Shure MV7+ USB/XLR Microphone Review

The Shure MV7+ aims to build on what made the original MV7 so great. With the microphone market heating up and more companies throwing their hats into the ring, there’s no guarantee that the MV7+ will claim the crown. Shure isn’t resting on its laurels, however, as this “+” upgrade pushes things further than users might expect. After testing it for a month in both USB and XLR modes, I’m ready to share my review.

Best of both worlds

Being both an XLR and USB-C microphone, the MV7+ makes for a perfect evolving recording solution. Initially, it may be used in its USB mode with Shure’s own effects, before users move on to the XLR mode and combine the mic with a dedicated audio interface.

I’m honestly most interested in this mic’s potential as a USB microphone, as this is where Shure’s built-in effects make the biggest impact. I’ll tell you right now that the XLR functionality is just as good as with the original MV7, to the point where I can’t tell the difference between them in testing. They both sound warm, capturing the richness of one’s voice, which responds well to EQ.

The USB experience

Focusing on the USB experience, then, there’s plenty to like. Dive into Shure’s MOTIV software and this microphone’s potential is realized. The app has many different settings, but they are well-organized and easy to keep track of.

Though the stock sound is decent enough, if a tiny bit flat, MOTIV can tidy that right up with EQ, a compressor, denoiser, and other handy tools. There’s a lot to tune here, but users who play around for 30 minutes or so should unlock fantastic audio.

Zero physical controls

Once MOTIV comes into play, the MV7+ USB capabilities shine and cover up any stock-sound weaknesses. However, the other nitpick I have is the lack of any physical controls. Everything is done through the software. This means there’s no quick way to adjust headphone volume or anything like that.

Disclosure: Review sample provided by Shure.