Microphone is one of the keys to improving the sound quality so we have to choose it wisely because there are so many of them out there. If you are going to use the microphone with a computer or mounting it on the table, Elgato Wave 3 Vs Blue Yeti will be great options to consider. These microphones are similar but quite different and for those who want easy to use equipment, let’s see what they can offer below or which seem to fit you best.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- What are USB Microphones
- What are Elgato Wave 3 and Blue Yeti
- How are the Build Quality of Elgato Wave 3 and Blue Yeti
- How are the Specs of Elgato Wave 3 and Blue Yeti
- How are the Sound Quality of Elgato Wave 3 and Blue Yeti
- What else Elgato Wave 3 and Blue Yeti can offer
- Elgato Wave 3 Vs Blue Yeti
USB Microphone
Dealing with audio quality is complicated because there are so many things that can affect and decide how the sound from your project will come out. Whether it is only for communicating such as when making calls or gaming to song recording and streaming your voice, we all want the sound quality to be better or at least comfortable to listen to for your viewers and audience. The first step to achieve better sound is by using a good microphone.
Similar to many other audio equipment, they are continuously improved to meet the current need of users in the present day. In the past, we could only find XLR and microphones with TRS connectors but today there are also USB microphones. This type of microphone is best when it comes to the convenience and how easy it is to pair them with the computer or other devices that come with a USB port or connector. Many of us are relying on this type of microphone for their sound quality too.
In terms of application, USB microphones such as HyperX QuadCast S Vs Elgato Wave 3 are very convenient based on what you want to use them for. Podcasts for example will be very ideal for this application because we can just plug the mic to a computer, with the audio software and streaming service that you are using. We can also use them for interviews when you are on the go because there is no need to add other equipment in between.
The sound quality is also ideal for voice overs or anything that you are professionally working on. Many of us who are working in this segment are not professional when it comes to audio quality and probably very little have knowledge on them so it is good to have something simple yet still work really well. In addition, what to know about USB mic is that most of them are also condensers which means they are also quite sensitive or used in the studio and similar type of setting.
Some may already know that a condenser microphone needs phantom power or 48V to work properly but, a USB microphone already comes with the required equipment built-in so they can be used with the USB port only. Depending on the microphone as well, they can be best for instrument and vocals or for speech only. But, in general application we can do everything with the microphone including recording your demo at home.
| Elgato Wave 3 | Blue Yeti | |
|---|---|---|
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| Product Dimensions | 1.57 x 2.6 x 6.02 inches | 4.9 x 4.7 x 11.6 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 1.29 pounds | 3.2 pounds |
| Shop now at Amazon | click here | click here |
About Elgato Wave 3 and Blue Yeti
You can go amazing with a USB microphone depending on which seems to fit best in the application but nothing will beat them for the convenience so if you don’t want to invest on other equipment, we can just choose any popular or good USB mic to work with. Rather than the price, we can shop based on the quality or the response and character of the microphone. It may take some time to look around but it is best to match the option for the application.
If you have less time to consider all of the promising options, it is fast to check on the most popular options instead because they will have the higher chance to match you best. There are so many good microphones such as Elgato and Blue that are very popular among streamers because of their product quality. As a brand they do carry plenty of interesting variants however and not all of them are actually the same or give you the same level of sound quality and experience.
For those who simply want a good sound quality, the Elgato Wave 3 and Blue Yeti are two promising options to consider. These microphones are very simple because you only need to plug the cord to the computer and begin using the equipment to record or stream something. There is no need to add an interface or adapter because they are plug-and-play. What we love the most from these microphones is their sound quality because they sound good and suitable for various applications.
They are very much the same to each other from the sound character and mostly you will hear them as flat or fairly neutral too. However, in comparison the Yeti is just slightly flatter in comparison and if you like the highs of your voice, the Wave 3 will be the more promising options to go for. In addition, the latter also has some features built in the unit which makes it a better choice if you are going to access the other polar pattern to match with the application.
Elgato Wave 3 and Blue Yeti Design
Now for the unit itself, it is important to find a microphone that comes with a good build quality or at least robust enough as none of the Elgato Wave 3 and Blue Yeti are cheap. In comparison, the Yeti will be the better option because it has the better build quality by being made of metal construction while on the other hand Wave 3’s housing is made of plastic. They are designed to sit on top of your table and both microphones have the table mount.
The Wave 3 is actually using a metal base or mount, the same with Yeti. As you can see, the shape and styling are about the same and as a cardioid microphone, we are going to talk in front of the microphone for most of the time. We do like how they look and on the unit besides the main knob to adjust the settings, we can also mute the microphone directly. In addition, you can find a monitor port as well.
Elgato Wave 3 and Blue Yeti Specs
Moving further, both Elgato Wave 3 and Blue Yeti are similar but also different from each other. First it is convenient to know what these microphones can offer based on the spec so we can guess how they will sound. In comparison, the Yeti frequency range is from 20Hz to 20kHz, sampling rate of up to 96kHz, bit depth of 24bit, and the preset mode of this microphone is cardioid. On the other hand Wave 3 is from 70 Hz to 20kHz, sampling rate up to 96kHz, bit depth of 24bit, and also cardioid in polar pattern.
Elgato Wave 3 and Blue Yeti Sound Quality
Now for the most important part and it is the sound quality. Both of them are very similar but not identical as well because in general the Yeti is the most neutral among the two. It is pretty flat across the frequency and with some slight difference on the high-end. This mic is also extending the low end and giving your voice that comfortable but also crisp sound. The Wave 3 cut the low end and subdued on the mid-range as well while the highs are more boosted.
Side by side, the noticeable difference will be because the Wave 3 is slightly brighter in comparison and while this may be great for some people, it depends on what type of sound you like the most for the voice and in terms of quality, they are equally clean and crisp.
Elgato Wave 3 and Blue Yeti Features
Lastly, on the additional features of Elgato Wave 3 and Blue Yeti, you can plug a headphone directly to the microphone for zero-latency monitoring and this is working really well for the real application. Another feature on the Yeti but is not present on Wave 3 is the optional polar pattern. As you can see there is a knob at the front and this is meant to adjust the directionality of this microphone from the standard cardioid to stereo, omni, and figure 8.
This feature is very useful for when you want to change the application of the microphone such as when interviewing people or recording songs with your friends at home. In addition, both microphones also have a gain knob built-in the unit to conveniently adjust the gain of your microphone without having to reach the computer.
Comparison
Both Elgato Wave 3 and Blue Yeti are very similar in terms of delivering good sound quality as well as how convenient it is to use the microphones. The prominent difference is on their sound character because the Wave 3 is brighter compared to Yeti on the cardioid setting which pronounce your high-end further. Additionally, while you have gain, volume, and mute button, only the Yeti will give you an option to change the polar pattern.
Conclusion
There is no bad option here so you can go with any of these microphones that seems best in the application. Personally we recommend getting the Yeti if you prefer the neutral sound but if you like the slightly brighter option, the Wave 3 is very ideal.