Elgato Wave Neo review - USB microphone for social media and iPhone
The Elgato Wave Neo* breaks new ground and wants to assert itself in the social media niche. We test whether the microphone is worth it, how it sounds and evaluate the Wave Neo.
Elgato Wave Neo: First impression and scope of delivery
The Wave Neo looks a bit as if the microphone didn’t come from Elgato, but from Apple. The design in particular makes it clear which target group is being addressed, as it is modern and stylish. The large mute indicator also points to streaming, because otherwise you rarely need a mute switch.
Taken out of the packaging, the Neo doesn’t make a good impression, because the scope of delivery looks like an IKEA mini piece of furniture. There is an instruction manual for setting up the stand, you can set it up with or without a height extension. A good idea in itself, but the implementation fails. The Wave Neo is quick to set up, but it still seems unstable and even wobbles when you touch it. The tripod therefore looks absolutely inferior. Unfortunately, we were unable to test how the Neo works on an Elgato swivel arm. In addition to the Elgato Wave Neo, we also have an Elgato Wave DX Review and an Elgato Wave:3 Review.
“Great sound for professionals” ...or not?
If you look at the marketing texts for this mic, not only do the words iPad, iPhone, Mac, gaming and streaming often appear, but also how great the Neo sounds. Of course, you shouldn’t expect a studio microphone for the price of around €90, but it should have more to offer than just being quick to set up and ready to use. The smartphone compatibility also leaves something to be desired, as there are no cables to connect it to iOS devices. Too bad.
After assembly: plug and play ... and mute?!
“Mute with a tap” is part of the advertising text, which is touted as an advantage. Unfortunately, we find that this large area can be rather disastrous, as you often reach it by mistake. You want to switch or touch the microphone briefly and it cracks loudly and you are muted. Unfortunately, muting leads to loud crackling noises that you can’t influence.
Nevertheless, the microphone is immediately ready for use and sounds absolutely acceptable for an inexpensive USB condenser microphone! The sound is sufficient for conferences, podcasts, streams and social media (depending on your requirements). You have to be patient and accept the shortcomings listed if you like the design. However, we would recommend other microphones.
★★★★☆
The sound is acceptable for less than 100€, you have to pay attention to the distance, but the microphone sounds balanced
★★★☆☆
Additional cables should be available for a smartphone model. A USB-A cable is included. Nevertheless, the Neo is compatible with many devices
★★☆☆☆
Unfortunately, the workmanship is really inferior. It wobbles, the touch field of the mute button is not accurate.
Conclusion: The new Elgato Wave Neo microphone is cheap.
That sounds very derogatory, but the Wave Neo is simply an affordable alternative for more professional USB microphones. Nothing has been reinvented here, but a microphone has been developed for a specific target group. In terms of sound, it’s okay for the price, but we recommend spending a little more money and buying a Røde NT USB Mini or similar USB microphones, for example. We have also tested the Elgato Wave:3 and can absolutely recommend it.
You can find more microphones here: Podcast microphones, Streaming microphones, USB microphones
Links marked with * are affiliate links. There are no additional costs for you, some of these links are with an automatic discount for you. We mark these links for transparency and would never recommend bad products!
