The Joby Wavo Boom Arm is a premium and versatile addition to any setup
- Manufacturer: Joby
- Model: Wavo Boom Arm
- SKU: JB01803-BWW
- Type: Boom Arm with integrated cupholder
- Price when reviewed: £86.95 (from Joby)
- Supplied by: Joby
Joby Wavo Boom Arm Review
Overview
The Joby Wavo Boom Arm is a versatile microphone arm designed for content creators, podcasters and musicians who need a flexible and easy-to-use solution for capturing audio. Although it’s beautifully suited to the Joby Wavo Pod we reviewed last year, the arm is compatible with a wide range of microphones, including popular options like the excellent Blue Yeti and 512 Audio Limelight. Featuring a robust and durable construction, the Wavo Boom Arm can withstand regular to heavy use, including frequent repositioning.
Even if you aren’t a creator, I can’t overstate the quality, convenience and freedom that a decent boom arm/microphone setup affords you. The boom arm frees up valuable space on your desktop, and not only do you benefit from vastly superior voice clarity compared to gaming headsets, but you also have significantly more options when it comes to piping audio into your ears, as you can choose from some fantastic headphones without paying the dreaded “gamer tax” often applied to premium headsets.
Integrated cable management and concealed springs
The Joby Wavo Boom Arm has a sleek and streamlined design, with a matte black finish that looks great in any studio or workspace. Crafted from lightweight yet durable aluminium, this provides the strength and stability needed to support moderately heavy microphones or camera equipment up to 1 kg (2.2 lbs) in weight.
Joby has fitted the Wavo Boom Arm with concealed cable housing, with interchangeable plastic covers in red or black. The cable channel is sizeable, with plenty of room for either USB or XLR cables, as well as any control cables if you are using the arm for a camera.
I love the overall design of the Wavo Boom Arm. The metal shell fully conceals the springs, lending the arm a streamlined and professional look, and the discreet Joby logo and red accent pieces tie in neatly with the Joby aesthetic; I think it looks fantastic when paired with the Wavo Pod microphone.
Assembly and adjustment
Attaching the Wavo Boom Arm to your desk is very simple; the arm comes fully assembled, as does the desk clamp. Simply attach the clamp to your desk, and the arm slots neatly into the clamp mount. A selection of adapters is included, ensuring compatibility with the vast majority of devices on the market, and they screw in easily yet securely.
Cheaper boom arms, and even some more expensive ones, rely on chunky adjustment screws to tighten the hinges, and even so, they can often slip or sag over time. I had no such issue with the Wavo Boom Arm; Out of the box, it retains its position with no droop, and the tension is perfectly weighted for easy repositioning of the arm. Bonus points for the silent operation, with no squeaking or creaking occurring during our rigorous testing.
I appreciated the clever engineering that’s gone into the hinge mechanism. It’s designed in such a way that the end component that holds the microphone (or camera) maintains its orientation regardless of how much you extend or contract the arm, which is exceptionally convenient. This is by no means unique to Joby, but it’s a valuable feature nonetheless.
When it comes to mounting the boom arm, even if you have a thicker desk, you will be well served by the spacious C-clamp. A Joby-red rubber desk guard protects the top surface, and a sponge-padded screw shields the underside. This allows you to firmly clamp the Wavo Boom Arm to your desk without fear of damaging the surface or crushing weaker wooden desks, whilst affording excellent traction preventing slippage during any adjustments. An additional desk grommet is also included, so you can mount the boom arm through an existing cable management hole or drill into your desk if you’re feeling brave!
An added bonus is the integrated cup holder and headset hanger, though these can be removed (using the included Allen key) if you are short on space or prefer your boom arm at the back of your desk. If I was to level any kind of complaint at the Wavo Boom Arm, it would be that the cup holder could be deeper, but it never caused any issues, even with a pint can of lager in situ (other brands of intoxicating beverages are available – Ed).
Where you want, when you want it
The arm features 360-degree rotation and can be fully extended, giving the Wavo Boom Arm exceptional reach and the flexibility to be placed where you want, when you want it. In the setup we mounted it in, the arm can be swung into place at the front of the desk, and then smoothly folded away beside the desktop. We also have a VR sim racing rig alongside the desk, and there is enough reach to quickly reposition the microphone alongside the steering wheel, making it perfect for that setup.
Making adjustments to the reach and angle was simple, requiring no tools or screws. The Wavo Boom Arm has just the right amount of torque to allow small and precise movements, and there was no spring back between adjustments. It’s the kind of thing you take for granted after a while but going back to a lesser boom arm, with slippage or noisy and awkward tension screws, feels archaic in comparison.
Pricing and availability
At £86.95 (direct from Joby) it is towards the higher end of the price range, but consistent with other premium boom arms we’ve used. You may be tempted by some of the cheaper options available from the likes of eBay and Amazon, but in our experience, you’ll end up replacing them before long when they inevitably start to droop or slip.
Joby is a reputable and well-regarded manufacturer, so you’ll have no problems finding their products in stock, and if you shop around, you can make a significant saving (we saw the Wavo Boom Arm listed for £82, and as low as £58.95 second-hand).
Summary
The Joby Wavo Boom Arm is a versatile boom arm with premium build quality, compatibility with a range of audio and video equipment, and ample ergonomic adjustment options. It’s a great choice for anyone looking for a high-quality boom arm that can be used in a variety of recording and streaming applications, or even just to elevate your regular gaming setup.
