Elgato Wave:3 Microphone Review

It has been a while since we took a look at a dedicated microphone here at ThinkComputers, but today we are back with a new product from Elgato that was designed with content creators in mind. Elgato, if you weren’t aware, was purchased by Corsair in 2018, adding a ton of great streaming and content creating hardware to Corsair’s already expansive product offerings. And while Elgato has continued to release streaming-related hardware since the purchase, we had yet to see a microphone from them. That ends today. With the release of the Wave:3 microphone, Elgato further solidifies their position in the content creation realm. Now Elgato didn’t just design this microphone on their own, though we believe they would be fully capable of this feat. Instead, they worked with established audio gear company LEWITT to help bring their first microphone to life. Follow along as we take a look at the Elgato Wave:3 and the Wave Link digital mixer application.

Special thanks to Elgato for providing the Wave:3 review sample!

Specifications

Model Wave:3
Capsule 17mm Electret
Polar Pattern Cardioid
Resolution 24-bit
Sample Rate 48/96 kHz
Frequency Response 70-20,000 Hz
Sensitivity -25 dBFS
Max SPL 120 dB
Dynamic Range 115 dB (Clipguard Engaged)
Interface USB-C
Works With Windows 10 (64-bit), macOS (10.14 and newer)

Packaging

If you are familiar with any of Elgato’s previous product packaging, the Wave:3’s box will come as no surprise to you. A sharp looking retail package contains the Wave:3, and on the front we are shown an angled view of the microphone, along with a bit of Elgato branding and product name.

Elgato Wave:3

Around back, the box lists off a few of the microphone’s major selling points, like the fact that it was tailored for creators and that it supports high-resolution audio. A small image on a simulated monitor screen shows us the Wave Link application, and lists a few of its features as well, which we will cover later on in this review.

Elgato Wave:3

The sides of the box provide more feature lists, along with a listing of the box’s contents and a few specifications.

The outer box of the packaging can be removed to reveal an inner box with a bit more heft to it.
Elgato Wave:3

Once opened up, we see a small accessories box along with a quick start guide.

Elgato Wave:3

With the accessories and guide out of the way, we find the Wave:3 held in place in a molded cardboard frame, with a protective plastic wrap to keep it safe from blemishes.

Elgato Wave:3

Accessories

Along with the Wave:3 itself, Elgato has included just a few additional items to help you get up and running with your stream as quickly as possible. These accessories are all bundled in a small inner-box, keeping with the tidy presentation of items.

Elgato Wave:3 Elgato Wave:3

The first item is a microphone arm adapter that can facilitate the use of a standard microphone arm. This adapter takes the place of the factory-attached microphone stand, and simply threads into the microphone holder. We really appreciate this adapter’s inclusion with the Wave:3, as Elgato suggests using the microphone quite close to your mouth, which really isn’t possible when it is mounted on the included stand.

Elgato Wave:3

Next up is a lengthy USB-C cable that will connect the Wave:3 to your PC. Pretty standard item here, but we do like to see the move to USB-C as opposed to Micro or Mini-USB.

Elgato Wave:3

Also included is a quick start guide and a bit of regulatory safety information.

Elgato Wave:3