Types Of Karaoke Machines
There are many ways to set up and enjoy karaoke within your home or living space, whether you’re alone (tragic) or with friends (manic) – karaoke can be a great activity to bring people together and/or express yourself in a way like no other.
For years, karaoke has been a (somewhat cult-like) staple in pubs, clubs, and homes around the world. Unbound by dialect or religion — karaoke is enjoyed by everyone from all walks of life!
In this handy guide, I’ll cover a list a few of the available options currently on the market regarding karaoke setups. Believe it or not, there are actually quite a few and it can be a little overwhelming to the uninitiated!
The All-In-One Karaoke System
This system is usually a mid to large-sized, self-contained unit – meaning; the unit or kit will contain all the essential parts needed for a karaoke session, usually in a tabletop format such as the “USA GF840” or the Singing Machine.
Best All-In-One Karaoke System?
Some of these systems are also available in a more professional looking ‘kit format’ such as the Singstation Karaoke Machine. We love this one as it includes:
- Lighting gear
- Microphone stand
- 40W stereo amp
- 2 handheld mics
- And included software, amongst other extras.
Unfortunately, these systems are usually more expensive and require a more permanent space to be set up in, as they require multiple power connections, ample room, and a bigger budget – making this option a bit difficult to fit into those of us with tiny living rooms.
The Amp+TV Karaoke System
This (more often than not) is the popular choice for most home karaoke enthusiasts. These designs usually comprise of a small slimline boxed player with either disc or USB loadable content.
These devices are usually no larger than a portable DVD player. These devices will often connect straight to a TV monitor via HDMI input or audio/video RCA cables, but some higher-end devices can also use Bluetooth to sync with certain TV’s phone apps or other content sources.
Best Amp+TV Karaoke System?
I have a post focusing entirely on the best home amplifier systems for karaoke which you should check out.
A very popular device in this category is the TONOR Dual Professional, and it happens to be one of our favorites too, for a few reasons.
- Clear and pristine sound quality
- Stable signal up to 200 ft
- Sturdy and durable material
- Super easy to operate
Built-In Microphone Karaoke Systems
These devices are comprised of just a single microphone with a receiver or cartridge that plugs into a TV monitor.
This can be done using either physical cables or Bluetooth, which transmits information to the TV screen.
This essentially making this design fundamentally similar to the previously mentioned TV monitor system but without the need to connect a stationary unit to the TV, allowing for a much higher level of portability and freedom of expression (which we all know is very important when it comes to a top-notch karaoke performance).
Best Built-In Microphone Karaoke System?
Fortunately, the products in this range are fairly cheap, as they consist primarily of just the microphone.
While the microphone’s inbuilt speakers aren’t going to provide earth-shattering bass, the idea is that you’ll have speakers ready to take on that job anyway, so the microphone’s inbuilt ones are kind of redundant.
Anyway, if we had to pick one — it definitely has to go to Bonoak. It’s an Amazon bestseller for good reason! With support for Android, iPhone, PC and Bluetooth, the Bonaok is a pretty simple ‘plug and play’ solution.
(This device is available in a range of flashy colours (I’d choose the white/gold combo personally).
Other Types Of Karaoke Machines
1. Multi-Format Disc Players
State-of-the-art karaoke machines are wired to operate on either laserdisc, DVD, VCD or CD-G formats. The disk player allows different versions of Karaoke Disc to be played.
In most countries in Asia, recording artists often create a karaoke track of their song when it’s released. However, in Europe and most of North America, Karaoke tracks are never really done by the actual artist/s. They’re usually always recreations of original songs.
2. Mixer With Amplifier
The mixer and amp are responsible for powering and sending signal to your speakers. A high-quality sound is very important, although the mixer and amplifier are responsible for the sound effects, the speaker system is the only component that produces all the sound.
Of course, it helps to have a decent set of built-in speakers or an audio output to connect to your home stereo’s speakers. You can also add an extra speaker that is dedicated for the bass. Often times, commercial karaoke places will usually have multiple speaker systems to provide you with that “surround-sound-live-concert effect”.
3. Bluetooth & Wireless Mic Systems
Bluetooth and wireless microphone systems are becoming more popular compared to the classic microphone system because the singer can sing without worrying about pulling or tripping on a cord. They can sing from anywhere within range and are free to move around or even bust a move mid-song if they want.
A Quick Note On Wireless Frequencies
It is not commonly known but wireless frequencies often need to be officially purchased or rented for use in busy or heavily populated areas so as to prevent interference with TV, aircraft, radio and show events or live productions that may be potentially operating nearby and require the use of a clear or private signal, especially in case of emergency.
For more information, or to avoid any potential hassles AFTER the purchase of a wireless device, it is recommended that you call the FCC (or your local equivalent) at 1-888- CALL-FCC (TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC) or visit the FCC’s wireless microphone website at fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones.
