Elgato Wave:3 White - Premium Studio Quality USB Condenser Microphone for Streaming, Podcast, Gaming and Home Office, Free Mixer Software, Anti-Distortion, Plug ’n Play, for Mac, PC

The media could not be loaded. Long-Term Review: 5 Years of Use and It's Still Worth ItI'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 UseTypically, 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 SoftwareThe 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 mixingPlugin support (including third-party plugins)EQ adjustments and effectsIt’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 ThoughtsBefore 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!

I love the sound that comes out of this microphone!I finally feel confident recording, streaming, and handling zoom calls at any time. This is huge for me because I do m a lot of recording but have a dog who barks incessantly and usually at the worst times. It also looks great as part of my setup and of course works well with other elgato tech like the stream deck that I’m running.My small dig

I would consider this one of if not the best mics I've ever owned. It's a bit of a pain to get set up in everything but once you get it figured out it's amazing. Quality is clear and crisp, has a built-in gain nob so if you have too much noise you can adjust on the fly. Definitely worth the price.

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.

I had a blue yeti before this mic and this one is so much better. It is crystal clear and the software is awesome. I have all the accessories including the monitor arm and love it. My friends in Discord say it sounds like I’m sitting right next to them while we’re on call lol

Why did you pick this product vs others?:Love this mic, but no quick mute sucks.

I'm a Content Creator including Twitch Streamer and YouTube Videos and this is a great microphone to use for both making content and just chatting with friends. The Quality of the mic is great and its really easy to setup.

This mic is awesome! Build quality, the feel, functionality, the weight, everything! And the cherry on top is the wave link software, it makes the mic sound so good!It’s really easy to set up and use, and there’s a lot of customization and tinkering you can do with this mic. 100% would buy again!