If you're reading this article then you're probably about to start shopping online for a karaoke machine - but where should you start? You might be looking for a device with Bluetooth compatibility, or perhaps you'd prefer to plug it in the old-fashioned way with an AUX cord. You'll also need at least one microphone, but if you want to duet with a pal or host sing-offs with family then the more mics, the better!
Before you add anything to your cart, check out our handy buying guide covering all the key info you need to know. Then, we'll review the most popular products from Amazon, eBay, and Argos, including those by Lucky Voice and Vocal-Star. Whether you're after a cheap device that the kids can use to sing along to their Frozen CD or something more professional for practising your power ballads, we'll help you pick out the best karaoke machine!
When browsing through the different types of karaoke machine that are available online, it's important that you're aware of how the product works and its main features. This section will guide you through each step of the buying process, so you can pick the best one on the market!
When using your new karaoke machine, you'll want one that's simple to set up. Checking how compatible the device is with the technology you already own can help things to go smoothly.
Want to connect your karaoke machine to your phone or tablet rather than a TV? You'll need a Bluetooth or WiFi connection, which are both forms of wireless technology.
Wireless technology makes things quick and simple, as you don't have to fiddle around with confusing wires or plugs. Plus, you can see the lyrics pop up on your personal screen and you have the ability to stream your own songs rather than sticking to what's included on the machine.
On the downside, there's always the risk that you could lose connection halfway through your favourite power ballad! Bad weather or a low battery percentage may affect the availability of your phone's Bluetooth or WiFi connection and bring a swift end to your karaoke party.
Also, bear in mind that you'll need to hold your phone pretty close in order to see the lyrics, so this isn't the ideal option for larger groups of people. For small gatherings though, it should be fine.
If you'd rather stick to the old-school way and have the lyrics displayed on a TV so that everyone in the room can sing along too, go for a karaoke machine that works with a cable.
For larger gatherings or commercial usage, like parties or bars, you should opt for a TV cable to ensure a stable connection. Typically, the cable will need to plug into both the karaoke machine and the back of your telly. While this type of connection takes longer to set up, it's a much more reliable method - it's pretty unlikely that a power cut will occur during your karaoke evening!
Alternatively, if you don't need a large screen for displaying the lyrics but you'd still prefer the reliability of a cable over a wireless connection, try an AUX cord that directly connects to your phone.
Now that you know how to display the lyrics, it's time to think about where the music will come from! Karaoke tracks can be streamed through your machine in a number of ways, but which one would you prefer?
Some machines come with a setlist of tracks that are ready to play. This means that you have instant access to both the music and lyrics as they're programmed into the machine or, depending on the product, the corresponding app.
This option is perfect for casual karaoke sessions where you just want to belt out a few classic tunes with friends! However, it does mean that the selection of songs to choose from is fairly limited.
If you want to sing along to trending hits or even your favourite obscure songs, you can burn MP3 tracks onto a CD or USB stick. CDs can scratch after a while, but they're cheaper than USB sticks so you can always bulk-buy and burn several mixes at a time.
Another option is CDG discs - these are CDs with graphics (AKA text lyrics) included. You can find a wide range of CDGs in all kinds of genres online, from country classics to 90s pop hits. Not all machines will play CDGs though, so definitely check first if yours is compatible!
As with most electrical devices, there are two types of power source when it comes to karaoke machines: the mains and a battery.
A karaoke machine that's operated through the mains will need to be kept near an electrical socket, or you could use an extension lead if you want to move it around while it's plugged in. Although it's not particularly portable, it's a reliable power source that should provide you with hours of entertainment.
On the other hand, a battery-powered machine is extremely portable and can be placed pretty much anywhere. If you plan to have a long karaoke session though, make sure it's fully charged before the party starts so it won't run out of power mid-song!
Regardless of whether you're buying a karaoke machine for private or commercial use, the wattage of the device is definitely something you should look into.
For small parties or bedroom singalongs, anything up to 50 watts will provide a solid amount of sound without costing too much. We wouldn't recommend that you go any lower than 5 watts unless the machine is a gift for a child who won't mind about the audio quality.
If you're planning to hold a big event, you'll need the best sound quality possible in order to fill the room - a machine with an audio capacity of up to 100 watts should suffice. As you can imagine though, machines with a higher power level tend to be pretty expensive.
Of course, any karaoke party isn't complete without a microphone - how else will you get to enjoy the full popstar experience? The best machines will come with at least one microphone included, meaning that you won't have to spend money on extra accessories.
If the product you have your eye on doesn't include enough microphones, you'll be pleased to learn that all karaoke machines feature one or more microphone jacks - so you can easily plug in your own!
Now that you know what makes a good karaoke machine, you can finally start browsing! We've found some amazing models online, from affordable products for beginners to top-of-the-range devices that the whole family will love.
£50.00
Compatibility | TV, AUX cord |
---|---|
Track Source | Pre-programmed setlist |
Power | Mains |
Wattage | 5 watts |
Microphone Included | Yes - 1 |
Number of Microphone Jacks | 2 |
Dimensions | 21 x 35 x 7 cm |
VS-800
£219.99
Compatibility | Bluetooth, WiFi, TV, AUX cord |
---|---|
Track Source | Pre-programmed setlist, CDG, CD, USB stick, MP3 |
Power | Mains |
Wattage | - |
Microphone Included | Yes - 2 |
Number of Microphone Jacks | 4 |
Dimensions | 49 x 36.5 x 23.5 cm |
SML645BT
£99.99
Compatibility | Bluetooth, AUX cord |
---|---|
Track Source | Pre-programmed setlist, MP3, USB stick, CD, CDG |
Power | Mains |
Wattage | - |
Microphone Included | Yes - 1 |
Number of Microphone Jacks | 2 |
Dimensions | 47 x 33 x 28 cm |
VS-400
£79.99
Compatibility | TV, AUX cord |
---|---|
Track Source | Pre-programmed setlist, MP3, CDG |
Power | Mains |
Wattage | - |
Microphone Included | Yes - 2 |
Number of Microphone Jacks | 2 |
Dimensions | 34.6 x 29.3 x 9.2 cm |
EKS828BT
£160.00
Compatibility | Bluetooth, WiFi |
---|---|
Track Source | Pre-programmed setlist, USB stick, MP3 |
Power | Mains |
Wattage | - |
Microphone Included | Yes - 2 |
Number of Microphone Jacks | 2 |
Dimensions | 95.6 x 29 x 23.8 cm |
£149.99
Compatibility | Bluetooth, TV |
---|---|
Track Source | Pre-programmed setlist, USB stick, CD, MP3 |
Power | Battery |
Wattage | 25 watts |
Microphone Included | Yes - 2 |
Number of Microphone Jacks | 2 |
Dimensions | 32 x 27 x 40 cm |
BC100
£60.00
Compatibility | Bluetooth, AUX cord, TV |
---|---|
Track Source | MP3, USB stick |
Power | Mains |
Wattage | 50 watts |
Microphone Included | Yes - 1 |
Number of Microphone Jacks | 2 |
Dimensions | 26 x 20 x 20 cm |
AVS1302
£144.99
Compatibility | Bluetooth, AUX cord |
---|---|
Track Source | Pre-programmed setlist, CD, USB stick, MP3 |
Power | Mains |
Wattage | 8 watts |
Microphone Included | Yes - 2 |
Number of Microphone Jacks | 2 |
Dimensions | 33 x 27.4 x 47.1 cm |
£30.00
Compatibility | Bluetooth, AUX cord |
---|---|
Track Source | MP3 |
Power | Battery |
Wattage | 5 watts |
Microphone Included | Yes - 2 |
Number of Microphone Jacks | 2 |
Dimensions | 19.56 x 16 x 23.37 cm |
£193.00
Compatibility | Bluetooth, AUX cord |
---|---|
Track Source | MP3 |
Power | Battery |
Wattage | 100 watts |
Microphone Included | Yes - 1 mic |
Number of Microphone Jacks | 2 |
Dimensions | 27.94 x 38.1 x 51.82 cm |
Image | 1 ![]() ION Audio | 2 ![]() RockJam | 3 ![]() Daewoo | 4 ![]() iDance | 5 ![]() Mr Entertainer | 6 ![]() Easy Karaoke | 7 ![]() Vocal-Star | 8 ![]() Singing Machine Store | 9 ![]() Vocal-Star | 10 ![]() Lucky Voice |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Party Rocker Max | Singcube | Portable Karaoke Machine | Sing Cube Karaoke System | Megabox Portable Karaoke Machine | Bluetooth Pedestal Karaoke Machine | Karaoke Machine | Jukebox Bluetooth Karaoke Machine | Karaoke Machine | Karaoke Machine |
Features | Provides Hours and Hours of Karaoke Fun | A Compact Yet Powerful Machine | Perfect for Professionals or Aspiring Popstars | Budget-Friendly and Full of Fab Features | A Portable Machine With Booming Bass | Sing Your Heart Out at This Snazzy Stand | Reliable and Easy to Operate | A Retro Design With Modern Features | The Ultimate Party Pack for All Ages | Basic but Ideal for Beginners |
Price | £193.00 | £30.00 | £144.99 | £60.00 | £149.99 | £160.00 | £79.99 | £99.99 | £219.99 | £50.00 |
Compatibility | Bluetooth, AUX cord | Bluetooth, AUX cord | Bluetooth, AUX cord | Bluetooth, AUX cord, TV | Bluetooth, TV | Bluetooth, WiFi | TV, AUX cord | Bluetooth, AUX cord | Bluetooth, WiFi, TV, AUX cord | TV, AUX cord |
Track Source | MP3 | MP3 | Pre-programmed setlist, CD, USB stick, MP3 | MP3, USB stick | Pre-programmed setlist, USB stick, CD, MP3 | Pre-programmed setlist, USB stick, MP3 | Pre-programmed setlist, MP3, CDG | Pre-programmed setlist, MP3, USB stick, CD, CDG | Pre-programmed setlist, CDG, CD, USB stick, MP3 | Pre-programmed setlist |
Power | Battery | Battery | Mains | Mains | Battery | Mains | Mains | Mains | Mains | Mains |
Wattage | 100 watts | 5 watts | 8 watts | 50 watts | 25 watts | - | - | - | - | 5 watts |
Microphone Included | Yes - 1 mic | Yes - 2 | Yes - 2 | Yes - 1 | Yes - 2 | Yes - 2 | Yes - 2 | Yes - 1 | Yes - 2 | Yes - 1 |
Number of Microphone Jacks | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Dimensions | 27.94 x 38.1 x 51.82 cm | 19.56 x 16 x 23.37 cm | 33 x 27.4 x 47.1 cm | 26 x 20 x 20 cm | 32 x 27 x 40 cm | 95.6 x 29 x 23.8 cm | 34.6 x 29.3 x 9.2 cm | 47 x 33 x 28 cm | 49 x 36.5 x 23.5 cm | 21 x 35 x 7 cm |
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After more tech products to liven up your parties? Whether you want to invest in a DJ controller or you could do with a new HDMI cable to keep your audio gear linked up, you can rely on us to provide trustworthy reviews of the best products around!
There you have it - everything you could ever need to know about karaoke machines! Hopefully, one of our recommendations has grabbed your attention and you're looking forward to purchasing your brand new party sidekick. Ready to give the vocal performance of a lifetime?
Author: Annie Speight
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