Shure’s been consistently synonymous with quality and innovation. With the release of their latest offering, the Shure MV7+, they have once caught up hype. In this review, we’ll get ourselves to know about the features, design, performance, and overall value of the MV7+ to determine if it truly stands out as the microphone we all want or or not.
What do you get after unboxing Shure MV7+?
After opening the package, you will see the familiar sight of quality packaging. Inside, nestled snugly, lies the Shure MV7 Plus, with some essential accessories. A glance reveals the inclusion of a USB-C cable, a welcome departure from the micro USB connection of its predecessor, promising enhanced durability.
- Shure MV7+ Podcast XLR/USB Microphone (Black)
- USB-C Cable (9.8′)
- 3/8 to 5/8″ Adapter
- Limited 2-Year Manufacturer Warranty
A Closer Look at the Shure MV7+ Design
The Shure MV7+ Podcast Mic in sleek black takes professional podcast recording to a whole new level, making high-quality audio easier and more intuitive than ever. Like its predecessor, the MV7+ boasts a broadcast-style dynamic microphone design, delivering crystal-clear, rich, and natural sound. Whether you’re an aspiring podcaster or a seasoned content creator, this mic ensures studio-grade audio with minimal effort.
What sets the MV7+ apart is its versatile connectivity—featuring both an XLR output for pro-level audio setups and a USB-C connection for plug-and-play convenience with computers and mobile devices. But here’s where things get really interesting: the “+” upgrade isn’t just a minor refresh; it introduces a suite of game-changing enhancements designed to make recording effortless and more dynamic.
One of the standout features is the customizable full-color LED touch panel, allowing you to visually monitor levels in real-time while adding a sleek, modern aesthetic to your setup. Need polished sound with zero hassle? The MV7+ offers enhanced DSP (Digital Signal Processing) functions, ensuring pristine audio quality while reducing unwanted background noise—a crucial feature, especially if you’re recording in less-than-ideal environments.
And let’s talk reverb—because, yes, this mic now offers three different reverb options, giving your voice depth and warmth without requiring external software. Whether you’re hosting interviews, narrating audiobooks, or streaming live, these built-in effects add professional polish on the fly.
But not everything is flawless. While the USB-C integration is a welcome update, some longtime users might feel disappointed that Shure didn’t further improve the built-in preamp—which, while solid, still requires a good gain boost for softer voices. Also, at a price tag of around $300, it sits in a crowded market where competitors like the Elgato Wave:3 and the RØDE NT-USB+ offer similar features at a slightly lower cost.
Still, what truly elevates the MV7+ is its deep integration with Shure’s MOTIV Mix software, allowing full control over a wide range of sound-sculpting tools—from EQ adjustments to compression settings. This means even beginners can achieve studio-quality audio without spending hours tweaking settings.
See all the technical features of the microphone in their website.
At time of writing, the Shure MV7+ comes in at $279 on Amazon, which is competitive against other hybrid USB-XLR microphones. It’s also £279 on Amazon UK.
What’s New in Shure MV7+?
- The multicolor LED touch panel adds stunning color to your sound. Choose from 16.8 million colors and use it as an audio level meter, or turn on the eye-catching pulse effect. Don’t want a constantly heated microphone? Simply tap anywhere on the LED panel to instantly mute the MV7+.
- Real-time Denoiser: cutting-edge DSP technology removes ambient noise in your environment and works alongside the mic’s Voice Isolation Technology to ensure you sound amazing even in poor recording settings.
- Digital Popper Stopper: a virtual pop filter reduces harsh plosive noises, allowing you to avoid acoustic distractions on audio tracks and a physical pop filter on camera while filming.
- Enhanced Auto-Level mode optimizes audio levels by adjusting mic gain based on distance, volume, and spatial detection.
- Onboard Reverb: Three types of onboard reverb settings (Plate, Hall, and Studio) increase the depth and beauty of music recordings.
- Hybrid XLR and USB-C outputs: the dual options allow for seamless connectivity regardless of the recording arrangement being used. The MV7’s micro-USB connector has been converted to the MV7+’s USB-C connector.
- MOTIV Mix integration: MOTIV Mix software unlocks strong onboard DSP functionality in every MV7+ via USB-C output. Configure and set up your microphone to personalize the colorful LED touch panel and adjust mic settings such as sound signature, gain, EQ, compressor, limiter, and more. Save presets to quickly recall settings.
Build Quality and Design
The materials are premium and, it exudes a sense of solidity and durability. While the design remains largely unchanged from the original MV7, subtle updates abound. Gone are the touch controls, replaced by a sleek RGB light bar that adds a touch of personalization without overwhelming the aesthetics.
Enhanced Features
The Shure MV7+ Podcast Mic in sleek black takes professional podcast recording to a whole new level, making high-quality audio easier and more intuitive than ever. Like its predecessor, the MV7+ boasts a broadcast-style dynamic microphone design, delivering crystal-clear, rich, and natural sound. Whether you’re an aspiring podcaster or a seasoned content creator, this mic ensures studio-grade audio with minimal effort.
What sets the MV7+ apart is its versatile connectivity—featuring both an XLR output for pro-level audio setups and a USB-C connection for plug-and-play convenience with computers and mobile devices. But here’s where things get really interesting: the “+” upgrade isn’t just a minor refresh; it introduces a suite of game-changing enhancements designed to make recording effortless and more dynamic.
One of the standout features is the customizable full-color LED touch panel, allowing you to visually monitor levels in real-time while adding a sleek, modern aesthetic to your setup. Need polished sound with zero hassle? The MV7+ offers enhanced DSP (Digital Signal Processing) functions, ensuring pristine audio quality while reducing unwanted background noise—a crucial feature, especially if you’re recording in less-than-ideal environments.
And let’s talk reverb—because, yes, this mic now offers three different reverb options, giving your voice depth and warmth without requiring external software. Whether you’re hosting interviews, narrating audiobooks, or streaming live, these built-in effects add professional polish on the fly.
But not everything is flawless. While the USB-C integration is a welcome update, some longtime users might feel disappointed that Shure didn’t further improve the built-in preamp—which, while solid, still requires a good gain boost for softer voices. Also, at a price tag of around $300, it sits in a crowded market where competitors like the Elgato Wave:3 and the RØDE NT-USB+ offer similar features at a slightly lower cost.
Still, what truly elevates the MV7+ is its deep integration with Shure’s MOTIV Mix software, allowing full control over a wide range of sound-sculpting tools—from EQ adjustments to compression settings. This means even beginners can achieve studio-quality audio without spending hours tweaking settings.
In short, the Shure MV7+ is an impressive upgrade, delivering studio-level sound, modern enhancements, and user-friendly controls. While not perfect, its combination of flexibility, customization, and high-quality audio performance makes it one of the best microphones for podcasters, streamers, and voice-over artists alike. 🎙️
Performance: Audio Quality and Features
Inspired by the renowned SM7B microphone, the MV7+ promises exceptional audio quality suitable for a lot of applications. Equipped with an “Auto Level” feature, the microphone takes the guesswork out of gain and compression settings, that ensures optimal performance for recording or streaming. This feature, combined with spatial detection technology, delivers precise and professional-grade audio with minimal effort.
Performance Testing
I put the Shure MV7+ through its paces in multiple real-world scenarios, from voiceovers and gaming to online meetings—and the results? Absolutely impressive. The mic captures crisp, clear, and full-bodied audio, ensuring that every syllable comes through with rich detail. Whether I was recording a podcast late at night or jumping into a heated gaming session, the MV7+ handled background noise exceptionally well, thanks to its improved DSP processing.
One thing I particularly loved was its dual connectivity—the XLR output gave me that studio-grade quality when plugged into my audio interface, while the USB-C connection allowed me to quickly switch to my laptop without hassle. This kind of flexibility makes it a solid choice for creators at any level. However, while the built-in preamp is decent, I found that for softer voices, you might still need a boost—something that’s been a common complaint with Shure’s dynamic mics.
A study from Shure’s official sound tests found that the MV7+ offers a broader frequency response than its predecessor, ensuring richer vocal depth (Shure.com). But is it flawless? Not quite. While the USB mode is incredibly convenient, it still doesn’t match the warmth and depth of an XLR setup with a good audio interface. Also, the LED touch panel, while cool-looking, sometimes felt a bit too sensitive, adjusting settings when I barely brushed against it.
That said, for podcasters, streamers, and professionals, the Shure MV7+ delivers one of the most balanced and versatile performances in its class. It’s a mic that adapts to your workflow, whether you’re just starting out or already have a pro setup. 🎙️
Sound Quality
The microphone’s shape and sound are inspired by the Shure SM7B, a popular choice for podcasts and radio broadcasts. When you place the microphone close to your voice, it produces clear, comprehensible, and high-quality sound. The frequency response is tuned for rich, natural vocal reproduction. The MV7+ is also ideal for vocalists and musicians, with a frequency response ranging from 50 Hz to 16 kHz and SPLs of up to 128 dB.
In manual mode, the MV7 Plus delivers natural and nuanced audio reproduction. However, to achieve optimal results, you will require mindful positioning, with Shure recommending proximity to minimize ambient interference. Furthermore, the inclusion of a high-pass filter and reverb settings adds another layer of customization allows users to tailor their sound to perfection.
Shure markets the mic primarily to podcasters, so, first connected it to a Mac via USB. Record using Shure’s Motiv Mix software, Audacity, and Garageband. Shure’s app provides access to all mic digital capabilities, including EQ, reverb, and high-pass filter. Once you’ve set your digital settings, they carry over to other apps. You can test the mic with an iPhone or an iPad Pro.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
Testing Shure MV7+
In this review, I’ll put the Shure MV7+ through my microphone testing regimen while comparing it to the original. Read on to find out how the Shure MV7+ performs with the:
- Auto-Level test
- Plosives test
- De-noise test
Auto Gain
Except for the compressor test, all of my recordings using the auto gain feature of the MV7+ outputted healthy recording levels of -24LUFS, and a true peak of -4dBFS. That’s the perfect sweet spot for a raw recording!
Plosives
I believe microphone manufactures’ marketing teams are beginning to recognize that a foam sock/built-in pop filter is not a true pop filter. There is no mention of Shure’s built-in pop filter for the MV7+. What they did was add a “Popper Stopper” DSP capability to the Shure Mix program.
There are definitely popping plosives with the Popper Stopper disabled. When I turned on the Popper Stopper, the plosives subsided dramatically. I was a little apprehensive about how well this function would work, but it appears to operate very well. Well done, Team Shure!
Noise Reduction
Because it is a dynamic microphone, the MV7+ automatically protects itself from ambient recording conditions. However, I discovered that its noise rejection without any de-noise was quite good.
I recorded this test with a ceiling fan set to high, and the image above was enhanced to -16LUFS. The noise in the recording was still manageable, especially given the continual speech. The darkening in the preceding image indicates that noise reduction is enabled. I didn’t notice any tone harm from noise reduction. People with less-than-ideal recording environments may have more flexibility with the MV7+. However, this does not mean you should record with your window open or music playing in the background!
Shure MV7+ Motiv Apps Experience
Shure offers a variety of apps for the MV7+. Download the Shure Motiv Mix app for macOS and Windows. If you intend to use an Android or iOS smartphone, you’ll need the Shure Motiv Audio and Motiv Video applications.
The Motiv Mix desktop application has two primary roles. It functions as both an MV7+ management tool and a competent multichannel recording platform, allowing you to simply integrate all of your input sources. The software is currently in beta, and certain functions aren’t working yet, but it does what you’d expect. Shure claims that an update will include the missing features in the near future.
You may adjust the gain (automatic or manual), monitor (mic or PC), tone (dark, natural, or bright), reverb (studio, plate, or hall), and high-pass filter (off, 75Hz, or 150Hz). Finally, you can adjust the LED panel on the microphone. Aside from handling the microphone, the program allows you to specify recording options such as bit rate, frequency, and file type (AAC, FLAC, or WAV). I like how you can keep multiple presets for different recording conditions. Motiv Mix lets you to add several channels, but the output is currently mono, even when recording from many sources.
(Credit: Shure)
The Motiv Audio mobile app mimics the most of these controls. While my Mac recognized the MV7+ instantly after connecting it in, both Android and iOS devices required me to install and open the Motiv Audio app before they recognized the microphone. The Motiv Video app allows you to record videos with the microphone.
It’s worth noting that none of these software options apply to the MV7+ when it’s connected to analog audio equipment via XLR. In that case, it sends a clean, unadulterated signal to your capture device.
Final Thoughts and Verdict: Is the Shure MV7+ Worth It?
In conclusion, I’d say the Shure MV7+ has been always a choice in the competitive landscape of microphones. With its sleek design, exceptional audio quality, and innovative features, it will offer a wide range of applications. You’re a content creator, musician, or live streamer whatever, the MV7+ will deliver its performance with ease.
I see the Shure Mix software’s potential with the virtual routing it provides. Hopefully, after the kinks are worked out, it will provide a more enjoyable experience.
Currently, there is no support for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, as there was with the original MV7. I believe this is a step backwards, but possibly it will be introduced in the future. I’ve suggested the original MV7 to a number of clients because to its mobile support. Some folks are simply not computer smart, and they found it easier to accomplish everything with a mobile app while learning podcasting from the ground up.
So, if you’re ready to elevate your audio to the next level, look no further than the Shure MV7+. With its blend of style, performance, and convenience, it’s more than just a microphone – it’s your ultimate audio companion.
Conclusion
The most significant difference with the MV7+ is the use of new software to control it. The tonal profiles and noise reduction functions are slightly improved over the original program. The absence of mobile support is currently a bit disappointing. But With its design, superior performance, and integration with the Motiv Mix app, it offers a nice solution for all your audio needs. So, Say goodbye to compromises and hello to the insane microphone experience with the Shure MV7+.
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