Elgato Wave:3
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Overview
Callers and streamers who want clean plug-and-play USB audio and can grab the original on a sub-US$110 deal. Skip it if you want onboard processing or the latest hardware; the MK.2 is ~US$20 more at list.
A USB mic on an arm so it is six inches from his mouth on calls and out of the way otherwise. Bought 2023-10-08 from Amazon.ca for C$193.09 (single-item order total).
Pros
- Clipguard stops clipping when you get loud
- Wave Link software mixing with Stream Deck integration
- Capacitive mute, headphone jack, 24-bit / 96 kHz
- Compact; includes a desk stand
Cons
- Superseded by the MK.2 (Clipguard 2.0, Wave FX DSP)
- Cardioid only; sensitive to room noise
- Plastic body, modest 120 dB max SPL
- Stock of the original is thinning
Price
| What the owner paid | C$193.09 · Amazon.ca · 2023-10-08 |
|---|---|
| List price now | US$149.99 |
| Price history | Launched June 2020 at US$159.99; now US$149.99 list with all-time lows of US$99.99 twice in 2026 (Feb and June, Amazon/Best Buy). The Wave:3 MK.2 (March 2026) lists at US$169.99 / C$229.99. Current Canadian list for the original was not verifiable; Best Buy Canada shows it sold out. |
Where to buy
The Amazon.ca button opens the verified product page for this exact model; no live price is shown here. The original Wave:3 is no longer stocked on Amazon.ca; the listing is the Wave:3 MK.2. As an Amazon Associate, Direct To Growth Co. earns from qualifying purchases. The Amazon.ca button is an affiliate link; the Amazon.com button is not (yet).
Specs
| Model | Wave:3 (original generation), black |
|---|---|
| Key specs | 17 mm condenser capsule, cardioid |
| 24-bit / 96 kHz, Clipguard | |
| USB-C, 3.5 mm zero-latency monitoring, capacitive mute | |
| 280 g; 1/4 and 3/8 in mount adapters | |
| Check before ordering | Original (10MAB9901) vs MK.2 (10MAO9901): both sell as 'Wave:3'; it is cardioid, so position and gain still matter |
Out of the box TBD
What came in the box, first setup, and the first thing that went wrong. Coming from the owner.
Daily use
How do you keep a microphone close without it living on the desk?
A USB mic on an arm so it is six inches from his mouth on calls and out of the way otherwise. Callers and streamers who want clean plug-and-play USB audio and can grab the original on a sub-US$110 deal.
“Oldest piece of audio on the desk (October 2023) and the reason the Stream Deck + made sense later: Wave Link puts the mic gain and mute on a dial. It lives on the Desky boom arm; swings in for calls, out for focus.”
Shape, ergonomics and features TBD
The negatives, the positives, and the things nobody mentions in the listing. Coming from the owner after a longer stretch of use.
On the desk
Alternatives
- Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 (researched, US$169.99 / C$229.99): Clipguard 2.0 and onboard DSP; the one to buy new
- Elgato Wave Neo (researched): cheaper, simpler USB mic if you only do calls
The verdict on the Elgato Wave:3
Buy it if: Callers and streamers who want clean plug-and-play USB audio and can grab the original on a sub-US$110 deal.
Skip it if: You want onboard processing or the latest hardware; the MK.2 is ~US$20 more at list.
Main drawback: Superseded by the MK.2 (Clipguard 2.0, Wave FX DSP)
Would he buy it again? TBD The owner's answer is coming.
Check price on Amazon.ca Elgato Canada (now Wave:3 MK.2)
Sources
Reviewed by T.R., Chief Growth Officer, Direct To Growth Co.. Evidence: Owned and used by the owner. Spec and price checks last run 2026-10-19. Corrections: tell us.