Shure’s MV6 is a $149 Plug-and-Play USB-C Mic Made for Streamers

Shure announced the MV6 USB-C desktop microphone and while it is positioning it as a “gaming” and streaming device, the low price, plug-and-play ease of use, and feature-rich design very likely make it a very good choice for most people who need a good quality microphone at their desk.

While it follows the design philosophy of the MV7+ (which borrows a lot from the SM7db), Shure’s MV6 is an even simpler system. That means it’s easier to use but it also comes in as one of Shure’s least expensive desktop options at $149. It’s hard to beat that price, especially when it’s meant to compromise as little as possible on sound quality compared to its more expensive siblings.

The MV6 is very straightforward. It’s a simple capsule with a removable sock up front, a tap to mute and unmute button on top, and a USB-C and headphone jack on the back — that’s it. It ships with a stand and can go from being boxed to recording audio in a matter of seconds.

While the hardware has been simplified and streamlined especially compared to the MV7+, the MV6 retains some of Shure’s best software features. Firstly, it has built-in voice isolation that Shure says minimizes background noise and eliminates distractions, which differs from other mics which can more easily pick up room noise. That, combined with the dynamic capsule design, makes for high-quality audio capture in basically any desktop setting.

The MV6 also includes an auto level mode that adjusts the microphone’s gain based on distance and speech volume, which the company says allows it to provide consistent audio levels up to 18 inches away from the capsule and allows it to be placed on a desktop in a variety of places without compromising sound quality. Just as was included with the MV7+, the MV6 also has Shure’s digital popper stopper tech which removes plosives (the harsh “p” sound) and has a real-time denoiser that further eliminates background noise. These features can be toggled on and off and other settings like gain can be set manually through the Shure Motiv Mix app, which can also act as a digital soundboard.

The mic is clearly aimed at gamers, but the microphone’s design doesn’t scream “gamer” like a lot of other products that have a similar target market. That means anyone who needs a higher quality mic at their desk can make use of the MV6 without feeling shoehorned into buying a product covered in ostentatious RGB lighting, for example. The mic is designed to work equally with both PC and Mac and also works with “select” Apple and Android mobile devices, expanding its usability.

That’s a good thing since the MV6 is one of Shure’s most affordable pro-sounding USB-C desktop mics at $149.

Image credits: Shure