Here’s a detailed comparison between Joby Wavo Pro and Joby Wavo Plus, focusing on aspects like build quality, audio performance, features, ease of use, and target audience.

1. Build Quality and Design

• Joby Wavo Pro:
  • Construction: The Wavo Pro is designed with a high-quality metal, making it durable and lightweight. It features a sleek, professional appearance.
  • Shock Mount: It comes with a built-in shock mount for reducing vibrations from handling the camera, which helps improve sound clarity in movement-heavy scenarios.
  • Weight: Despite being feature-packed, it’s relatively lightweight for a premium mic, making it suitable for on-camera use.
• Joby Wavo Plus:
  • Construction: Similar to the Wavo Pro, the Wavo Plus features solid plastic construction. While it’s slightly less advanced in appearance compared to the Wavo Pro, it still offers durability and portability.
  • Shock Mount: It also includes a shock mount but it’s a bit simpler in design compared to the Wavo Pro’s advanced mount.
  • Weight: Slightly lighter than the Wavo Pro, the Wavo Plus is an even more travel-friendly option for creators who need portability.

2. Audio Quality

• Joby Wavo Pro:
  • Microphone Type: The Wavo Pro is a high-end shotgun microphone designed for vloggers, filmmakers, and content creators. It has a supercardioid polar pattern, which provides superior directional sound capture.
  • Frequency Response: It offers a broad frequency range (20 Hz - 20 kHz), making it ideal for capturing a wide array of sounds from deep lows to crisp highs. This results in a more balanced and natural audio profile.
  • Noise Handling: The Wavo Pro excels at isolating the subject’s voice from background noise, making it suitable for noisy environments or outdoor shoots.
  • Audio Transparency: It includes an integrated analog limiter and active noise reduction, which prevent distortion and clipping when there are sudden changes in sound levels. This is ideal for professional use where audio quality is critical.
• Joby Wavo Plus:
  • Microphone Type: The Wavo Plus also features a directional shotgun design, but it lacks some of the advanced audio-processing features found in the Wavo Pro.
  • Frequency Response: Its frequency response is slightly narrower compared to the Wavo Pro, but it still delivers high-quality sound for most use cases, especially in vlogging and streaming.
  • Noise Handling: While it offers decent background noise rejection, it’s not as sophisticated as the Wavo Pro’s supercardioid pickup pattern. The Wavo Plus does well in moderately noisy environments but might struggle in very loud areas.
  • Audio Transparency: The absence of advanced limiters and active noise reduction makes it more susceptible to audio peaks or clipping, especially when there are sudden volume changes.

3. Features

• Joby Wavo Pro:
  • Active Noise Reduction (ANR): One of the standout features is the integrated ANR, which automatically reduces unwanted noise.
  • Built-In Display: The Wavo Pro includes a small OLED display on the rear, showing real-time information like gain levels, battery status, and filter settings. This gives users more control over the audio settings on-the-go.
  • Gain Control: It offers manual gain control, allowing users to adjust the microphone’s sensitivity for different recording conditions.
  • Power: It comes with a built-in rechargeable battery, providing up to 60 hours of runtime. You can also power it through USB-C if needed.
  • 3-Step High-Pass Filter: This feature is useful for cutting out low-frequency rumble or background noise, such as wind or traffic.
• Joby Wavo Plus:
  • Plug-and-Play Simplicity: The Wavo Plus is more of a straightforward, user-friendly microphone without the advanced controls like those of the Wavo Pro.
  • No Display: Unlike the Pro version, the Plus doesn’t have an OLED display, limiting real-time audio feedback.
  • Basic High-Pass Filter: It features a simple high-pass filter, but it’s not as customizable as the Pro’s version.
  • Power: The Wavo Plus runs off the camera’s power or a standard battery. While it doesn’t have the same level of battery life as the Wavo Pro, it’s sufficient for short-to-medium recording sessions.

4. Ease of Use

• Joby Wavo Pro:
  • For Pros: With its OLED display, adjustable gain controls, and other advanced features, the Wavo Pro is designed for more experienced users. There’s a slight learning curve for those who want to fully utilize its potential.
  • Manual Adjustments: The microphone gives users more control over their audio settings via the app connected via bluetooth, but this could be overkill for beginners or those who want a simpler solution .
• Joby Wavo Plus:
  • For Beginners: Its plug-and-play design makes it much easier for less experienced users. You can attach it to your camera and start recording right away without needing to tweak settings.
  • Fewer Adjustments: The lack of extensive manual controls simplifies the user experience but may be limiting for professionals seeking specific audio adjustments.

5. Target Audience

• Joby Wavo Pro:
  • Professional Creators: The Wavo Pro is perfect for professional vloggers, filmmakers, and videographers who demand high-quality, flexible audio equipment. The combination of advanced features like active noise reduction, OLED display, and gain control make it suitable for users who need to manage complex sound environments.
  • Those Who Need Flexibility: Its ability to handle a variety of audio environments, from loud concerts to quiet interviews, makes it versatile for many professional content creators.
• Joby Wavo Plus:
  • Content Creators on a Budget: The Wavo Plus is aimed at beginner vloggers, streamers, and YouTubers who need better audio quality than built-in camera microphones but don’t require advanced settings.
  • Casual Users: Its straightforward design makes it suitable for hobbyists and casual creators who need to upgrade their audio setup without delving into complicated settings.

6. Price

• Joby Wavo Pro:
  • Premium Pricing: Due to its advanced features and professional-grade build, the Wavo Pro comes at a higher price point. This makes it more of an investment for serious creators who prioritize audio quality and versatility.
• Joby Wavo Plus:
  • Affordable: The Wavo Plus is a more budget-friendly option. While it doesn’t have the high-end features of the Wavo Pro, it still offers solid audio performance at a lower cost, making it ideal for those on a tighter budget.

7. Use Case Scenarios

• Joby Wavo Pro:
  • Best for high-end content production, such as documentary filmmaking, short films, interviews, or event videography.
  • Perfect for creators who frequently shoot in varied environments (indoor, outdoor, noisy areas, etc.).
• Joby Wavo Plus:
  • Best suited for daily vlogging, live streaming, or podcasting where advanced audio manipulation is not required.
  • Ideal for more controlled settings like home studios or simple outdoor shoots.

Conclusion:

• Joby Wavo Pro: A feature-rich microphone geared towards professionals who need high-quality sound and advanced controls. It’s the better option for demanding projects that require precise audio adjustments.
• Joby Wavo Plus: A simpler, more affordable microphone designed for casual creators and beginners who need an audio upgrade without the complexity of professional gear.

Both microphones are solid choices, but the Wavo Pro edges out for professional applications, while the Wavo Plus is a more straightforward, budget-friendly alternative for simpler projects.

Joby Wavo Pro Microphone Review

The Joby Wavo Pro microphone has become a go-to option for vloggers and filmmakers looking to enhance their audio quality on the go. In this review, I’ll look at sound quality, usability, design, and compatibility with various devices. I’ll also look at some pros and cons for the mic too.

Sound Quality - On sound quality, this mic really excels in delivering high-quality audio and you get a clear, crisp sound for your professional content creation. The wind-shield, significantly reduces background noise, making it great for outdoor filming. Also, the Active Noise Reduction (ANR) feature ensures minimal interference from any ambient sounds giving you clean audio even in relatively noisy environments.

Usability - One of the standout aspects of this mic is its ease of use. It comes with the dedicated Joby Wavo PRO App, giving you added control over the microphone’s features, including fine-tuning audio settings. The setup is really straightforward, just a simple plug and play, making it accessible even if you’re not particularly tech-savvy.

Design - The mic feels like it’s been designed with practicality in mind. Its compact size and lightweight build make it perfect for on-the-go recording. In addition, the inclusion of a shock mount minimizes vibrations and any handling noise. The battery life is also impressive, allowing for extended recording sessions without frequent recharges.

Compatibility – The mics versatility is another strong point. It integrates with DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and even laptops via USB. This wide range of compatibility makes it a versatile tool for various filming setups, whether you’re using professional camera gear or not.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

High-Quality Audio: Clear and crisp sound with effective noise reduction.

Easy to Use: Simple setup and intuitive app control.

Portable Design: Lightweight and compact, ideal for travel.

Versatile Compatibility: Works with a wide range of devices and even laptops via USB

Cons:

Price Point: It is slightly more expensive than some competitors, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious creators.

Overall, the Joby Wavo Pro is a great choice for vloggers and filmmakers seeking to elevate their audio quality. Its combination of superior sound, ease of use, thoughtful design, and broad compatibility makes it a valuable investment. While it may be on the pricier side, in my view, the added features and performance justify the cost, making it a worthwhile addition to any creator’s toolkit. So, if you’re serious about content creation, this mic is definitely worth considering.