Shure MV7 microphone review

Today, we’ll be reviewing 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.

Our verdict on the Shure MV7 3.0

For those of you who are podcasters or streamers, the MV7 is hands down one of the better 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 microphone. You’ll have to decide whether the extra money is truly worth the expense.

Available at: Sweetwater Amazon

Polar pattern and frequency response 4.0

The 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 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 supremely low noise floor.

Overall, its frequency response is fairly flat with a slight high-end boost around 4 and 6 kHz.

Studio vocals 5.0

While the 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.

Check out our studio vocal mics recommendations

Live vocals 2.0

This isn’t a microphone we 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.

Check out our live vocal mics recommendations

Drums 3.0

We 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.

Check out our drum mics recommendations

Guitar amps 3.0

The MV7 actually 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 we wouldn’t say this is a go-to microphone for this application, it could work in a pinch.

Check out our electric guitar mics recommendations

Bass amps 2.0

If you want to use the MV7 to record bass, the results may be hit or miss. We 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 for what low end it does pick up is fairly blown out.

Acoustic guitar 2.7

Acoustic guitars on the 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.

Check out our acoustic guitar mics recommendations

Build quality 5.0

The MV7 is 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

Here are a few comparisons to look at before buying the Shure MV7.

Shure MV7 vs. Shure 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.

Check out our Shure SM7B review

Shure MV7 vs. Blue Yeti

The MV7 certainly sounds better than the Blue Yeti, it’s up to you whether or not the extra $100 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.

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. We would recommend the AT2020.

Check out our Audio-Technica AT2020 review