With the current state of the world, the need for a high-quality microphone is greater than ever. Some may be looking to increase the audio quality on their Zoom calls, while others are focused on taking their streaming setup to the next level. Whatever the case may be, Elgato's new Wave:3 microphone more than delivers.
Elgato has slowly been unveiling more and more products to make streamers and content creators' lives easier. Its key lights are robust but they don't have a large footprint, while the Stream Deck is the type of device most wouldn't realize how useful it is until they go hands-on with it. The Wave:3 is the company's foray into the microphone space and as is typical for Elgato, they knock it out of the park immediately.
The Wave:3 is a condenser microphone with a relatively small footprint. It's not big or bulky, but can support most boom arms for those who would prefer to keep the mic close to their mouth. It also has optional pop filter and shock mount available, for those who want to use it for more advanced settings. In our testing, the mic is sensitive enough to pick up audio from a desk, but it shines most when it's up close.
For $159, the Elgato Wave:3 includes the microphone, a USB-C cable for connecting to a PC or Mac, and a circular stand. The microphone itself includes two connector points on the sides that allow it to swivel while in its included chassis or users can detach it completely and secure the mic into a shock mount. There is also an output port on the back for lag-free audio monitoring and a few other tricks.
Design-wise, the Elgato Wave:3 falls in line with the company’s style. It doesn’t look like the typical high-end microphone, but has a design that is instantly recognizable as part of the Elgato brand. Of course, that’s due in large part to the signature Elgato logo but the overall look of the mic is not as imposing as some of the other high-end options out there. It offers the same quality as those microphones, though, but without having users feel like they are in a radio booth.
Packaged around and inside that user friendly exterior are a host of features that make Elgato Wave:3 perfect for both novice and advanced content creators. There is a capacitive touch mute button on the top of the mic that allows users to cut their audio right at the source without creating any unwanted mic noise, and a clear indicator light that shows white when active and red when muted.
The dial/button on the front of the mic allows users to increase the gain on their microphone with clear indicators as to the volume level. The dial also clicks in to cycle through two other settings: headphone output and overall mix. In essence, these three audio options allow users to create their own “mix” when listening to secondary sources on their PC and monitoring the mic. Most will likely still want to dial in the levels on their PC, but the Elgato Wave:3 does offer the option to do practically everything right on the mic.
Inside the mic is a premium condenser capsule that uses a cardioid pickup pattern. That means the mic favors audio sources that are directly in front of it while blocking out any noises from behind it. It’s a very common pickup pattern for streaming, content creation, or podcasting and it works well to eliminate background noise like PC fans or keyboard clicks.
The mic delivers clear audio without any low-end hum, tinny reverb, or voice distortion. It may not have the look of its competition, but the Wave:3 more than meets the current standards when it comes to accurately reproducing its subject’s voice. Whether it was on a Discord call or on a stream, there were never issues with the quality of the microphone’s audio. Some mics in a similar price point skimp on the details that audiophiles might pick up, but the Wave:3 is impressive all the way around.
There is also a technology built into the mic called Clipguard that protects against any unexpected loud noises (commonly called "clipping"). For example, if the user ends up screaming out of nowhere, Clipguard will take a lower volume version of that audio and route it to any sources. It’s a built in limiter for the mic that helps keep the audio levels smooth without any external adjustments. One of the biggest issues that new content creators run into is keeping their levels consistent and the Elgato Wave:3 can help with that.
There are so many smart little touches on the Wave:3 that illustrate why Elgato waited to enter the market so much later than a lot of its competitors. The technology within the microphone and the features available right on the device allow new users to tweak the most important settings, while more advanced users can really dial in their audio. The Wave:3 also includes access to a software called Wave Link that is a real gamechanger on the virtual mixer side, but that’s for a different discussion.
What Elgato has packed into the Wave:3 is a high-end microphone at a reasonable price. Its best features, like Clipguard and the premium condenser capsule, are within the device but the mic also offers some really clever features like the capacitive mute and the mixer dial. But most importantly, the mic just sounds exceptional. Regardless of the need, the Elgato Wave:3 is one of the best USB mics on the market right now.
The Elgato Wave:3 is available now for $159. Game Rant was provided the Wave:3 microphone for this review.