Elgato Wave DX review - Dynamic microphone for streaming, podcasting, gaming, broadcasting and more
Elgato Wave DX* – a dynamic XLR microphone that wants to take on the classic Shure SM7B voice microphone. We were completely surprised by the Wave DX and you can read why in our microphone review of the Elgato Wave XLR microphone here.
Our Rating:
★★★★★
The sound is very good for the price and can keep up with the quality of the Shure SM7B. Hats off, Elgato!
★★★★★
Good connectivity for people who are used to XLR microphones. Wave Link is simple, no booster is necessary
★★★★★
The workmanship is high quality, the microphone is not a dust catcher and looks valuable.
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Elgato Wave DX: First impression and scope of delivery
Simple and compact – the Elgato Wave DX microphone is reduced to the essentials, namely good sound. Streamer microphones such as the Elgato Wave Neo or the Elgato Wave:3 often have nice lights and a few setting options, such as a mute button. But the Wave DX doesn’t have any other features, lights or buttons because, quite frankly, it doesn’t need them. You get the typical podcast sound without all the bells and whistles. The Wave DX works right out of the box with it’s free mixer software. What we really like is the integrated foam. With the competitor Shure SM7B, the foam is on the outside and gets dirty and catches lint over longer periods of use. With the Wave DX, the two layers of foam are embedded in the metal housing, which looks better and simply doesn’t catch dirt as quickly. The build quality is extremely high, which is usually the hallmark of Elgato devices.
The scope of delivery of the Elgato Wave DX is very clear, because apart from an adapter screw for a tripod, no other accessories are included. The Wave DX microphone is therefore the only thing you get for your money. This is important to mention because you need a few more accessories for the mic. Besides the Elgato Wave DX, we’ve also have a Elgato Wave Neo review and a Elgato Wave:3 review.
Accessories required for the microphone
As the Wave DX only has an XLR connection (no USB), you need an XLR audio interface for your computer. So we already need an audio interface and an XLR cable.
The Elgato Wave DX cannot stand on its own, which is why a boom arm or swivel mount is required. This means that although you can buy the mic at a reasonable price, you will also need to buy some additional accessories. So a simple microphone purchase can turn into a complete shopping experience.
So here is a complete shopping list:
- Audio interface with XLR Port (preferably compact USB interface)
- Booster (optional)
- XLR cable
- Microphone boom arm / stand
If your audio interface does not have phantom power or powerful preamps, a booster may be necessary. The Wave DX is a dynamic microphone, but it requires a lot of amplification, which can lead to noise with inexpensive audio interfaces. Elgato says there is no signal booster required but we would definitely recommend a booster such as the FetHead.
From this point of view, the Wave DX does not perform so well in terms of compatibility. If you have worked with an XLR microphone before and have the necessary equipment, you should have no problems here.
Elgato also offers its own accessories, such as the Elgato Wave XLR Interface* or its own Wave Mic Arm LP*.
Podcasters, streamers and more: How good is the sound?
Let’s get to the most important question: can the microphone do anything? The Elgato Wave DX is a dynamic voice microphone, which means that it is very much designed for voice recording. It doesn’t pick up everything, but instead focuses on suppressing background noise. The cardioid polar pattern suppresses background noise. This makes the voice sound much more detailed. The frequency response is also closely matched to the voice. The sound quality is less open like a condenser, but the finely tuned frequency response range fits perfectly to most voices. The optimized proximity effect lets you shape your voice. It is a microphone that picks up detail like luscious highs while rejecting room noise.
However, this also means that you have to align the microphone. So it’s best to always speak directly into the front. The distance should also not be too great. This allows you to create a natural sound. As is typical with podcast mics, it can be used very close up. An optimized proximity effect ensures that the voice sounds natural up close. That’s when the clarity of the microphone starts shining trhough.
The built-in pop filter does a tremendous job. We were also pleasantly surprised at how well the P-sounds are retained, it’s the best by far we’ve heard yet. The dynamic Microphone Capsule is sandwiched between two layers of foam. The Wave DX is a remarkable feat of audio engineering.
And if you want to elevate your microphone even further, you can use the included free Mixing software Wave Link and add Elgato’s own effects (compressor, EQ).
Elgato Wave DX - Conclusion
The Wave DX is a great podcaster microphone and perfect for streaming or recording. In a direct price comparison with the Shure SM7B or the Rode Podmic, with the same range of functions, the price is a third of the SM7B. The workmanship is robust and the simple design makes the microphone the ideal companion, regardless of the setup. The Wave DX is ideal for professional recordings, but also for simple voice chats. With its dynamic directional characteristic, it has amazing noise suppression. In our opinion, a clear recommendation to buy, not only for podcasters.
You’ll find more microphones here: Podcast Microphone, Streaming Microphone, USB Microphone
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