Shure is one of the most popular audio equipment brands in the market, coming with some of the most impressively versatile and affordable microphones such as the Shure MV5 Vs MV88. These two are aimed at the most compact system and mostly utilized for podcasting or recording on the go with a good sound quality and extreme ease of use. If you are also considering these microphones, let’s see below about what they can offer and which of them will be your better choice.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- What to Consider in a USB Microphone
- What are Shure MV5 and MV88
- How are the Design of Shure MV5 and MV88
- How are the Sound Quality of Shure MV5 and MV88
- What else Shure MV5 and MV88 can offer
- Are Shure MV5 and MV88 Convenient
- Shure MV5 Vs MV88
USB Microphones
Microphones are the basic audio equipment that we will need when working with audio such as recording a song or voice while making an audio book and streaming a content. They are also often used in video shooting in case the camera has no microphone or the quality of its built-in microphone is bad. The external microphone is usually required to improve the audio quality of your work by much, especially if this is for professional purposes.
When it comes to the microphone, it is best to use a dedicated one or those that only work a microphone since this is a very sensitive tool so combining them with other functions may affect the way they behave in application. In comparison, some people can go with a condenser or dynamic but the former is often preferred because they are using a very thin capacitor to generate signal. This is very light and sensitive to frequency, especially the larger diaphragm one usually can capture resonance better.
The frequency response of the microphone is from a certain low to a certain high they can capture sound and since human ears can hear as low as 20Hz and as high as 20kHz, it is just logical to buy something that can cover this hearing. While it seems like a must have, there are many mics today with narrower frequency range so make sure to check their specs first. If they have a very narrow range, expect the sound turns out to be muddy or if it is on the high-end, the treble area will lose its airy and sparks.
Depending on what type of application you will be using them for, there is this feature called zero latency monitoring that you can find even in more affordable options such as Shure MV5 Vs Rode NT USB Mini which functions to provide monitoring at real time while you are speaking to the microphone. In some models like the Rode NT USB, there is even an option to mix the sound from the microphone and from the computer if you are using them with the smart device.
| Shure MV5 | Shure MV88 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
|
| Product Dimensions | 4 x 5 x 4.5 inches | 1.38 x 0.98 x 2.64 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 10.1 ounces | 2.46 ounces |
| Shop now at Amazon | click here | click here |
In addition, try to find a microphone that can support or record at 24-bit, especially when going with a USB type because many of them can only do a 16 bit. 16 bit is not bad and the latter is better since 24 bit gives you more headroom and a quieter recording. In general the 16 bit gives 96 decibels while the 24 bit gives a range of 144 decibels.
About Shure MV5 and MV88
USB microphones are very popular nowadays with the increasing amount of digital content where people are making video or streaming their activity so it is understandable that companies are also offering many of this type of microphones. Just like with everything however, it is best to select an option based on what you will want to use them for such as whether the mic is only used with a computer or with smartphone and other compact devices because chances are you will need a different alternative.
It is also wise to shop from well-known names because they tend to be more reliable and offer lots of versatile options. Personally we also think they will have a wider range of prices in case you will need to keep the budget low and if you think so as well, Shure is one of the most popular options to shop from in the market. They carry some of the best and compact microphones we have ever seen that can work well with smart devices.
If you are going to use the microphone directly to the device such as a computer or smartphone, the Shure MV5 and MV88 are two ideal choices to consider. Both of them are somehow very different as well so it is probably not for the same users. The MV5 is more of podcast-ready, table microphone so what we imagine is they will be great for a fixed setup in our studio or in a workspace but, surprisingly, can handle other more modular applications too.
If you are going to record with phone and mainly with phone or iPad only, the latter is probably more reasonable to choose from. This is because this mic is built over the ease of use and compact system of mobile recording. One thing we want to mention is, while chances are we can use them with Android phones too, not all phones will have adequate current to drive the microphones so it is better to see their list of compatible devices first before committing.
Shure MV5 and MV88 Design
Before checking what Shure MV5 and MV88 can offer, let’s see the unit first and while MV88 looks kind of large in pic, this microphone is very small in fact, probably the same size of your small pen drive while the MV5 is decent, it is probably as tall as a 100 ml hand-sanitizer bottle but the mount it comes with is short, depending on how tall your table is. If you don’t use the mount, we can use a regular mic stand with this one, unlike with the MV88.
On the build quality, some people may dislike how the MV5 is built because the mic’s housing is plastic and hence it is probably not as robust when meant as a travelling mic. On the other hand the MV88 is robust, it is small and made of metal but placement wise we are not very sure how to arrange them properly most of the time. If you want the MV88 that can work with Android, there is another version called MV88+ which supports Pixel, LG, and a range of Samsung phones.
Shure MV5 and MV88 Sound Quality
Now for the most important part, let’s see what these compact microphones can offer but, while coming from the same brands, they are not exactly sounding like each other. Depending on what setting you choose, the speech setting in MV5 for example is our basic choice and with this position the mic somehow produces a deeper sound that is lacking in mids if compared to the MV88 which is flatter and probably more balanced as well in cardioid setting.
Another thing is the placement for this mics because it affects the overall sound quality and character. With the MV88, there is a swiveling joint to allow users moving the microphone to face a certain direction when recording.
Shure MV5 and MV88 Features
On the feature side both Shure MV5 and MV88 have more than one recording settings and with your USB mic, this one have a total of 3 different settings for speech and instruments in addition to the flat profile while on the other hand the lightning connected mic has cardioid polar pattern that can record in mono and stereo. The two can record at 24 bit and most of the recording features for MV88 are located in the app itself such as choosing the recording mode and file type.
One thing we do like better in MV5, especially the feature side is that this mic offers zero latency monitoring through the audio jack which is not available on the MV88. You can listen to the audio using for example a TWS connected to the phone but, do note that it is not 100% free of latency with Bluetooth connected device means there may be some lag while you hear it through the earbuds.
Shure MV5 and MV88 Convenience
Last but not least is the ease of use and in general most USB microphones are plug-and-play so there is no certain driver to install first. What we are not very confident is the mounting and placement of Shure MV5 and MV88 because for a table mount the former may capture noise from your table and for the latter, it is great for self-recording but it is probably more difficult if your type of application is recording instruments or various sound sources in the same room.
Shure MV5 Vs MV88
Both of these microphones are very compact and straightforward so everyone can use them without much fuss. They are ideal for making content like video or podcast but the MV5 can work both with computer and iPhones or iPad while the latter can only work with devices that carry the lightning port. Even if you use an adapter to connect with a computer, it will be difficult to find the mount or how to place the microphone. But, being in the Motiv line, the MV88 has two rich apps; ShurePlus MOTIV Audio and MOTIV video.
Conclusion
You have to choose based on the application and between the two, if your main device is a computer and occasionally uses the iPhone or iPad then we highly recommend the MV5 because this mic is more versatile and easy to set up with a typical desktop studio.