USB microphones, ranked by critic score
3 ranked by critic score · 3 more not yet ranked · 27 professional reviews
Plug-in microphones for calls, podcasts and streaming, judged on voice quality and ease of use.
Image: ElgatoElgato Wave:3
11 professional reviewers tested the Elgato Wave:3, and 10 recommend it. Most praised: sound quality and ease of use. Most common complaint: controls and app.
The catch: Single polar pattern, and the touch mute is easy to trigger.
8 of these 11 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text, then adjusted the estimates against the ratings outlets actually print (ours ran slightly low). An estimate is never higher than 92.
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Of the 3 USB microphones we score so far, the highest-rated by professional reviewers is the Elgato Wave:3: critic score 87 out of 100 from 11 reviews, 10 of them positive. Most praised: sound quality and ease of use. Most common complaint: controls and app.
Early reads · 3 not yet ranked
Not ranked, listed A to Z. We publish a critic score once at least 4 professional reviews of the exact model exist; with 2 or 3 we show a provisional average.
- Blue Yeti · provisional 85 from 2 reviews
- HyperX QuadCast 2 · 1 review so far (TechRadar: 83 est.)
- Rode NT-USB+ · provisional 89 from 2 reviews
Common questions
Which USB microphone do critics rate highest?
Of the 3 we score, the Elgato Wave:3, with a critic score of 87 from 11 professional reviews. Most praised: sound quality and ease of use. Most common complaint: controls and app.
Elgato Wave:3 vs Shure MV7+: which is better?
Critics score the Elgato Wave:3 87 and the Shure MV7+ 85. We list the Shure MV7+ under “Runner-up”. Its main drawback: costs more than other USB mics, and the app is basic.