As someone who is always on the hunt for affordable equipment that doesn’t compromise performance, I was extremely interested in Movo’s UM700 USB Desktop Microphone. It promises the same features and quality that you’d find in the ever-popular Blue Yeti but with a price cut of $30 dollars. Coming in at $99, does the UM700 live up to its promise? The answer is a hard yes.
What’s in the box
As always, when purchasing a Movo product, your item arrives in a white and blue box. It’s the signature color scheme that all of their product come in. It looks premium and has become immediately recognizable to me when I see it. Once you dive into the box you’ll pull your UM700 out of the sturdy and cushiony black foam. I love unboxing their mics because they’re housed so well. Movo really wants their products to be safe and their customers to know that there’s quality in every aspect of the experience.
So besides the mic, there’s an included Micro-USB cable to power the mic, as well as a very nice windscreen that slides over the mic head, and a little instructional booklet for everything you need to know in order to get started. I love the length of the USB cable as there’s a ton of slack to always give it some wiggle room on a large desk. I’d say it’s about 6 ft long. The windscreen is also another nice inclusion that isn’t always included with these types of mics. It increases the overall value of the purchase by a few dollars more because of it.
Aesthetics and Build Quality
The UM700 boasts a beautiful matte black metal finish that gives it a premium look and feel throughout its build. I’m a fan of full black or white color schemes when it comes to my desk space so this fits in completely well. Sitting between my dual-monitor setup, this is the focal point of my workspace. The buttons and knobs are clearly noted on the device without it taking away from the premium look of the UM700. On the front, there’s the mute bottom which glows red when enabled and a volume knob for headphones. The back gives you the ability to swap between any of the four mic patterns (stereo, cardioid, omnidirectional, and bi-directional) as well as the ability to change the gain of the mic. Underneath you’ll find the headphone port I spoke about as well as the micro-USB port for connectivity and power. There is also a threaded spot (5/8” screw) for a bigger mic stand to screw into.
Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, it feels of great quality from its construction to its steadiness if I knock into my desk. I never had to worry about it tipping over as the base starts narrow and fans out towards the bottom. Underneath is a nice amount of foam to cut down on thudding sounds from the desk while recording and to make it easy to move around without scratching at the desk itself. It’s quite heavy in its own right but this base keeps it staying upright without having to worry about it falling over. Tilting the mic is very convenient not only through the adjustable knobs on either side of the UM700 but also through the brilliant design of the base which allows the user to hold onto it like a handle. I’ve had issues with other comparable mics in the past but the UM700 really puts all of those to rest in its build design and quality.
Specs and Audio Quality
Specs:
Diaphragm:0.55" (14mm)
Frequency Response:20-20,000Hz
Sensitivity:-45dB ? 3dB @ 1KHz
Polar Patterns:Stereo, Cardioid, Omnidirectional, Bi-directional
Power Consumption:5V/150mA
Sample Rate:48 kHz
Bit Depth:16 Bit
Headphone Amplifier Impedance:16ohms
Headphone Frequency Response:15-20,000Hz
Connector:Micro USB (USB Cable Included)
Dimensions (collapsed):4.4 x 3.8 x 7.9" (11.2 x 10.8 x 20cm)
Dimensions (expanded):4.4 x 3.8 x 11.6" (11.2 x 10.8 x 29cm)
Weight:2.3 LBS (1.04kg)
The software that I used to test the UM700 out with was OBS as that’s what I would normally use for recording and streaming purposes on a normal basis. It’s extremely easy to adjust the gain level on the mic to make it sound as perfect as possible. Movo did a fantastic job putting together a vibrant sound space on each of the different patterns. Even at its low price of $99, you really couldn’t ask for much better. Out of the desktop mics that I’ve tried in the $75-$150 range, I personally like this one the best. The audio is crisp and clear to give the best sound in recording/streaming without the necessity of a mixer or having to adjust too many levels in software. All you have to do is plug in the USB, let your computer recognize it, and you’re ready to go. I will say that my personal favorite pattern on the UM700 is stereo. It just sounds so good and realistically represents the sound of my voice for recordings.
What It Could Have Done Better
One thing that I wish was different was the fact that the UM700 is powered and connected via a Micro-USB cable. Hopefully, as the mic is revised in the future, this will be swapped to the superior USB Type-C cable. As someone who recently tossed 99% of my micro-USB cables into the trash, I wish more companies would revolutionize their designs to fit the flow of technology. Another caveat is the height of the stand. This is an issue that I have with most desktop mics. The bases are always so tall that the mic takes up most of your display space unless you have it to the side of your screen or your monitor is up on a tall stand.
Verdict
It’s plain to see that Movo has smoked their competition by creating a desktop mic that’s cheaper and yet superior to the ones they’re set up against. Aptly named “The Blue Yeti Killer” as someone who’s owned a Yeti, I can say that they’ve earned that title. It’s a more premium design, the audio quality is better, and it comes with more included for a price tag that allows for some extra breathing room. If you’re in the need of something to get you started on Youtube or Twitch, or maybe you’re just someone that doesn’t want to drop a small fortune on a mic setup then you have to give the Movo UM700 a try. You will not regret it.
