Movo UM700 microphone review

Our Verdict

The Movo UM700 is not quite as practiced a USB microphone every bit the Blue Yeti, simply information technology's more than serviceable. Whether podcasting, streaming or gaming, the UM900 provides reliability at a portion of the price of its competitor.

For

• Affordable toll
• Plug-and-play
• Sturdy and snug blueprint
• Great for beginners

Confronting

• "Tranquillity" mic leads to periodical gain adjustments
• Sensitive to shocks/bumps

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Movo UM700 is not quite as skilful a USB microphone equally the Bluish Yeti, but it'due south more than than serviceable. Whether podcasting, streaming or gaming, the UM900 provides reliability at a portion of the price of its competitor.

Pros

• +

  Affordable toll

• +

  Plug-and-play

• +

  Sturdy and snug design

• +

  Bang-up for beginners

Cons

• -

  "Quiet" mic leads to periodical gain adjustments

• -

  Sensitive to shocks/bumps

"To be the best, you have to shell the best." That's the quote that came to mind when I was introduced to the Movo UM700 USB microphone, dubbed the "Blueish Yeti killer" by some. I've owned the Blueish Yeti, i of the all-fourth dimension all-time microphones, for years and wanted to meet if the moniker rang true.

Movo UM700 specs

Connection: USB

Ports: Micro USB, three.5mm aux out

Condensers: 4

Dimensions: 4.four x 3.8 x 11.6 inches

Weight: 2.3 pounds

After putting the UM700 to the test, I nevertheless have my preference in terms of the Blue Yeti, but this upstart mic proved capable of getting the task done. Keep reading our Movo UM700 for the full verdict.

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Movo UM700 review: Price and availability

The Movo UM700 is available from Movo and at Amazon for $99, a smooth $30 less than its chief competitor, the Blue Yeti.

While there are other USB microphones at this price level, like the JLab Talk and Blueish Yeti Nano, that $xxx saving is pregnant for a podcaster or streamer just getting into the game, and the UM700 certainly provides plenty of blindside for the buck.

Movo UM700 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

It's clear that the UM700 takes a lot of its blueprint inspiration from the Blueish Yeti. At the aforementioned time, information technology takes some of its rivals' features and improves upon them — fifty-fifty at the point of opening upward the box.

As someone who's been podcasting for a while, I appreciate the little things. Upon opening the box, I saw that the cover for the top of the microphone doubled equally a pop filter. Normally, yous'll have to get through the additional hassle of ordering one or trying to discover one that fits at your local music store. That type of customer service is impressive and functional.

While the little things are impressive, the entire trunk of work is overnice as well. The UM700 has a nice metal finish and is decidedly sturdy. I would describe the moving parts of the mic and stand up as "snug" — even when I put the USB cable in my MacBook, it was decidedly secure. Yep — the mic has a snug and sturdy feel, but not stiff. This implies craftsmanship, and once more, attention to item.

One matter that'southward clear when comparison the two mics is that the UM700 aspired to exist a sleeker incarnation of the Blue Yeti. It accomplishes that task, as it is slightly lighter (simply over a pound less) and takes up a niggling less space. Go on in listen, the mic/stand philharmonic may be slightly clunky on your desk. I've generally learned to allot the space for a mic and stand in my pocket-sized podcast setup.

The buttons and knobs on the UM700 are virtually the same equally the ones on the Yeti, as are the directional design modes — stereo, cardioid, omnidirectional and bidirectional. I like the mute push feature on the UM700 ameliorate than the one on the Yeti, every bit the UM700 conspicuously shows when the mute push is and is not being used. The indicator light turns red when information technology is being used. I never liked the perpetually cherry mute push button with the Yeti, equally a blinking indicator ways that the mute function is operative.

An essential component for starting time podcasters is plug-and-play capability. The UM700 certainly has that, as you can plug in the micro USB end of the cable into the mic, the full-side USB end into your figurer and get right to piece of work (or play).

Movo UM700 review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

As much as I enjoyed the experience of opening up the box, the Movo UM700's real value would ultimately exist determined by sound quality. I began by putting the mic to the test in an episode of my podcast. The plug-and-play components worked perfectly, and Garageband recognized the mic without installing software.

I pressed record and began to speak as I listened through my headphones, using the 3.5mm aux jack on the underside. The UM700 quickly revealed itself to be a very tranquility mic, in the sense that information technology was very difficult to decide whether the sound was being picked up clearly. That's not a bargain billow by any ways; information technology but meant I had to play with the gain button a good scrap, and I had to turn the gain knob to a moderate level to ensure that I had the volume I wanted. Of course, that opens up the opportunity to selection upwards sounds that you don't want. In short, as I would with near mics, I would highly recommend that you record in an surface area where there is trivial to no groundwork dissonance.

I primarily recorded in cardioid manner, and information technology was more than functional. I eventually toggled between the other modes, including the bidirectional mode. These other modes were functional, but by and large duplicate. With that said, it'south always important when podcasting to use the manner that best suits your guest or guests; bidirectional, for instance, works all-time when it's just you and one other speaker sat opposite ane other.

Overall the UM700 performed adequately from start to finish, but did it audio better than the Bluish Yeti? Unfortunately for Movo, non quite. I felt that recordings made with the Yeti required less pre- and post-product editing to sound their best, which in turn makes it more of a true plug-play-production mic than the UM700.

Movo UM700 review: Verdict

Although the UM700 isn't quite the "Blueish Yeti killer," information technology is a mic worthy of merit. At a little nether $100, it has everything a kickoff podcaster, streamer or gamer needs to get started. With its attention to detail and innovation, it will be interesting to meet how Movo improves upon its mic design and role as time progresses.

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Ken J. Makin is a tech and amusement author for Tom's Guide, and has nearly twenty years of experience every bit a journalist. He's an avid podcaster and freelancer for diverse sites, including ESPN's The Undefeated and The Christian Science Monitor. When he's not podding or writing, Ken is likely spending fourth dimension with his wife and children.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/movo-um700

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