Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Aston - Stealth | Elgato - Wave:3 |
|---|---|---|
| Max SPL | 144 dB | 120 dB |
| Type | Dynamic | Condenser |
| Connection | XLR | USB |
Between the Stealth and Wave:3, the Stealth comes out ahead in max spl, while the Wave:3 wins on type / connection. Overall, the Stealth scores 61.9 and the Wave:3 scores 59.6 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (61.9 vs 59.6). The decision is not about overall quality — both clear the bar — it is about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the Stealth if you care most about max spl. The biggest gaps in its favor are max spl. The single most decisive one: Max SPL — 20.00% more. 144 dB vs 120 dB.
Pick the Wave:3 if you care most about type / connection. Its strongest claims are type, connection. The single most decisive one: Type: Condenser (vs Dynamic).
Both ship with comparable polar pattern, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Aston - Stealth or Elgato - Wave:3?
Aston - Stealth leads the current Mars Score by 2.3 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare type, connection, max spl against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Aston - Stealth if…
Aston - Stealth has the measurable edge on max spl db.
Choose Elgato - Wave:3 if…
Elgato - Wave:3 has the measurable edge on type, connection.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Aston - Stealth wins
- ▲Max SPL — 20.00% more. 144 dB vs 120 dB.
Why Elgato - Wave:3 wins
- ▲Type: Condenser (vs Dynamic).
- ▲Connection: USB (vs XLR).
Spec comparison
Spec
| Spec | Aston - Stealth | Elgato - Wave:3 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Dynamic | Condenserlead |
| Polar pattern | Cardioid | Cardioid |
| Frequency response | 30Hz–20kHz | 70Hz–20kHz |
| Max SPL | 144 dBlead | 120 dB |
Connectivity
| Spec | Aston - Stealth | Elgato - Wave:3 |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | XLR | USBlead |
| Headphone out | false | truelead |