Elgato Wave:3 USB Condenser Microphone for Streaming

Long-Term Review: 5 Years of Use and It's Still Worth It I've been using this microphone for over five years, originally purchasing it for $220. As someone who isn’t an audio expert but has a passion for gaming and content creation, I can confidently say it’s been an excellent investment—especially for streamers or creators on a budget. Sound Quality & Everyday Use Typically, I keep the microphone 3–6 inches away from my mouth for optimal clarity. The results? Outstanding. I regularly receive comments like, "Bro, it feels like you're right next to me whispering in my ear." Strange, maybe but definitely a compliment to the mic’s sound quality. Even in casual gaming sessions, the clarity and presence of my voice consistently surprise people. The microphone captures rich, detailed sound in its price range. The Game-Changer: Wave Link Software The real standout for me is the Wave Link software, which is included free when you purchase the mic. It acts as a virtual audio mixer, allowing me to control multiple audio sources on my PC without needing a physical mixer that could cost $100–$400. Whether you're managing audio for a livestream, YouTube video, or Discord chat, the software offers: Channel mixing Plugin support (including third-party plugins) EQ adjustments and effects It’s incredibly intuitive and has replaced the need for extra hardware in my setup. Pros ✅ - Excellent sound quality, especially at the current price point ($120–$150 on sale). - Wave Link software is powerful, flexible, and free with the mic. - Easy setup: Plug in the mic and download the software from Elgato. - Clean design: The black model looks sleek and fits into most setups. - Reliable mute button: Still functions flawlessly after 5 years. - Plugin support: Load third-party effects directly in the software. Cons ⚠️ - Condenser microphone: While this allows for great detail, it’s very sensitive and can pick up background noise. However, with proper setup in Wave Link, this can be minimized. Final Thoughts Before this mic, I used a Blue Snowball ($40), and while that was a decent entry level option, upgrading made a difference how my content sounded. Now I'm your average steamer. I stream to a small audience of five viewers and have about 600 YouTube subs, but even at that level, audio quality matters. People might tolerate lower video quality, but bad audio turns them away instantly. That’s why this mic, bundled with Wave Link, was such a game-changer for me. If you're looking to level up your content creation setup without breaking the bank, this microphone is a great place to start. If you found this review helpful, please click the "Helpful" button so others can find it more easily. Thanks!

Pros: - Mute button is nice. I was looking for a mic with a mute button, for when people enter my room unexpectedly while I'm talking to friends online. It works great. - Sounds great, even from a couple feet away and at a slight angle. I am not interested in keeping my mouth directly on a microphone, so I looked for one that was good at a slight distance. It also has a built in feature that removes sharp sibilant sounds, like "S" and "T". I haven't tested this feature extensively, but it seems to work well - no pop filter necessary. - Nice and thin, easy to keep on a desk. - USB-C, much better than the micro USB on my Blue Yeti Nano. The port on my Yeti Nano broke, which is why I had to buy a new mic in the first place. - Looks pretty, though that's subjective. I like the aesthetics quite a bit, looks modern and sleek. Cons - It's a bit pricey. I don't regret buying it at this price, but I wouldn't say it's a super competitive price either. Easier to justify for a livestreamer, less easy to justify just for Discord or Zoom. - Kinda tall. If I have it in front of me it blocks my view of my screen. However, I'm comparing it to my Yeti Nano, which is a particularly small mic. It's probably no taller than a full sized Blue Yeti or other similar mics. I keep it off to the side a bit which solves this issue, and it still sounds fine. Conclusion: I am happy with my purchase. It's a very welcome upgrade from my Blue Yeti Nano. You could probably find a better bang-for-your-buck mic, especially if you don't care about the features I do (size, mute button, USB-C). But if this mic lasts for years like my old mic did, then it will certainly have been worth the money.

It’s a great little mic, you can format the way you like and add attachments, definitely a good buy. Good sound quality as well

i've had this mic for nearly 6 years. never had any issues, the quality is amazing. i adjust all my settings on it with the elgato wave link software and it sounds great. i use it to discord call and stream, people always compliment my mic. :)

Been a fantastic quality microphone for making YouTube content. Very clear, great sound filters and noise filtering. Good at a pretty decent distance from you.

I bought this microphone because my HyperX Quadcast S was starting to act sketchy on my work laptop. Turned out that was actually an issue with my USB-C hub. Anyway, here's the thing: Yes, this microphone sounds pretty good. The headphone jack works REALLY well. I plugged my 250 ohm Beyerdynamic DT880s into it and it powered them loudly and clearly. The dial on the front acts as a headphone volume dial by default - this is awesome! Sound quality is great too. Similar to my Quadcast S honestly lol. Maybe a tiny bit bassier? Whatever. So I started out the next day looking forward to using it with my work computer, running MacOS Big Sur. The mic detected great, everyone heard it just fine. I tap the mute button on top.... and webex picks it up and mutes the output. ... wait what? I clicked the unmute button in webex and IT UNMUTED MY MICROPHONE. That's right. ElGato didn't use a HARDWARE MUTE BUTTON here. If you mute your microphone, everything on your computer knows. If you tap the mute button on top of the mic and the light is red, get this: The software can un-mute it at will. That sounds fantastic if you have a meeting host that decides to unmute you for some reason. Fantastic. I'm guessing they did that for better integration with their other products. Unfortunately, there's no way to change the behavior. I really don't like that, and because of that, I'll probably be returning this microphone. To add icing to the cake, the webex muting/unmuting is a little bit unpredictable. Sometimes webex follows the mute button, sometimes it doesn't. Teams worked about as well lol. Ok outside of that. It's a nice mic. The packaging is lovely. It comes with a sweet mic arm attachment adapter. The lights are very clear and again, the sound quality is fantastic. The volume dial is the best I've used. It's a decent amount smaller than my Quadcast S, which is already smaller than a Blue Yeti. If it weren't for that dodgy mute button behavior I'd really love this mic. Hopefully they fix that in a software update someday and give us a choice on how the mute button behaves.

I use the Elgato Wave 3 on my live streams along with making video content. The microphone creates clear and stable audio and the control know allows for adjustability to make sure your voice is connecting to the software you are using. It sits neatly on you destop with the attached mounted base. The software connects easily with the microphone and allows additional control to reduce background noise and other features. If you are streaming, making video content or just need a microphone for game play, this is one you need to look into, you will not be disappointed.

Wow! Literally the best mic for the price. Quality sound and Software. Wen't through a handful of products near this price point and none come close. Highly recommend.

I owned condenser mics before but this one takes the cake overall. When you consider the usb connectivity, and the wavlink app, then it's really built for a multimedia digital studio. Not to mention its not being bulky and as I mentioned previously, the price. Taming the background noise when used in a normal everyday setting takes some experimentation but it also comes with free apps like noise gate and eq - so it's not at all difficult to come up with a good or even great sound.

Elgato Wave 3 è un microfono compatto e funzionale. La voce si sente in maniera chiara e pulita, è un microfono a condensatore di tipo cardioide, con gestione audio fino alla massima risoluzione di 24 bit a 96 kHz. Garantisce il monitoraggio della vostra voce in tempo reale tramite connessione con jack da 3.5 mm, integra un filtro anti-pop, tecnologia anti-clip e presenta un filtro che elimina le frequenze più basse. E' inoltre dotato di un software gratuito (scaricabile dal sito del produttore) che permette di interagire con un mixer su schermo, in grado di farci impostare diverse funzioni. Parliamo però di un programma non molto intuitivo, che richiederà diverso tempo prima di poterlo sfruttare come si deve. Il microfono si presenta con una base di metallo molto solida, una piccola asticella e il corpo del microfono che permette di regolarne l’angolazione. Ha una singola manopola in grado di gestire il volume del dispositivo e il volume che sentirete nelle cuffie. Inoltre, sulla parte superiore del microfono è presente un pulsante touch in grado di mutare il dispositivo velocemente. Anche se parliamo di un microfono USB, che quindi è pronto all'uso non appena collegato al PC, Elgato Wave 3 è in grado di eliminare in parte i suoi esterni, permettendo meno disturbi in fase di cattura della voce. Ovviamente non è una soppressione del rumore paragonabile a quella di un microfono XLR, ma rispetto ad altri prodotti e con l'aiuto del software è possibile ottenere buoni risultati. Uno dei difetti maggiori è la dimensione, consiglio di utilizzarlo con un'asta per averlo vicino alla bocca e con il suo Shock Mount (venduti a parte). Il prezzo non lo rende accessibile a tutti, ma la qualità del prodotto potrebbe valere la pena di investire su qualcosa di così performante.

Excelente audio y materia

As a Mac professional with a sleek MacBook Pro 16" M3 and Studio Display setup, the Elgato Wave:3 fits perfectly into my minimalist workspace. This microphone is a game-changer for anyone who does frequent video calls, podcasting, or streaming. Pros: Stunning build quality that matches Apple's aesthetic Super easy USB-C connectivity with my MacBook Pro WaveLink software is intuitive and great for managing audio sources Crisp, clear vocal recording with built-in Clipguard technology Compact design doesn't clutter my clean desk setup Cons: Limited to cardioid pattern (might be restrictive for some) Bass response is slightly under-emphasized Plastic mount feels less premium compared to the mic itself The touch-sensitive mute button and LED indicator are particularly nice touches. For professionals who need a reliable, plug-and-play microphone that looks great and sounds clean, the Elgato Wave:3 is an excellent choice. Highly recommended for Mac users and content creators. Would I buy again? Absolutely.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Un micro pro pour le streaming et le gaming ! 🎙️🔥 J’ai acheté le Elgato Wave:3 pour améliorer la qualité de mon son en streaming et en appels, et je ne suis pas déçu ! ✅ Le son est cristallin, la captation est propre, et il est très facile à utiliser. ✅ Les points forts : 🔹 Qualité audio exceptionnelle : Son clair, chaud et professionnel, idéal pour le streaming et les vidéos. 🎧🎤 🔹 Technologie anti-distorsion : Même en parlant fort, aucun grésillement ni saturation. 📢❌ 🔹 Logiciel Wave Link puissant : Permet de gérer plusieurs sources audio facilement. 🎛️🔊 🔹 Design compact et élégant : Sobre et bien fini, parfait pour un setup minimaliste. 🖥️✨ 🔹 USB Plug & Play : Installation ultra simple, fonctionne immédiatement sur PC et Mac. 🔌✅ ❌ Petit bémol : 🔸 Le pied de base est un peu léger, mais avec un bras articulé, c’est parfait ! 🎚️ 👉 Conclusion : Un micro haut de gamme, idéal pour le streaming, les podcasts et le gaming ! ✅ Si vous cherchez une qualité audio impeccable sans prise de tête, foncez ! 🚀