Elgato Wave DX

XLR audioquality XLR in a cool-looking set of boxes

- REECE BITHREY

IF YOU WANT PROPER pro-level audio recording, you’ll need what’s known as an XLR mic, a device that’s becoming increasingly popular on PC thanks to the boom in streaming and podcasting. Enter an increasing number of brands jumping on the XLR bandwagon, the latest of which is Elgato Wave DX.

As an XLR mic, the Wave DX was a little fiddly to set up. It’s not a case of plugging in one cable and the mic works. Instead, it’s a multi-stage procedure that relies on you having a few things to hand.

To get the Wave DX working, you’ll need the mic itself, as well as an XLR cable (sold separately, but any XLR cable should do) and an interface of some form for the mic, which in turn plugs into your PC. In theory, this mic should work with any XLR interface, but for the sake of unity and convenience, we used Elgato’s own Wave XLR, which gives you access to onboard gain control so as not to clutter the sleek design of the Wave DX itself.

Once you’ve jumped through a couple of hoops and set the Wave DX up on a mic arm (there isn’t a tripod stand in the box), you’re ready to go. The setup isn’t as bad as all the above sounds; it’s really just plugging in a handful of cables. It also helps that every part of this kit is well built and simple to operate.

Moreover, the Wave DX is minimalist and elegant in all the right ways, and has a sturdy, mostly metal construction. Yet, there’s no unnecessary bulkiness due to a shock mount or external pop filter like you get with other mics thanks to the Wave DX’s internal pop filter. The same goes for the boom arm and Wave XLR interface too, which although is made of plastic, doesn’t feel cheap.