Where they differ
| Specs | Shure MV7+ | Samson Q2U |
|---|---|---|
| Stand in the box | No | Yes |
| Samson Q2U comes with a desk stand; Shure MV7+ needs a stand or boom arm. | ||
| XLR cable in the box | No | Yes |
| Samson Q2U comes with an XLR cable; for Shure MV7+ you add one. | ||
| Best USB recording format | 24-bit, 48 kHz | 16-bit, 48 kHz |
| Over USB, Shure MV7+ records up to 24-bit, 48 kHz and Samson Q2U up to 16-bit, 48 kHz. Both are more than a stream carries (Twitch takes AAC audio at up to 160 kbps), so the difference matters for recordings you edit. | ||
| Processing on the microphone | Yes | None listed |
| Shure MV7+ processes your voice on the microphone over USB; for Samson Q2U you add filters in OBS. | ||
Where they are the same
- Connection
- USB and XLR
- Capsule
- Dynamic
- Pickup patterns
- Cardioid
- Headphone socket
- Yes
Not enough data to compare
We haven’t confirmed a figure for one or both models on: Preamp gain needed, USB cable in the box. The site leaves these out rather than guess.
What else each needs
Shure MV7+
MV7+
For USB: a USB-C port on your computer
For XLR: an audio interface or mixer with an XLR microphone input
For XLR: an XLR cable
A microphone stand or boom arm
Wired headphones with a 3.5 mm plug
- Check first: For USB: a USB-C port on your computer. The cable in the box has USB-C at both ends. If your computer only has USB-A ports, you need a USB-C to USB-A cable rated for the same speed.
- Optional: For XLR: an audio interface or mixer with an XLR microphone input. A computer has no XLR input. The interface’s preamp raises the microphone’s signal and sends it to the computer over USB.
- Optional: For XLR: an XLR cable. None comes in the box.
- You need: A microphone stand or boom arm. No stand comes in the box; it mounts on a 5/8-inch thread.
- Optional: Wired headphones with a 3.5 mm plug. Its headphone socket lets you hear yourself straight from the microphone, before the computer adds delay.
Samson Q2U
Q2U
For USB: a USB port that fits the cable
For XLR: an audio interface or mixer with an XLR microphone input
A boom arm, if you want it closer
Wired headphones with a 3.5 mm plug
- Check first: For USB: a USB port that fits the cable. A USB cable is in the box, but its ends are not listed. Check it against your computer’s ports.
- Optional: For XLR: an audio interface or mixer with an XLR microphone input. A computer has no XLR input. The interface’s preamp raises the microphone’s signal and sends it to the computer over USB.
- Optional: A boom arm, if you want it closer. A desk stand is in the box. An arm lets you bring the microphone nearer your mouth without it sitting in the camera shot.
- Optional: Wired headphones with a 3.5 mm plug. Its headphone socket lets you hear yourself straight from the microphone, before the computer adds delay.
Next step
Put either model into the setup builder to check it against your computer and the rest of your gear, or see all 27 side by side in USB microphones for streaming compared. Test your microphone before you go live.
Full profiles: Shure MV7+ and Samson Q2U.