Elgato Wave:3 review: a clean-sounding usb condenser with smart software mixing built in
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Overall score
The Wave:3 sounds great and its Wave Link software makes balancing game, chat and mic audio easy — a strong streaming USB mic if your room is reasonably quiet.
Pros
- Crisp, clear condenser sound
- Wave Link software mixing is genuinely useful
- Built-in clipguard prevents distortion
- Solid build and capacitive mute
Cons
- Condenser picks up room noise — treat your space
- Needs a boom arm for best results
Sound & software
Clean cardioid pickup plus Wave Link's software mixer is a powerful combo for streamers who want control without an external mixer.
Final verdict
The Wave:3 sounds great and its Wave Link software makes balancing game, chat and mic audio easy — a strong streaming USB mic if your room is reasonably quiet.
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See the full ranking on our streaming equipment hub.