After seven years of daily use for streaming, recording voiceovers, and Discord calls, I'm ready to share my comprehensive review of the Elgato Wave:3 microphone. This premium USB microphone has become an essential part of my content creation setup, and for good reason.
The Wave:3 features an elegant, minimalist design with a solid metal construction that feels premium to the touch. The steel grille not only looks professional but provides excellent protection for the condenser capsule inside. The capacitive mute button on top is a thoughtful touch—no more audible clicks when muting during recordings or streams.
The multifunctional dial is incredibly versatile, allowing you to adjust input gain, headphone volume, and crossfade between mic and PC mix with a simple press and turn. The heavy-duty desk stand with padded base keeps the microphone stable, though I eventually mounted it on a boom arm for better positioning.
Equipped with LEWITT Audio technology, the Wave:3 delivers broadcast-quality sound with impressive clarity and detail. The cardioid polar pattern is perfectly tuned for speech, capturing verbal nuances while rejecting off-axis sounds. The 24-bit/96kHz analog-to-digital conversion ensures your voice comes through with professional-grade fidelity.
What truly sets this microphone apart is the proprietary Clipguard technology. During intense gaming moments when I've shouted in excitement (or frustration), the Wave:3 automatically rerouted the audio through a secondary signal path at a lower volume, preventing distortion. This feature alone has saved countless recordings and stream segments from unusable audio peaks.
The included Wave Link software transforms this microphone from great to exceptional. It functions as a virtual mixer, allowing you to control up to nine different audio sources independently for your stream mix and monitor mix. This means you can hear your game audio at full volume while sending a lower level to your stream, or mute copyrighted music in your stream while still enjoying it yourself.
The software is remarkably CPU-friendly and integrates seamlessly with OBS Studio. The recent addition of VST plugin support through Elgato's Marketplace means you can add professional effects like EQ, compression, and noise suppression directly to any audio channel without additional hardware.
If you already use an Elgato Stream Deck (like the one I reviewed previously), the Wave:3 becomes even more powerful. I've set up dedicated keys to mute specific audio sources, adjust levels on the fly, and activate different audio presets depending on what I'm doing. This tactile control makes managing your audio during live streams effortless.
At $149.99, the Wave:3 isn't the cheapest USB microphone on the market, but considering it combines a high-quality microphone with what is essentially a digital mixing solution, the value proposition becomes clear. It eliminates the need for a separate audio interface or mixer for most content creators, saving both money and desk space.
How does the Wave:3 stack up against other popular streaming microphones?
| Feature | Elgato Wave:3 | Shure SM7B | Blue Yeti | HyperX QuadCast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connection | USB-C | XLR | USB | USB |
| Sample Rate | 96kHz / 24-bit | Depends on interface | 48kHz / 16-bit | 48kHz / 16-bit |
| Polar Patterns | Cardioid | Cardioid | Cardioid, Bidirectional, Omnidirectional, Stereo | Cardioid, Bidirectional, Omnidirectional, Stereo |
| Anti-Distortion | Clipguard Technology | No | No | No |
| Mixer Software | Wave Link (included) | No | Blue Sherpa (basic) | No |
| Price | $149.99 | $399 (+ interface) | $129.99 | $139.99 |
| Best For | Streamers, Content Creators | Professional Studios | Versatile Recording | Gaming |
To get the most out of your Elgato Wave:3, I recommend these accessories:
Isolates the microphone from vibrations and desk noise
Reduces plosive sounds for cleaner recordings
Low-profile boom arm for optimal microphone positioning
The Elgato Wave:3 has earned its permanent place in my content creation setup. It delivers professional-grade audio quality while solving common streaming problems like audio mixing and peak distortion. The combination of premium hardware and powerful software makes this an ideal choice for serious streamers and content creators looking to elevate their audio quality.
If you're just starting out, there are cheaper options available, but if you're ready to invest in your audio quality and workflow efficiency, the Wave:3 is one of the best all-in-one solutions on the market. It's a microphone that grows with you as your content creation skills develop.