Let’s build the ULTIMATE microphone arm buyer’s guide and compare 11 different microphone arms to see which you should go with for your streaming setup. We cover mounting options, height and reach, positioning, weight support and tension adjustment, noise, and cable routing! GO FORTH and pick the best mic arm for you!
PRODUCT LINKS (Amazon affiliate):
[This article contains affiliate links which can give a small financial kickback to me with no added cost to you. Affiliate links do not indicate a paid relationship with any given product or manufacturer of the product, simply an affiliate partnership with the online store.]
- Elgato Wave Mic Arm – https://geni.us/cPgpC9f
- Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP – https://geni.us/nH7v0YR
- Blue Compass – https://geni.us/t91kcUv
- InnoGear “Upgraded” Mic arm – https://geni.us/apICb
- InnoGear “Heavy Duty” mic arm – https://geni.us/CxnW9wH
- Gator Frameworks Deluxe 3000 – https://geni.us/fQc9oAW
- Gator Frameworks Deluxe 4000 – https://geni.us/x5kJxi
- Vivo Pneumatic mic arm – https://geni.us/iSWO
- Rode PSA-1 – https://geni.us/BBZkaw
- Auray BAI-2X – https://geni.us/PYwTf6C
- Auray BAI-2N – https://geni.us/P65MY
- Heil PL-2T – https://geni.us/rGKZk
- Heil RS-1 Riser Atm – https://geni.us/8Od8
- Microphone Quick release https://amzn.to/3euPYEi
PRODUCT LINKS (eBay affiliate):
Mounting
Blue Compass
- Super basic desk clamp mount, but it works
- Can do through-hole with tightening nut, though I’m not sure mine came with the hardware for it
- smooth 360-degree Impressive swivel on the desk mount
- 5/8″ nested on 3/8″
Elgato Wave Arm
- Decent desk clamp
- Free riser arm included +5.9″
- 1/4″ (Wave Mic) and 3/8″-5/8″ compatible
- Can still swivel in base
- Ends with Elgato Multi-Mount style end, compatible with accessories
Vivo
- Comes with a giant desk clamp and rod, the same design as their monitor arms
- It will also fit on monitor arms for clever under-monitor mounting
- Brings up the mic from underneath (usually)
- 5/8″ thread
- requires bigger lip than others on the desk
Wave Mic Arm LP
- Lower desk clamp than normal size Wave Mic Arm
- no riser arm
- 1/4″ (Wave Mic) and 3/8″-5/8″ compatible
- Can swivel in base
- Ends with Elgato Multi-Mount style end, compatible with accessories
InnoGear Upgraded Microphone Arm
- super cheap desk clamp
- 3/8″ native, 5/8″ adapter
- comes with a basic mic clamp too
- comes with Teflon tape, not reassuring
- swivel & lock-in base
InnoGear Heavy Duty Mic Arm MU028
- 3/8″ native, 5/8″ adapter preinstalled
- slightly better desk clamp than the cheaper model
- swivel & lock-in base
Gator Frameworks Deluxe 3000
- beefy locking desk clamp
- designed to support a bump or rod
- instead of rubber texture, it’s more like foam, slips easily
- Comes with a screw-on desk mount adapter too
- 3/8″ native, 5/8″ adapter installed
- can swivel in base
Rode PSA-1
- desk clamp or screw-on
- 3/8″ native, 5/8″ adapter
- full swivel in base
Heil PL-2T
- Desk clamp comes with it, can buy screw mount
- can buy a $40 12″ riser that screws into the desk (RS-1)
- 5/8″
Auray BAI-2N
- desk clamp w/ locking knob
- comes with a 14″ riser (value)
- 5/8″
Gator Frameworks Deluxe 4000
- Same desk clamp (beefy) with lock as 3000
- designed to support a bump or rod
- instead of rubber texture, it’s more like foam, slips easily
- comes with a BEEFY through-hole desk adapter
- 5/8″
- comes with ~2-3″ drop-down rod to space mic from top
- LED light ring around mount thread to indicate the mute status
Positioning & Height
Blue Compass
- More designed for side angles or radio/podcasting desks
- Specs focus on horizontal reach, not height
- Max usable vertical height is around 31″
- Limited angles to bend, while secure, makes mounting overtop desks awkward if you want mic close, not flexible
- Able to pull forward for horizontal reach more than most mic arms
Elgato Wave Arm
- 29.5″ Vertical height normally, 5.9″ added with riser for ~35″
- can add more height or a horizontal reach for an overhead camera with flex arm kit/multi-mount accessories
- more effectively usable over monitors
- especially since the riser makes the angle easier to not bump into monitors
- standard horizontal reach, not as good as a Blue Compass
Vivo
- Full tilt and swivel
- Raise on large monitor pole
- 14.3″ height on pole + ~12″ from the arm sections
- up to 17″ horizontal reach
- mount mic from below or above
- mount on a monitor arm above or below
Wave Mic Arm LP
- only 1 height adjust section (plus multi-mount accessories)
- 20″ max height kinda before multi-mount accessories
- full swivel on base and elbow
- entirely designed to stay low to the desk and go below monitors
- ~30″ horizontal reach before multi-mount accessories
- mainly mount mic from below unless you want an awkward angle
- more annoying to maneuver than a bigger one and others
InnoGear Upgraded Microphone Arm
- 27″ max height, 29″ max horizontal reach
- slight angling at the base, one elbow
- super limited positioning
- mic above or below
- can break at the base
- swivel on base
InnoGear Heavy Duty Mic Arm MU028
- 27″ height, 28″ horizontal reach?
- moving it absolutely SUCKS – tight and rigid, moves too much at desk clamp
- limited positioning, but holds in place due to the tightness
Gator Frameworks Deluxe 3000
- 34″ both directions
- tightening knobs are great
- the only real issue is the knob at the base – can actually angle backward more than other arms, BUT is harder to keep in place there
Rode PSA-1
- 32″ height, 34″ horizontal reach
- tightens with flathead
- decent maneuverability and positioning feels a bit loose
- adjusting the angle of the actual thread tap/mic holder sucks worst
- swivel
Heil PL-2T
- 32″ height + 12″ riser
- 34″ horizontal
- decent maneuverability, usually no need to adjust
- adjust with allen key on elbows
- swivel
- main issue is unscrewing mic spins the post in the spot
Auray BAI-2N
- swivel
- up to 40″ height plus riser
- 40″ horizontal
- decent maneuverability, usually no need to adjust
- adjust with allen key on elbows
Gator Frameworks Deluxe 4000
- 36″ height 34″ horiz
- tightening knobs & tension adjustment suck compared to 3000 (possible defect)
Weight & Tension
Blue Compass
- Handles heavy mics great
- Knobs tighten and easy/intuitive to use, but don’t give you flexibility to over-crank like other options
- Light mics are a big problem
Elgato Wave Arm
- Lightweight mics like Elgato Wave Mic are no problem – they include a weight to add to it to help anyway
- Heavy mics not a problem at all, might be more prone to sag sensitivity with weight left on
- Tension adjustable by removing elbow cover & using allen key
- rated for 2.2lb (kinda low)
Vivo
- Heavy or light mics, it does not care. Lots of spring tension for heavy mics but stays locked in place even without weight
- Adjustable tension w/ allen wrench just like their monitor arms
- biggest weight capacity at 5.95lbs
Wave Mic Arm LP
- Light mics are perfect out of box
- heavy mics are a problem originally, but cranking on the allen key adjustment on elbow locks it nicely
InnoGear Upgraded Microphone Arm
- Knobs to adjust tension
- light-ish mics perfect, but super light mic like seiren mini too light w/o cranking
- Heavy mics support surprisingly well out of box, can crank if needed
- joint at thread mount is most annoying at first
- will eventually start to sag, tho
- rated for 3.1 or 4lb?
InnoGear Heavy Duty Mic Arm MU028
- Rated for 3.5lb
- holds light mics easier than cheaper model
- heavy mics hold fine
- tension adjust w/ allen key on elbows
Gator Frameworks Deluxe 3000
- holds light and heavy mics perfectly
- fanciest knobs to tighten of any arm so far
Rode PSA-1
- rated for 4.4lb
- light mics spring up
- heavy mics feel ok but it feels a little loose overall
- tension adjust w/ flathead
Heil PL-2T
- rated for 3.5lb
- heavy mics perform wonderfully
- light mics work fine, too
Auray BAI-2N
- rated up to 5lb
- light and heavy mics work
Gator Frameworks Deluxe 4000
- holds light and heavy mics perfectly
- fanciest knobs to tighten of any arm so far
Cable Routing
Blue Compass
- 3 cable snaps on each section, channel for cables.
- If you had a super thick XLR cable it might not fit, but standard XLR and USB will run.
- Headphone cable would fit w/ USB
Elgato Wave Arm
- Cable channel on both segments
- Rubber slider system
- Not a fan as a reviewer, probably perfect for long term use
- bottom segment slides way easier than top for me
- Elbow cover comes off to tuck the cable under
Vivo
- cable channel under both sections. comb system on 1, slide on 2
- lots of space
Wave Mic Arm LP
- magnetic cover for the cable channel tunnel
- feels super-premium, if not generic
- thick cable support
InnoGear Upgraded Microphone Arm
- None. cable tie to arm
InnoGear Heavy Duty Mic Arm MU028
- Comes with cable ties
- has cable channel and elbow cable guard IF you want to solder your own cable after feeding it through
Gator Frameworks Deluxe 3000
- XLR cable pre-routed
Rode PSA-1
- comes with cable straps, otherwise slot through for unsoldered XLR
Heil PL-2T
- cable channel with plastic tray
- after a while i had to add gaffer tape to hold mine in a bit
Auray BAI-2N
- unsoldered cable passthrough or cable ties
Gator Frameworks Deluxe 4000
- cable channel, cable clips and strap included along with XLR cable
- USB cable for light integrated
Noise
Blue Compass
- Effectively Silent
Elgato Wave Arm
- Effectively Silent
Vivo
- Effectively silent
- If left all the way at bottom, may transmit more desk noise up mic w/o shock mount
Wave Mic Arm LP
- Silent, possibly moreso than others due to lack of springs
InnoGear Upgraded Microphone Arm
- Noisy external springs
InnoGear Heavy Duty Mic Arm MU028
- Can make spring sound, but generally quiet
Gator Frameworks Deluxe 3000
- silent
Rode PSA-1
- effectively silent
Heil PL-2T
- Can be quiet, but is a fairly noisy mic arm
Auray BAI-2N
- Can be quiet, but is a fairly noisy mic arm
Gator Frameworks Deluxe 4000
- some weird noise when adjusting angle (defect?) but otherwise silent
