The Best Karaoke Machine

Few things can spice up a party like a couple of hours of karaoke. Even if you can’t carry a tune, firing up some lyrics and music and singing into a microphone can be a great way to get everyone laughing and cheering. At one time, karaoke meant heading out to a local bar or renting a pricey machine from a local party supply company. While you can still do either of those things, you can now buy in-home karaoke machines for the same price you’d pay to rent a karaoke setup for one night.

Before you buy, though, there are a few things to consider. If you’re just looking for a machine you’ll use occasionally to have fun with friends, you may come into it with different needs than someone who enjoys singing and wants features like being able to record and plug in an instrument. Many parents also invest in karaoke machines for their children, and there are machines that are more ideal for that purpose.

You may not think about it initially, but song selection is one of the most important features in a karaoke machine. Over time, you’ll grow tired of the songs that come with the machine and want to grab a few new ones. Some machines make it easy to link up to the many free karaoke videos available on sites like YouTube. Other machines provide access to an app where you can get more songs, although this feature isn’t always free. Pay close attention to this functionality before you buy.

Your karaoke machine will rely heavily on a microphone, which plugs into the device itself. Some machines let you use only one microphone at a time, which can make duets a little tricky. You can hand the microphone back and forth while you sing, but there are machines that offer two microphones. Even if you think you’ll never have a duet, it might come in handy to have that second microphone for a party you may throw a couple of years from now.

• One important thing to pay close attention to as you’re shopping is whether or not your machine includes a screen. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to link up to an app or use a site like YouTube to get your songs. The Karaoke USA Karaoke Machine is a full-feature system that includes a 7-inch thin-film-transistor screen. The Singing Machine Karaoke Machine has RCA cables that you can use to connect to your own TV screen.
• Sound is one of the most important features in a karaoke machine. The Memorex Karaoke Machine has pretty good sound quality, but many of these machines can suffer from distortion as you push the volume to its limits. With the Karaoke USA Karaoke Machine, you can adjust the bass and treble to your own preferences.
• If you’re looking for a machine that will help you hone your own singing ability, the Singtrix Karaoke Machine is worth considering. You can plug a guitar into it and even use autotune as you hone your talent. You can also plug an instrument into the Memorex Karaoke Machine.
• The Karaoke USA and Singing Machine karaoke machines let you record your singing sessions for later playback.
• If you’re buying a device for the children in your life, both the Memorex and the Singing Machine karaoke machines fit the bill. They’re both easy to set up, and the Memorex is very sturdy.
• Over time, you’ll grow tired of the songs that came with the unit. For that reason, it’s important to consider song availability. The Singtrix Karaoke Machine has an app that promises access to a library of songs, along with a monthly subscription-based membership to expand to more.
• With any of these machines, you can easily find music on sites like YouTube for free, so you’ll need to simply look for a machine that lets you pull songs from online. The Karaoke USA and Singtrix, Memorex and Singing Machine all promise easy connection to your mobile device, with the Karaoke USA, Memorex and Singing Machine connecting via Bluetooth.