It’s been the best part of six years since Elgato made its microphone debut with the original Wave:3, and quite a lot has changed in the meantime. The market is now completely stacked, and every brand seemingly has its own microphone for streaming and gaming. It’s no longer just a hardware fight; advancements in software, AI processing, and companion apps are just as important as base physical specs. And perhaps most welcome for aspiring creators, the budget you need for studio-quality audio at home is going down, not up.
The headline details of the Wave:3 MK.2 haven’t changed much. It’s still a USB-powered condenser microphone, it still includes a stand, and it’s still pitched as being a stress-free path to great audio for streamers and podcasters. Launching at $169.99/£159.99, it’s still a similar price too, which does leave it exposed to being undercut in such a competitive market. What’s new is an upgraded processor with onboard effects that take the load off your CPU, an improved anti-clipping solution, and the ability to store your settings on-device and take them with you between machines.
