JOBY Wavo AIR Review
The JOBY Wavo AIR seems to offer so much for vloggers and podcasters in such a tiny format. This £219/$249 wireless microphone kit with lav support can be used to capture audio from two separate subjects spanning up to 50 metres, claiming 6hrs of battery life and equipped to host or be hosted on a variety of kit thanks to a clever mounting system.
Design
The Wavo AIR package includes one receiver, two wireless microphone transmitters and two lav mics that can be optionally plugged into the wireless transmitters. Plus all the connection cables (TRS to TRS & TRS to TRRS cables) and generously 3x USB C to type A cables for charging.
We are familiar with much of the recent JOBY hardware, and the Wavo AIR is once again sporting that fun JOBY aesthetic with no compromise in reliability, having a sturdy build which doesn’t require coddling. All three core components, and the bundle of accessories, can easily withstand the daily grind of being taken in and out of kit bags and seriously used, withstanding the occasional drop and scrape for good measure. Plus the nature of the matte plastic texture makes it an easy task to wipe clean.
Each of these lightweight transmitters broadcasts at 2.4GHz and features a built-in microphone positioned at the top. The one thing that may cause confusion is just how similar the receiver looks when compared to the two mics, with the differentiating factor being the button located in the centre on the receiver. It would have been easier if JOBY flipped the colour scheme around for part of the kit, so the main body was red accented with black. On the sides of each mic transmitter there are volume buttons which adjust audio gain based on feedback given from the blue ring surrounding the power button, and this also relays battery status.
Setup
We were impressed to see, straight out of the box, that the microphones paired to the receiver without any additional steps. We are not sure if this was already setup or is just really quick - it’s certainly welcome. And the simplicity continues, as mounting a microphone onto our cameras and GorillaPod for the receiver is hassle-free thanks to the speed of the JOBY designed modular mounting system that comes with a host of accessories in the box. Even more accessories can be purchased at the JOBY website, but in the box you’ll get 2x belt clips, 1x GorillaPod leg clip, 1x necklace with magnetic support, 1x cold-shoe support and 1x pairing pin. The microphone's plug-and-play nature ensures that it works seamlessly with most devices, whether you're shooting videos on a DSLR, mirrorless camera or smartphone. Plus it can quite literally be tasked to interplay from a two person style setup to, say, a vlogging recording environment, in seconds.
Performance
All microphones within this JOBY kit are designed with an omnidirectional polar pattern, allowing them to capture sound from all directions, encompassing a 360º field around the subject. While this omnidirectional design can potentially pick up some background noise with the mics built into the transmitters, during our testing we observed that this interference was minimal and did not significantly impact the recording quality. Rather interestingly, we tried out the voice isolation feature, baked into new versions of iOS and MacOS, with the JOBY Wavo AIR and it removed all surrounding background noise in every recording; so you can post or broadcast without editing if the scenario calls for it. The transmitter mic is a really good solo mic, when using the supplied windjammer, for vloggers outdoors who want to be the subject and also capture the more distant world around them when behind the camera. You can manually adjust the microphone (10dB to 0dB) to control the sensitivity of the audio input and the feedback is indicated via the blue ring around the power button; it’s a tad confusing to read however.
Switching over to the lavaliere style mics, we’ve been impressed by the broadcast quality and rock solid reliability. The human voice is crisp, detailed and above all pronounced; ideal for out of studio podcasting, interviews and vlogging in noisy environments such as cityscapes. If recording with both transmitters, they’ll be two audio channels and it’s easy to edit the separate feeds in something like GarageBand. Furthermore, the strength of the receiver signal is just outright impressive. We had our receiver on top of a JOBY GorillaPod with the intention of facing it towards the mics so the signal wouldn’t break up, but through our testing we’ve been surprised how accommodating the system is, as we can walk all the way around the receiver, onto different floor levels, go behind people, objects and walls without one wrinkle in the sound. We did indeed also try out the 50m range and in an open outdoor setting it works! Strangely there’s no signal strength reading, so when it's out of range it just becomes silent, and then immediately audio is revived when it’s back in the mesh of the receiver.
Verdict
The JOBY Wavo Air offers impressive value for content creators and videographers looking to enhance their audio quality. Its sleek, lightweight format, easy setup, and excellent directional performance make it a worthy addition to your camera gear. Whether you're recording vlogs, interviews or short films, this kit's ability to capture clear, professional-grade audio should not be underestimated and it’s made easier thanks to the variety of mounting options. While it may not replace a dedicated studio microphone, it is a cost-effective solution for on-the-go creators who need high-quality audio without breaking the bank.