be desired.
Acoustic guitars 2.8
Acoustic guitars on the Shure MV7 sounded fine at best. You can surely get some passable sounds out of this, but the low end was rather overpowering and the high end felt choked-up.
This could work if you’re willing to do a lot of EQ work in post, but at face value the MV7 is not the best.
Guitar amps 3.5
The Shure MV7 works surprisingly well on electric guitars. The low end is very controlled, the mids – while forward – sound incredibly smooth, and the top end sounds soft although some articulation seems to be lost.
While I wouldn’t say this is a go-to microphone for this application, it could work in a pinch.
Bass amps 2.0
If you want to use the MV7 to record bass, the results may be hit or miss. I would definitely recommend you use it in tandem with either a DI box, a kick drum mic, or both.
However, the low end does extend low enough, and what low end it does pick up is fairly blown out.
Drums
I can’t really recommend this for drums. Even though its SPL levels make it seem capable on paper, there are far better microphones for this context.
It doesn’t quite have enough articulation to reliably pick up the transients and overall sounds adequate at best.
Build quality 5.0
The Shure MV7 is as durable as all hell. The body is made entirely out of metal, the grille is metal, and the mount is made out of metal as well.
On the side, you can find a readily accessible microphone mute button as well as a button to select what you’re adjusting, whether it’s microphone gain or headphone volume.
In between those two buttons is a capacitive slider to adjust the microphone’s gain or the headphone volume.
Compared to other microphones
While the MV7 is a decent option for those looking for a vocal USB microphone, here are a few comparisons to look at before buying the Shure MV7.
Shure MV7 vs SM7B
While these two microphones perform equally well on spoken word, the SM7B is superior in every single other possible application you can use it for.
The SM7B is better for actually recording music, while the MV7 is better for podcasting and streaming.
Read the full Shure SM7B review
Shure MV7 vs Audio-Technica AT2020
Again, the MV7 certainly sounds better on spoken word, but the AT2020 is far more versatile and is much less expensive. I would recommend the AT2020.
Read the full Audio-Technica AT2020 review
Shure MV7 vs Blue Yeti
The MV7 certainly sounds better than the Blue Yeti, but it’s up to you whether or not the extra $120 is worth the expense.
The Blue Yeti is not a fantastic microphone by any means, although its price is more agreeable for what you get.
Who is the Shure MV7 best suited for?
The Shure MV7 is best suited for podcasters and streamers, especially for those of you who don’t have an audio interface or external preamps.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazonRecent updates
- April 15, 2024: I’ve updated the text for clarity and improved the article structure to suit the latest standard. I’ve also added a “jump links” block for faster navigation between the review sections.
- October 18, 2022: I published the original review based on my experience using this microphone in different studio applications.
