Karaoke Machines

Anyone really serious about home karaoke will be interested in an all-in-one karaoke machine. This incorporates most, and sometimes all you need to belt out your favorite songs in the comfort of your own home. The prices of machines range from as low as $67 US (40 GB) to well over $1000.

Click here to check out my favorite cheap karaoke machine options and when I say cheap I mean from as little as $20!

One of the best places to find great karaoke machine deals is on Ebay - my whole system was bought on Ebay. Be sure to buy from a seller who specializes in karaoke machines / equipment and check out their feedback!

Click here to check out some great Karaoke deals on EBAY

It is usually true to say that you get what you pay for. But in order to answer the question as to which machine is right for you, it is worth considering why do you need a karaoke machine?

Do you simply want it for your kids to "play" with?

Have you got a spare TV to display the lyrics?

Is it for your own use - maybe as a step towards developing a singing career or starting on the road to becoming a karaoke host?

Do you want it to liven up parties or other social events?

From where will you be sourcing your karaoke tracks? Cdg's? The internet?

Do you want to be able to record your singing efforts?

These factors (and possibly a few more) will determine what features are important to you - so think carefully before you part with your cash. Read on for help and advice in determining the right karaoke machine for your needs. As I have said karaoke machines come in all shapes and sizes with a multitude of different features and specifications. Pay special attention to the following:-

(Don't forget to consult the Karaoke Glossary if there is anything you don't understand)

Sound Ouput - If you will just be using the machine at home then you will not need much power. 20 watts of speaker output would be enough to enjoy karaoke purely at home. If you intend using the machine at parties or small social events you will need at least 80 watts (2 speakers at 40 watts each). You may also want to consider a machine which has extra speaker outputs so that you could connect it to larger independent speakers if necessary. This would be a good feature for anyone planning on developing either a singing or karaoke career.

Portable Machines - Will you be taking your machine out and about to parties, functions etc? Bear in mind then how easy your machine is to carry. Quite a few have carrying handles but pay attention also to how heavy the unit is and how robust. Most parties I've been to have plenty of liquid refreshment - great for encouraging people to sing - lousy if splashed all over your new karaoke machine.

Disc Format - Cdg discs are still by far the most widely available karaoke format and they still represent the best value for money. However this may change in the not too distant future with the development of karaoke dvd and mp3+g. If you want to make your machine future proof, my advice would be to buy a machine that is compatible with as many formats as you can afford. If you have multiplex discs you will also want your machine to have the multiplex function, while if you have a lot of ordinary music cd's you may wish to have a voice reducer function.

Recording - The ability to record is great both at home and at social events. Many karaoke machines have a built in tape deck and I have produced some staggering results using this function to create a demo tape. Alternatively you might be able to connect your own tape or cd recorder to an output socket.

One microphone or two? - Two mics are a must for parties and desirable for home use. You can never really do Sonny and Cher justice with just the one mic. Make sure you can adjust each mic's volume independently too or the shouty shouty half of the duo may become unbearable!

Controls and Effects - To sound anything like the professionals, echo control is an absolute must, and you may want to look at key or pitch control in order to allow you to sing songs in your vocal range more easily. Prices rise sharply however for these functions.

In my experience, you can do no better than purchase a Vocopro karaoke machine. Unlike other manufacturers Vocopro specialise in karaoke equipment and cover the whole spectrum from basic starter machines to high end professional systems. I am often asked how come it is possible to buy a $80 machine and then be asked to pay over $200 for a Vocopro. The answer is simple, the features and sound quality from Vocopro equipment are so good that the expense is justified.