Why the Shure MV6 is my new must-have microphone

Shure says the MV6 microphone is easy for anyone to use right out of the box. I wanted to test that claim because I’ve been wanting better audio during video calls for a long time, but I didn’t want to do anything I thought standalone microphones would require.

Has the Shure MV6 lived up to its promises and replaced my regular microphone?

Microphone

While I only use the Shure MV6 for video calls, that’s not what Shure is primarily aiming for. It’s a gaming microphone designed for gamers and streamers to achieve high-quality audio using similar technology found in Shure’s many other well-regarded microphones, as well as taking advantage of its extensive background in voice recording. I’ll get back to the audio technology soon, but first I want to talk about the design.

It’s a striking piece of kit and I love how it looks on my desk. The simple look is inspired by Shure’s pro-level MV7 and SM7 microphones and the classic styling has just the right modern twist to appeal to those who don’t want to look like they’re in a recording studio. It’s a heavy thing due to the weighted circular base that you screw the riser onto before attaching the microphone to the top. It weighs over 1.2kg in total so it won’t be moving around unexpectedly on your desk.

On the back of the microphone is a USB-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The USB port connects to your source, and the 3.5mm jack allows for real-time monitoring using a pair of headphones. There is a touch button on the top of the microphone body to quickly mute the sound. I put the microphone together and plugged the included USB-C cable into my computer Apple Mac Mini M1. After changing a few settings in Mac OS, The Shure MV6 worked without any additional interaction. It really is as simple as Shure promises.

Technology

I’m all for making things as easy as possible, and it was refreshing that the Shure MV7 required next to no setup. But don’t think this is just a boring plug-and-play microphone, because there’s a lot of technology inside that makes it worth considering. It uses a cardioid pattern to focus on your voice and block out sounds around you, while also filtering out background noises like air conditioning or fans.

Interestingly, for gamers, Shure includes an Auto Level Mode that adjusts the gain in real time based on your distance from the microphone and the level of your voice, so the sound stays consistent. Its Digital Popper Stopper stops unwanted sounds from your speech that can distort the sound without the need for a physical pop stopper in front of the microphone. If you’re using headphones to monitor the audio, you can customize the mix in Shure’s Motiv Mix desktop software, where you’ll also find a Tone Slider that works with the Auto Level mode and offers three different tone options for the voice: Dark, Bright, and Natural.

I installed the Motiv Mix app, but found the installation process a bit confusing, rather than straightforward. Much like the Shure Motiv Video and Motiv Audio apps MoveMic systemthe software doesn’t have the same polish as the hardware. Perhaps I was expecting more significant customization, and while recording an audio file is easy, the rest requires a little additional knowledge of how mixers work. However, after closing the Motiv Mix app, the mic worked without a hitch, and I’ve left it as is ever since. The Shure MV6 is also certified for Open Broadcast Software (OBS), if that’s your software preference.

How does that sound?

Has anything bad happened so far? The foam covering the microphone doesn’t hold it securely in place, and it fell out a few times when I moved the microphone around on my desk, and the included 1-meter USB cable is a bit short even for desktop use. The 12cm riser works well for my use, and the microphone moves up and down, but there’s no extension if you want to raise or lower the microphone any higher. You’ll need to budget for a boom arm if your setup requires it. Other than that, I really like the MV6, and you can hear a sample of the sound by clicking play on the file below.

I have been told by a reliable source that the audio during Microsoft Teams and Google Meet video calls is actually very good, and my voice generally sounds clearer to those hearing it through the microphones. Nothing Cotton Swabs, Apple AirPods Proor Samsung Galaxy Buds Live I have used it in the past. No complaints from those who are new to my video calls. I will not use any of them again, especially after listening to the recordings made with the MV6 because they sound great to me, so the Shure MV6 has become my go-to microphone. It looks good, works effortlessly and sounds good to me. All in all, it’s all I look for in a microphone.

You’ll have to shell out a lot of money to buy the Shure MV6, as it comes in at $149, or £129, which puts it in competition with some of the best gaming microphones currently on the market, such as the Razer Seiren V3 Chroma, Blue Yeti Aurora, Elgato Wave:3, and HyperX QuadCast series.

The Shure MV6 is now available for purchase from Shure’s online store.