Elgato · Updated September 2026
Elgato Wave:3 MK.2: price & specs
Elgato Wave:3 MK.2. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: elgato.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
The Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 is listed at $169.99 on elgato.com as of 2026-06-27, #15 cheapest of 20 microphones (median $148); other retailers may be lower. It earns a Bronze Deskmark — 0/100 pay-blind standing, #12 of 14 in class.
Verified Sep 21, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
- Best for Clean, polished, natural-sounding audio with little setup effort; Strong hardware paired with the Wave Link software experience.
- Skip if Body is mostly plastic, feeling less premium than an all-metal build (though not cheap) is a dealbreaker.
Is the Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 a good buy?
At $170, the Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 is #15 cheapest of the 20 microphones we track, where the median is $153. On the spec sheet, its sample rate of 48 kHz is the lowest of the 14, and its bit depth of 24 is at the median of the 14.
Evidence of Record
Our data- Independent labsmeasured it
- 3
- Physical metricsrecorded
- 10
- Outlets on recordall tested
- 3
3 independent labs measured this product, logging 10 distinct physical metrics between them — width, depth, height and 7 more. That is how much independent evidence stands behind any claim about it — not a rating of the product.
width · depth · height · weight · price · range · max spl · capsule size · bit depth · sample rate
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the Elgato Wave:3 MK.2
Across 3 testing outlets, the Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 lands as a well-regarded but not universally praised USB mic. GIGAZINE and MediaBerry both found the sound clean and polished with minimal setup effort, and MediaBerry called it 'a very easy recommendation,' while Stream Tech Reviews pushed back, describing the sound as sharp and harsh in the highs despite being detailed. Build quality draws mixed but non-damning notes across outlets — a mostly plastic body with a metal grille/upper section that doesn't feel cheap. The bundled Wave Link software and Clipguard 2.0 anti-distortion processing were called out as standout strengths.
Based on 3 reviews · 3 lab-tested · 2026-04-29–2026-08-08
Tested by GIGAZINE, MediaBerry, Stream Tech Reviews (BadIntent)
Consistently praised
- Clean, polished, natural-sounding audio with little setup effort · 2 sources
- Strong hardware paired with the Wave Link software experience · 2 sources
- Clipguard 2.0's 32-bit float processing effectively prevents distortion even when gain is maxed out
Commonly flagged
- Body is mostly plastic, feeling less premium than an all-metal build (though not cheap) · 2 sources
- Sound can come across as sharp/harsh in the high frequencies
Where reviewers disagree MediaBerry and GIGAZINE describe the sound as clean and polished, while Stream Tech Reviews characterizes the same mic's sound signature as sharp and harsh in the highs — a direct disagreement on tonal quality.
The sources (3)
Width: 85mm · Depth: 46mm · Height: 167mm · Weight (including desk stand): 568g · Price (Amazon.co.jp): 28,980 yen
Designed for streamers and podcast creators seeking professional-quality audio with minimal setup, it features 'Clipguard 2.0,' which prevents distortion through hardware-level 32-bit floating-point processing.
In both cases, the gain meter is maxed out to red, but you can clearly hear that the sound is distorted in the first half, while it sounds much clearer in the second half.
The weight, including the desk stand, is 568g
Price: £159.99 · Dynamic range: 110dB · Max SPL: 130dB
The Wave:3 MK.2 made me sound like myself, just a cleaner, more polished, 4K version.
Build quality is solid, with a metal upper half housing the steel grille and a plastic lower body that, while not as premium to the touch, doesn't feel cheap either.
But if you want something that sounds this good with this little effort, the Wave:3 MK.2 is a very easy recommendation.
Stream Tech Reviews (BadIntent)
Capsule size: 16 mm · Frequency range: 70 Hz - 20 kHz · Bit depth: 24-bit · Sample rate: 48 kHz
The best way to describe the overall sound of the Wave 3 MK.2 is sharp, harsh in the highs, but very detailed.
The Wave:3 MK.2 is mostly plastic except the grille which is metal.
The hardware is great, and the Wave Link software makes it even better.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $169.99 US MSRP $169.99 confirmed on elgato.com/us/en/p/wave-3 accessed 2026-06-15 (two independent fetches both confirmed). |
|---|---|
| Brand | Elgato |
| Released | — |
| Connectivity | USB-C |
| Polar pattern | cardioid |
| Type | condenser |
| Sample rate (kHz) | 48 |
| Bit depth | 24 |
| Headphone jack | Yes |
| Mute button | Yes |
| Mount | included desk stand; 1/4" thread adapter (3/8" and 5/8" adapters included) |
Source: elgato.com (read 2026-09-21) · corroborated by elgato.com (read 2026-06-15). elgato.com/us/en/p/wave-3 and elgato.com/us/en/p/wave-3-black both accessed 2026-06-15, both returned identical specs: full product name 'Wave:3 MK.2 USB Condenser Microphone', connectivity USB-C (USB 2.0 HS), polar pattern cardioid, capsule type 16mm condenser (integrated JFET), sample rate 48kHz, bit depth 24-bit, headphone jack 3.5mm stereo yes, mute 'Tap to mute' yes, included desk stand, 1/4-inch thread with 5/8" and 3/8" adapters, Wave FX Processor with Clipguard 2.0, maximum SPL 130dB, dynamic range 110dB, frequency response 70-20,000Hz. Price $169.99 confirmed on both page fetches. Release date: 'MK.2' designation noted but exact date not specified on page. The corroborating page this record cited (https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/wave-3-black) is gone: on 2026-09-11 it answered 200 and redirected to https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/wave-3, both from a residential connection and from a datacenter on another continent — so the page is gone rather than withheld from one asker. This record therefore no longer claims an independent second witness for its figures. The page the figures were read from, elgato.com, still answers.
Is the Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 worth it vs cheaper microphones?
Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 against its closest cheaper and pricier microphones on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 20 ranked
| Product | Price | Connectivity | Polar pattern | Type | Sample rate (kHz) | Bit depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 this | $169.99 | USB-C | cardioid | condenser | 48 | 24 |
| Audio-Technica AT2020USB-X | $169 | USB-C | cardioid | condenser | 96 | 24 |
| HyperX QuadCast S | $199.99 | USB | cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, stereo | condenser | 48 | 16 |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the Elgato Wave:3 MK.2?
Across 3 testing outlets, the Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 lands as a well-regarded but not universally praised USB mic. GIGAZINE and MediaBerry both found the sound clean and polished with minimal setup effort, and MediaBerry called it 'a very easy recommendation,' while Stream Tech Reviews pushed back, describing the sound as sharp and harsh in the highs despite being detailed. Build quality draws mixed but non-damning notes across outlets — a mostly plastic body with a metal grille/upper section that doesn't feel cheap. The bundled Wave Link software and Clipguard 2.0 anti-distortion processing were called out as standout strengths. Praised: Clean, polished, natural-sounding audio with little setup effort; Strong hardware paired with the Wave Link software experience; Clipguard 2.0's 32-bit float processing effectively prevents distortion even when gain is maxed out. Flagged: Sound can come across as sharp/harsh in the high frequencies; Body is mostly plastic, feeling less premium than an all-metal build (though not cheap). (From 3 tester reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
How much does the Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 cost?
The Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 has a US price of $169.99 (US MSRP $169.99 confirmed on elgato.com/us/en/p/wave-3 accessed 2026-06-15 (two independent fetches both confirmed).), as of 2026-09-21.
How does the Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 compare on price?
At $170, the Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 is #15 cheapest of the 20 microphones we track, where the median is $153.
What are the Elgato Wave:3 MK.2's key specs?
Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 (Elgato): connectivity USB-C, polar pattern cardioid, type condenser, sample rate khz 48, bit depth 24. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-09-21.
Price of record: $169.99 at elgato.com, 2026-06-27. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
See Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Similar microphones
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Compare with
Head-to-head
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Step up
- HyperX QuadCast S $199.99
- Rode PodMic USB $209
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