How To Put Together A Killer Karaoke Setup At Home!

Karaoke is a whole lot of fun wherever you are, but if you prefer to create your own setup in the comfort of your own home it can quickly become somewhat of a minefield!

Do you need new speakers?

Are wireless microphones better?

Is your room big enough?

Which products make for the best karaoke machines?

The complexities of fitting out your own karaoke space can seem quite overwhelming at first.

If you’re keen to put together your own home karaoke system or find an all-in-one karaoke machine for family get-togethers, parties, or for those times when you just want to sing along to your favourite songs, we’ve put together the following guide to help you understand the best way to move forwards. But first, let’s just clarify what we’re talking about.

What is a karaoke machine?

A karaoke machine is a device that allows you and your family or friends to sing along to recorded music. The best karaoke machines provide more than just instrumental accompaniment and offer intuitive controls, different features and – of course – display lyrics on a screen.

A typical karaoke machine consists of a player that reads and plays the music from a CD, DVD, or other digital media, and it often includes features such as pitch control, volume adjustments, and echo effects to enhance the singing experience.

Find the right space for your karaoke setup

A killer home karaoke system is only as good as the room you keep it in. Otherwise, you might find yourself limited in several different ways. Firstly, you’re going to need to think about acoustics, which is how sound reacts to the space around it.

Size does matter when choosing karaoke machines

We recommend hosting your karaoke machine or setup in a nice, open room that can allow the sound to dissipate properly. Of course, you don’t want to go too big otherwise you’ll end up with echoing and other distortions.

If you want to host karaoke parties with friends and family, the size of your room will also need to comfortably seat everyone without making the audience too close to the source of the sound. As well as accommodating all of your gear, the room needs to have enough space for both performance and audience areas.

Choose your karaoke machine

There are many different karaoke machines designed for different room sizes and levels of expertise. As the heart of your home karaoke party, your karaoke machine’s job is to maintain and provide a database of music tracks to sing to, play them and provide support for your performances.

If you’re a first-timer, we recommend getting a system that is a little more ‘all-in-one’. The more complicated the system, the more it will cost and likely require additional equipment. However, by being able to pick every component yourself, you can build the overall outcome exactly as you want – which can lead to some very powerful and unique results.

What do you need from your karaoke machine?

If you’re looking to build a serious setup, you’ll need to think about the supporting tech such as microphones, speakers and video. 

The best karaoke machine will depend on a number of different factors and personal preferences. Here’s a quick guide to help you approach finding the best karaoke machine for your needs.

Define Your Budget
Determine how much you are willing to spend on a karaoke machine. Prices can vary widely, so having a budget in mind will help narrow down your options.

Consider the Type of System

All-in-One Systems

All-in-one systems include built-in speakers and display screens. In other words, they offer a complete package. These karaoke versions are convenient but may have limited customisation options.

Component Systems

Other karaoke machines and options are often called component systems. These consist of separate products and parts, like a player, mixer, and sound system/speakers. Component systems offer more flexibility in terms of customisation (e.g., which sound system you decide to incorporate) but may require more setup and can be more costly than other karaoke machines and setups.

Check Media Compatibility
Check that your considered karaoke system is compatible with your preferred media format (CDs, DVDs, USB, Bluetooth, etc.). If you have a specific preferred format, it is important you ensure your chosen karaoke versions can play the specific media.

Audio Quality
Whether you choose an all-in-one system or incorporate specific sound system options, audio quality is important. Pay attention to the audio capabilities of the system. Tip: Look for features like adjustable pitch control, echo effects, and equalisation – this will all enhance the sound of your singing and your experience.

Display Options
Built in LED light features might be a matter of personal preference but a display screen that is clear and easy to read is a must. The best karaoke machine options even allow you to connect to external monitors or TVs for a larger display.

Song Database
Does your chosen option have a system database? Which songs are available in it? Many karaoke machines come with preloaded songs, while others may require you to purchase or download them separately.

Connectivity
Connectivity options are an important consideration. Bluetooth-enabled systems allow you to stream music from your devices. On the other hand, a USB drive and port can be useful for connecting external storage devices and easy to use.

Portability
What are you planning on doing with your karaoke machine? If you plan to use the karaoke system in different rooms of the house or want to be able to take it to parties elsewhere, consider its portability. Look for lightweight and compact options to allow you to take your fun on the road.

Two Microphones
Wireless mics or wired microphones? There are a lot of options for karaoke mics. Start by checking if the system comes with microphones already. Some machines include one or two wired microphones, while others may require you to purchase them separately. If your setup is going to be in a large room, consider investing in wireless microphones for greater freedom of movement.

Reviews and Recommendations
When you’re considering a particular machine or sound system, make sure to read customer reviews and seek recommendations from friends or online communities. This social proof can provide valuable insights into the performance, durability, and user-friendliness of different karaoke systems.

Brand Reputation
At DJ City, we sell a range of different karaoke systems and machines from reputable brands with a history of producing quality audio equipment. For additional peace of mind, why not research the reputation of the brand you’re considering?

Warranty and Customer Support
Look for a karaoke system that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty, and check the customer support options provided by the manufacturer. This can be important in the unlikely event that you encounter any issues with the system.

Looking into speakers & sound equipment

Your sound equipment may be the thing that turns your home karaoke party from ‘cool’ to ‘epic. After all, nobody wants thin sounds coming from a television or laptop. The right setup can really improve the sound quality of your output and deal with the acoustics of the room a little better as well.

Powered speakers recommendation for karaoke machines

If you’re not choosing an all-in-one karaoke machine option with built in speakers but rather want to really want to get the most out of your system, we recommend that you pick up some high quality powered speakers!

For an affordable option that really packs a punch, we recommend checking out the line of AVE Revo powered speakers. Get yourself a pack with accompanying stands and you’ll really take your setup to the next level.

Exploring microphones for karaoke machines

Your microphone is probably the most important choice when it comes to creating a fantastic karaoke system. Think about the space you’ll be karaoke-ing in and what sort of microphone volume and reach you’ll need.

Like most things, the price of your microphone is likely to indicate the kind of precision on offer, but there are still plenty of good mid-rangers and entry-level choices out there as well.

Another decision you’ll need to make when it comes to your microphone is whether or not you want to go for wired or wireless. Like most things, both come with their pros and cons, but if you do your research and get a decent product, the sound differences won’t be significant.

In terms of recommendations, classic wire vocal microphones by brands such as SHURE or Sennheiser provide great sound quality when used with professional karaoke systems. And, since they are wired, you won’t need to worry about recharging.

If you’re not looking to break the bank, DJ City also has a great affordable range of options from brands such as Max and AVE that will certainly get the job done.

Wireless microphones with your karaoke machines

If you like the idea of not being constrained by wires, there are plenty of fantastic wireless microphones for you to try. By having a bunch of wireless microphones, you’ll have more freedom to pass them around the room and whoever is singing can really let loose with their dance moves if they want to.

Just like their wired counterparts, wireless microphones can produce high-quality, distortion-free transmission and can often extend their range as far as 40 meters – which is more than enough for most use cases. Thanks to modern battery technology, you could probably enjoy up to ten hours of use between charging. Of course, remember that you’ll want to invest in two wireless microphones for the ultimate experience.

Video equipment for karaoke machines

The best karaoke systems aren’t complete without a great video system to back it all up. 

Although you can use a monitor, smart TV, or even a projector, you can get karaoke machines that have everything you need included–from the mic and built in speakers to a built in screen. This way you can read and sing along with the lyrics as clear as day.

Controls and features in your karaoke machine

Getting the perfect balance of sounds and videos is a skill in itself. Depending on your needs, you can pick a karaoke machine with a mixer that allows you to fine-tune and adjust everything in the way you want, including the song queue and supporting video content. By having a good mixer, you’ll be able to find that delicate balance between voice volume and that of the background music.

If either of these is too loud than the other, the overall sound will suffer as a result, no matter how good your speakers are. The same applies to bass and treble levels, which also need to be regulated.

Consider different karaoke machines features and options

A karaoke machine that already has all of these different mixer options preset, sound effects or pre-built may be a good solution for more casual karaoke fans, but it might not be the best for those who want to get everything just right.

If you’re a pro (or want to become one) we advise that you build your system yourself with a selection of parts that complement each other, both technically and aesthetically. Check out our full selection of digital mixers here.

Sing for success with the right karaoke machine

So, there you have it. With the above considerations in mind, you’re much better placed to build a killer karaoke machine setup that’ll be the life of the party. If you’re a beginner, you don’t need to get stressed out about all of the different options of karaoke machine out there – just talk to our team about what you’re looking for and we’ll steer you in the right direction.

Building your own system is very rewarding and fun, and finding the best karaoke machines can be very enjoyable, but do make sure that when you’re picking your parts that they work together properly. You should also be careful about noise levels, so if you live in an apartment complex or have neighbours nearby, it’s probably not a good idea to get a system that’ll shake the walls with bass.

To start your journey towards the best karaoke system, take a look at our selection of karaoke products and start planning your first party. If you need any assistance weighing up the different karaoke machines and making the top pick, just give us a call today!