Elgato Wave DX Review
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What is the Elgato Wave DX?
Basic Specifications
Audio Quality
Build Quality and Mounting Options
Verdict
What is the Elgato Wave DX?
The Elgato Wave DX is an XLR dynamic microphone. It connects using an XLR cable (not included). An audio interface like the Elgato Wave XLR is required to use this device with a computer, but this connection type makes it usable with a plethora of devices like mixers, and PA systems.
No switches or knobs are on the device itself for controlling the audio, so it’s a purely analog device. The advantage of being a dynamic microphone is it inherently rejects more background noise than condenser mics.
Wave DX vs Wave:1 and Wave:3
So what makes the Wave DX different than Elgato’s other microphones? Here’s what sets them apart:
The Wave DX connects using an XLR cable and the Wave:1 and Wave:3 use a USB-C to USB-A cable. This means the Wave DX needs to be plugged into an audio interface to use it with a computer.
The Wave DX uses a moving coil dynamic microphone. Sound waves effectively power the coil directly. The Wave:1 and Wave: 3 use charged condenser capsules. This makes them more sensitive, but it also means they require constant phantom power which they get from their USB connection.
The Wave:1 and Wave:3 have controls on the mics themselves. The Wave DX has no circuitry.
The Wave:1 and Wave:3 come with stands. The Wave DX has no stand included.
The Wave:1 and Wave:3 serve as hardware keys to access the Elgato Wave Link software. The Wave DX doesn’t directly connect to any software.
While the Wave DX is very different from the Wave:1 and Wave:3 in terms of how it produces sound and its connectivity options, it ultimately has a pretty similar tone. If you only care about audio quality, none of the options are strictly superior to the other, but the Wave DX has the best background noise rejection.
Basic Specifications
Wave DX connected to the Wave XLR.
Connection Type: XLR.
Capsule: Dynamic.
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 50 Hz - 15 KHz.
For more specifications and information, this is a link to the official product page on Elgato’s website.
Audio Quality
Tone
Detail and Clarity
Background Noise Rejection
Plosive Rejection
Sibilance
Audio Summary
Tone
The Wave DX has been tuned to have “precise vocals without coloration” according to Elgato’s website. In real world use, the bass sounds artifically subdued to mitigate the proximity effect and the treble can get harsh. Still, the midrange is very smooth and clear. And vocals have strong presence.
Overall, I’m not a big fan of the tone. I like a more relaxed, warm sound. Fortunately, I was able to get the Wave DX to sound exactly how I wanted for my voice with an equalizer.
I need a lot of EQ for the Wave DX to sound how I like it.
Detail and Clarity
Elgato says the Wave DX is “a dynamic microphone that picks up detail like a condenser”. In my tests, that’s mostly accurate. While its frequency range is more limited than some of the 20 Hz - 20 KHz condenser mics on the market like the Audio-Technica AT2020, it still captures acoustic instruments and vocals quite well.
The Blue Yeti, a staple USB condenser mic, is the only device I have that I’d say truly picks up better detail than the Wave DX.
Background Noise Rejection
The Wave DX passively isolates the primary audio source well due to its physical build and cardioid pickup pattern. It picks up far less background sounds like computer fans than any condenser I’ve used, and it blocks out keyboard typing even better than the Shure MV7.
Unfortunately, the Wave DX’s shock resistance is lacking. When typing on a keyboard, you can hear the metal body of the mic echoing with each desk vibration. I find the Samson Q2U to have the best background noise rejection of all my current microphones.
Plosive Rejection
The pop filter in here kind of works, a little.
Like most microphones released these days, the Wave DX has a pop filter built into it. And just like most microphones released these days, it’s not very effective. Plosives come through loud and strong on the Wave DX. Still, it’s a bit better about stopping them from farther away than the Shure MV7 and Samson Q2U.
You don’t need a pop filter with this, but good microphone placement is very important to prevent distortion.
Sibilance
“S” sounds on the Wave DX get sharp; there’s no sugarcoating it. The simplest solution is to reduce the volume of the upper midrange or lower treble with an equalizer. The sibilance is not as bad as the Blue Yeti, but it’s not exactly enjoyable either.
Audio Summary
The Elgato Wave DX is a mostly natural sounding mic, but its bass and sub-bass are intentionally restrained. The sibilance is also unpleasant. Still, because the mic is so clear, it can sound excellent with an equalizer and it contains background sounds quite well.
Build Quality and Mounting Options
1/4 inch threading adapter. There’s another adapter inside.
The Wave DX comes with minimal accessories in the box. Neither a stand nor an XLR cable are included in the box, so you have to buy those separately. Additionally, the mic is unusable on a computer without some sort of audio interface.
In order to actually use this mic, my setup consists of: the Wave DX mic, Wave XLR audio interface, XLR male to female microphone cable, and a Luling Arts boom arm.
Elgato did include several adapters that are pre-assembled. The threading inside the mount is 5/8 inch, but there’s also a 5/8 to 3/8 inch and 3/8 to 1/4 inch adapter that even lets you use it on tripods. That helped a lot during the music tests.
The Wave DX’s body is made of metal, so it’s very sturdy and I have no complaints about the build. You can even pull out the logo and change the direction it’s facing or even swap it to the other side by unscrewing the mount.
Verdict
Samson Q2U (left) and Elgato Wave DX.
I like the Elgato Wave DX. Its background noise rejection is great. The audio is clean, detailed, and it doesn't need a lot of gain. 60% from my Wave XLR was more than enough.
The only problem is there’s another microphone on the market with a very similar sound signature that’s a better value. The Samson Q2U is a dynamic microphone that can be used as both USB and XLR. It comes with a desk stand, a wind guard, and even an XLR cable. Plus it’s generally far cheaper than the Wave DX. Its background noise rejection is also superior.
As good as the Wave DX is, I ultimately recommend the Samson Q2U over it.
