Shure MV6 Review

Introduction

The Shure MV6 is the revered American brand’s latest entry into their long line of brilliant microphones, with this particular offering being designed for those who just want to keep things easy.

To this end, it’s a USB-C microphone that comes with its own stand, so you can be ready to go in a matter of moments. What’s more, with a price tag of £129 / €149, it’s also seriously competitive against options from peripherals brands such as the Logitech G Yeti GX and SteelSeries Alias, while being backed by the audio expertise of Shure.

I’ve been testing the MV6 for the last couple of weeks to see how it fares against some quite stiff competition, and the verdict’s in.

Design

• Sturdy metal stand and base
• Convenient on-board controls
• Funky colour scheme

The MV6 borrows its cylindrical pill-type shape from Shure’s iconic SM7B, although in a slightly smaller frame. Where the SM7B is metal, this newer option is diecast, with the MV6’s construction feeling sturdy.

The included stand, with its base and pole, are metal though and offer the same premium finish as the mounting hardware found with more expensive Shure microphones. With it, the MV6 is kept in place on the desk well, and raised up to a height where you can comfortably speak into it. The MV6 can detach from the stand and attach to a boom arm with a compatible thread if you don’t want to use the included stand.

I’m also a big fan of the accented green elements found in a neat stripe around the middle of the main body, as well as on the underside of the stand. It positions this mic as a more lifestyle-looking choice than the SM7B.

The interface on the rear is simple, with a USB-C port for connectivity and a headphone jack for on-board monitoring. There isn’t a gain control dial, though, as Shure has put in an automatic gain control system which adjusts it based on how far away you are from the microphone and how powerful your voice is. You can also control it in software, so you aren’t completely bereft of the feature. On the top side, there is also a touch panel to allow for easy access to mic muting.

Performance

• Strong, clear vocals
• Fantastic noise rejection
• Plug-and-play USB-C connectivity is excellent

Unsurprisingly, as a dynamic cardioid microphone from Shure, the MV6 continues the American brand’s strong reputation for rich audio. It offers full-bodied pickup from near and far while offering a robust low end and a pleasant warmth to the sound. The included fabric windshield also did an excellent job eliminating plosives on its own.

What’s more, the MV6 offers some of the best noise rejection I’ve experienced from a USB microphone, beating the likes of the Logitech G Yeti GX. It’s on par with the SteelSeries Alias, although that option required some AI software trickery to be as good as it was. When I had music playing in the background, the MV6 isolated my voice especially well.

Being able to work plug and play over USB-C is fantastic, and I had no issues using the MV6 with either Windows or macOS, and with Adobe Audition and Audacity. It was recognised instantly on both platforms, and I was able to use it without an issue.

The advantage of USB-C here is simplicity, although not just from the perspective of this being a plug-and-play microphone. There’s no need for a cumbersome interface and large XLR cable to trail from the MV6, and it’s better for it for those who want a convenient and brilliant mic to get started streaming with.

Features

• MOTIV Mix software offers some convenient features
• Not much else otherwise

As with the Shure MV7+, the MV6 offers software support in the form of Shure’s MOTIV Mix. It offers some handy functionality such as an effective software-driven pop filter, a high-pass filter and ways of choosing the recording file format and bitrate.

Otherwise, the software is quite limited, with it only offering basic gain control otherwise. There aren’t any controls available for lighting inside MOTIV Mix, not that it matters as the MV6 doesn’t have any.

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