Elgato Wave:3 microphone & mic arm review — Wave goodbye to other mics

The right microphone for streaming or even just playing games with the squad is important. I used to use any old headset mic, but after using streaming mics to communicate with my team, it’s hard to go back to something of lower quality. I’ve used and reviewed a few premium streaming microphones, but I continue to return to one. You might think I’ve barely made it out of the first paragraph and I’m already recommending this one, and you’d be completely right in that assumption.

Opening up the Elgato Wave:3 mic, you’ll find the Wave:3 itself, a long USB-C cable for connecting it to your PC, a boom arm adapter nut, and a quick start guide. I also picked up the Wave Mic Arm LP (which stands for low-profile), adding a little extra spice to this package. There are a lot of other accessories available as well, with things like a shock mount or pop filter to assist you on your microphone journey. Before I forget to mention it, the Wave:3 microphone and mic arm I’m using is the Black Ops 3 variant, amazingly crafted with a stellar black, gray, and orange pattern featuring the Cerberus logo. These don’t cost more either, so if you want something special, limited, and Call of Duty themed, this is a great pick up while supplies last. Even if not, the Wave:3 exudes that cool streaming mic flair.

Right out of the box the quality of the Wave:3 and Mic Arm are present. High-end metals and plastics are a part of the build, representing the premium nature of Elgato products. The stand on the Wave:3 is also good and heavy, meaning it won’t fall over on your desk unless you give it a good smack. The Mic Arm is very interesting in design, fitting into the clamp without any bolt to tighten it down. Thankfully, the nature of this design allows it to sit in without the need for anything holding it in place, meaning it’s easy to pull off of the clamp when you need to adjust its position. The clamp also has a deep and wide area of attachment, making it work on most desks without any modifications.

Something I didn’t know about the mic arm: the ability to hide your cable inside. My previous arm was a quick Amazon buy, meaning the USB-C cable was half in the floor and half wrapped around the arm. With Elgato’s mic arm, the top plate of both arm sections is magnetized on, allowing you to slip your cable inside and keep it out of the way. My desk thanks you, Elgato.

I love the plug and play nature of the Wave:3. As soon as I attached my USB-C cable between it and my PC, it was ready to go. Not requiring a bunch of configuration is appreciated for newbies everywhere, and for those like me who prefer not to chase down the steps. On the microphone you’ll find a dial/button for making the minor audio adjustments as well, with gain, headphone volume (if you use the 3.5mm jack on the back for monitoring), and the balance between said headphones and your computer. Everything you need is right there.

While my experience with streaming mics is more limited than some, the Wave:3 is the best I’ve ever used. The 17mm Electret capsule punches far above its weight, and the cardioid polar pattern captures a wide range of sound to make your voice sound its best. I don’t understand all the technical jargon behind audio devices, but I understand what sounds great, and my voice has never been more clear or crisp than when I’m using a Wave:3 microphone. I also haven’t noticed a lot of background noise being picked up, meaning the multilayered noise shield is doing its job.

The mic itself isn’t the only thing available for customizing your sound either, even with audio as outstanding as it offers. Elgato has plenty of software supporting their devices, including Wave Link, which is specifically designed for the Wave:3 and whatever other devices you might have around. This provides digital channels for your input and output, with volume controls on each. For a streamer, this is an amazing extra, allowing you to create a single output for your software instead of fighting with multiple audio sources in something like OBS. It feels simple to figure out as well, which is terrific for anyone new to streaming mics.

There are also some neat effects you can grab from the Elgato Marketplace. Some are more silly, like Fallout or Black Ops 6 themed filters, but others can be extremely useful, like an EQ or compressor. There’s one paid plugin called ReverbFX, and everything beyond that is free for the taking. These are the kinds of benefits that round out excellent gear, adding more to the value proposition.

For peace of mind, Elgato also offers a two year warranty with their products. While I’m careful with my gear, and these devices are incredibly made, things happen. Knowing Elgato stands behind their product if it falters is appreciated.

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