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Experts recommend Elgato Wave 3 more than JLab Talk

As of 3 Jan 2025, experts prefer Elgato Wave 3 over JLab Talk, but both Microphones have solid expert endorsements.

As per this month's meta ranking, Elgato Wave 3 received 3 recommendations: from IGN (2 Jan 2025), SoundGuys (22 Feb 2024) and CNN Underscored (1 Jan 2025). By contrast, JLab Talk received only 1 recommendation from Tom's Guide (15 Nov 2024).

Rank Change Price Microphone
IGN
PCMag
MusicTech
Music Radar
PianoDreamers
PC Gamer
SoundGuys
CNN Underscored
Tom's Guide
Wirecutter
3
- $120
Elgato Wave 3
The Elgato Wave 3 is a versatile and reliable USB microphone designed for content creators, podcasters, and live streamers, featuring a cardioid polar pattern, two connectivity options, advanced features, and compatibility with both PC and Mac.
8
-
-
-
-
-
1
3
-
-
25
N/A $37
JLab Talk
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
-

Curious to see this month's entire Microphones ranking? It's here

About our ranking methodology

Endorsement summary:

  • On 2 Jan 2025 IGN ranked Elgato Wave 3 as #8
    Rank Microphone Comment
    ... ... ...
    #8 out of 10 Elgato Wave 3
    Best Plug-In-Play Microphone for Streaming
    ... ... ...
  • On 22 Feb 2024 SoundGuys ranked Elgato Wave 3 as #1
    Rank Microphone Comment
    #1 out of 5 Elgato Wave 3
    The Best
    ... ... ...
  • On 1 Jan 2025 CNN Underscored ranked Elgato Wave 3 as #3
    Rank Microphone Comment
    ... ... ...
    #3 out of 3 Elgato Wave 3
    Best microphone for streaming
  • On 15 Nov 2024 Tom's Guide ranked JLab Talk as #2
    Rank Microphone Comment
    ... ... ...
    #2 out of 6 JLab Talk
    The best microphone for $100 or less
    ... ... ...

After counting and adding up the 92 expert endorsements of the January rankings, Elgato Wave 3 outranks JLab Talk. This is not to say that JLab Talk is a bad option. Like Elgato Wave 3, it is recommended by experts, but less.

MetaRanking Common points from expert reviews summarized.
As can be seen below, Elgato Wave 3 is mentioned by key experts in Jan 2025, while JLab Talk is not.
Rank Change Price Microphone
IGN
PCMag
MusicTech
Music Radar
PianoDreamers
PC Gamer
SoundGuys
CNN Underscored
Tom's Guide
Wirecutter
1
- $100
Blue Yeti
The Blue Yeti microphone is a versatile and durable device with four directional patterns, a built-in headphone jack, and compatibility with a wide range of devices and software, making it a popular choice among content creators, podcasters, and gamers.
-
-
11
-
-
-
-
1
1
-
2
- $99
Shure SM57
The Shure SM57 microphone is highly regarded for its exceptional sound quality, durability, versatility, and compatibility, making it a popular choice among musicians, producers, and recording engineers for capturing instruments and vocals in various live and studio settings.
-
-
-
1
1
-
-
-
-
-
3
- $120
Elgato Wave 3
The Elgato Wave 3 is a versatile and reliable USB microphone designed for content creators, podcasters, and live streamers, featuring a cardioid polar pattern, two connectivity options, advanced features, and compatibility with both PC and Mac.
8
-
-
-
-
-
1
3
-
-
4
+12 $279
Shure MV7 Plus
5
7
-
-
-
6
-
-
3
-
Show all rows
Expert Reviews There are people on the Internet whose job is to review products. Below are their opinions.

Expert reviews [24]

85
Total expert reviews: 24
  • with a score: 12
  • without a score: 12
Highest score by TechRadar
100
Average score based on 24 reviews
85
Lowest score by PCMag
70

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20

Expert reviews [7]

90
Total expert reviews: 7
  • with a score: 2
  • without a score: 5
Highest score by Tom's Guide
90
Average score based on 7 reviews
90
Lowest score by Tech Advisor
90

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20
From Seller:
  • Cardioid Condenser Capsule: capture speech with clarity and detail.
  • Wave Link App: control Wave:3 and up to eight other audio sources, plus create two independent mixes.
  • 24-bit/96kHz Analog-to-Digital Converter: professional broadcast audio quality.
  • Read more
From Seller:
  • 🎙️ DESKTOP STYLE HIGH PERFORMER: Meet Talk, an intermediate, desktop-style high performer microphone with three studio-quality condensers and a 96kHz/24BIT resolution to put your sound at ease for better recordings and podcasts wherever you go. With the four prominent directional pattern modes, you choose what you want to record. Whether your record a podcast, game stream, YouTube video, music or a voiceover, Talk gives you powerful sound quality with all the controls.
  • Read more
Video Reviews Most popular unboxing/review videos.
Elgato Wave 3 USB Mic Review / Test (Compared to Snowball, Yeti, Quadcast, Seiren X, & more)
Review by Podcastage
Very popular! 193K views!
Play video review
Elgato Wave 3: THE streaming microphone
Review by CNET
Popular! 99K views!
Play video review
Elgato Wave 3 Streaming Microphone Review: More Than a Mic
Review by BadSeed Tech
Popular! 59K views!
Play video review
JLAB TALK MIC REVIEW | SOUND TEST | COMPARISON
Review by GNR Frank
Popular! 17K views!
Play video review
Best Cheap MIC? JLab Talk USB Microphone
Review by Lynsight
Play video review
JLab Audio Talk Go USB Microphone (vs Blue Snowball ICE vs FiFINE K670)
Review by Audio Hotline
Popular! 41K views!
Play video review

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