Is this entry-level streaming mic worth a buy, or should you save up for something better?
Updated: Aug 13, 2024 3:02 pm
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The Elgato Wave Neo is the microphone element of the Elgato Neo range, which compromises five different products designed as an affordable entry-point solution for streamers and other online productivity users.
This mic is marketed as a plug-and-play, no-frills device, with good audio quality considering the budget asking price. Let’s see whether or not it measures up to this claim!
Specifications
- Sensitivity : -23 dBFS (min gain) | 7 dBFS (max gain)
- Sample rate : 24 Bit/48 kHz, 24 Bit/96 kHz
- Frequency response : 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Mounting threads: 1/4″, 5/8″, 3/8″
- Dimensions: 92 x 92 x 282 mm / 3.6 x 3.6 x 11.1 in (with riser)
- Weight: 520 g / 18.4 oz (with riser)
- Max SPL : 120 dB
- Dynamic range: 94 dB
- Connection: USB-C (digital), 3.5 mm stereo jack (headphones)
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What We Think
The Elgato Wave Neo is a great entry-level streaming mic with good-quality audio for the price, post-processing functionality, and a nice clean aesthetic.
Although there are a fair few areas where the cheapness of this microphone is evident, namely the lack of adjustability of the stand and its less than stellar build quality, the almost complete lack of controls on the mic itself, and the shortness of the cable, ultimately this is all forgivable considering the price point. That being said, if you can find a cheap enough Elgato Wave 3 for below its typical asking price, you might consider opting for that instead.
Pros
- Good quality audio for the price
- Simple to use
- Nice clean aesthetic
Cons
- Stand isn’t properly adjustable
- Capacitive mute button easy to press by accident
Pricing
The Elgato Wave Neo has an MSRP of $89.99 at the time of writing. This is only 60% of what the Elgato Wave 3 costs at its official MSRP of $149.99, which is quite a difference; that being said, you can often find the Wave 3 at a reduced price and it does come with superior build quality, physical controls, and slightly better audio quality, so you might want to consider this as well if you’re not so bothered about having a uniform white Elgato Neo aesthetic in your setup.
Design
The Wave Neo comes in the same all-white, minimalist aesthetic as the rest of the Elgato Neo range, and if you’re thinking of buying multiple products in this line then they do look pretty nice altogether. That being said, this is the only color option, so if you’re after something in black or something else then you’re out of luck.
The mic has a foam pop-filter included that attaches to the top of the mic but is removable in case you need to clean it. The front of the microphone features a single capacitive button that mutes/unmutes the mic and turns a reddish/orange color when muted.
The Wave Neo comes with a stand with a circular base that can be assembled in the full-height setup or shorter so it essentially has two height settings, but these can’t be switched between mid-use as they require you to take the stand apart. There’s a rubber cable management fitting on the back of the stand column that can be used to tidy away two wires. The wires in question are the included USB-C (which plugs into the back of the mic) to USB-A (which plugs into your computer) cable, which is fully detachable, and also any 3.5mm headphone cable you might want to jack into the port in the back (not included with the mic).
Instead of using the stand, you can always remove the thread adapter from the top section and then screw the mic onto a different stand or microphone arm with the conventional thread mount if you like. The 1.5m cable is a bit on the short side for flexible use, though it is at least detachable and you could always replace it with a longer one if needed.
The build quality is respectable for a cheap mic, but the metal stand is a bit prone to rattling and the fittings can feel a bit on the loose side. The pop filter in particular feels a bit brittle around its connection point, certainly when compared to the sturdy Lewitt-designed cardioid condenser capsule that you get on the Wave 3.
Audio Performance & Software
The raw audio quality on the Elgato Wave Neo is good, despite the cheaper asking price. The nearest comparison would be the Wave 3, which is only marginally better to our ears. In technical terms, the Wave Neo actually has a broader frequency response than the Wave 3, but the responsiveness is lower by comparison. Both can record and output in multi-channel audio.
Like the Wave 3 and the rest of Elgato’s audio line, the Wave Neo uses the ‘Wave Link’ software to control input and output settings for the mic. This software is intuitive and gives a good degree of control, including the ability to add voice effects and various other post-processing, all of which is on par with the more expensive mic.
Most of the differences that mark this mic out as budget are in its physical design. Whereas the Wave 3 has a physical, multi-function knob and button to change gain, headphone volume, and use as a multi-channel mixer, the Wave Neo has all these controls within the onboard software. Both come with capacitive switches for muting the mic easily without creating any handing noise in your stream or recording, however whereas the Wave 3 has this on the top of the mic, the Wave Neo has it on the front, and it’s a bit of an awkward position if you want to move the mic at any point given it’s very easy to accidentally mute/unmute yourself.
