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Gone are the days of needing big, bulky equipment or complex systems to enjoy karaoke.
A karaoke microphone can make it easy to practice singing, or it can liven up any party. These wireless microphones come with a system that includes a vocal microphone and a speaker to play the backing track. Everything is within the same device to minimize the annoying audio cables and allow you to sing along to loads of your favorite songs.
In this guide we’re reviewing 10 of the best options for those who want to host karaoke parties or just enjoy singing with a backing track, rather than singing along with the radio.
OVELLIC Karaoke Microphone for Kids – Editor’s Choice
This is a microphone that is built with children in mind, but it is great for all ages if you’re looking for something with the lowest price but that still gives you plenty of quality.Â
The Bluetooth 5.0 connection is reliable for connecting to computers and devices, and this even has an incredible 10 hours of playtime on one full charge. It’s suitable for use outdoors or indoors with Bluetooth, or if you would rather, you can use a USB connection or a TF card to load up your songs.
There’s a reverb function, which is labeled “remix” (we’re not sure why) but this provides a nice echo sound.
The general sound quality isn’t professional, but it is great for home use and for kids looking to have some fun singing along to the songs they love. In spite of not having a professional level of clarity, the inbuilt speaker is actually surprisingly loud considering the size.Â
Pros:
- Available in loads of designs.
- Easy to connect to multiple devices.
- Great value for money.
Cons:
- Sound quality is not quite professional level.
BONAOK Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone – Best Overall
The BONAOK wireless mic is a versatile product that gives you the option to connect via Bluetooth or via a cable if you want that extra reliability. It has the microphone and speaker inbuilt with lots of smart features to enjoy singing and listening to music.
The long battery life that comes from an impressive lithium ion battery means that you can enjoy sessions of up to 8 hours without needing to recharge.
With the connection to an app on your phone or even on a laptop, you can use a multitude of singing apps or just backing tracks on YouTube to sing live or record your voice.
You can also load songs from a micro SD card if you wish, and you can even use the “song switch” to flit between the songs in a second. You could easily perform a catalog of tunes.
There is an inbuilt effect, with an echo function to make your voice sound that little bit sweeter. This is one of the most common effects used on vocals by producers and can add a level of professionalism to your performance. You can easily turn it on or off.
Pros:
- Loads of compatibility with a variety of devices.
- Micro SD card support.
- Easy to control in your hand, you don’t need to keep going to your device.
Cons:
- The inbuilt speaker is not as clear as some alternatives.
CALF Bluetooth Wireless Karaoke Microphone with Speaker – Premium Choice
If you are happy to spend a little more on your wireless karaoke system, the CALF Bluetooth Mic could be a brilliant option. It’s got some advanced features that some other microphones don’t offer.
The very clever “duet” mode lets you pair multiple microphones so you can all hold on to your own mic and sing together, either as a duet or part of a group. This is great for parties but even for practicing as a group.
There are dual speakers whereas a lot of the wireless microphones out there only offer one. This means better bass and a clear, loud sound. There are even 8 different effects inbuilt, some of these are a little more fun and novelty than useful, but they’re nice to have.
As you would expect, the CALF mic also works with numerous devices including iPhone and Android devices. It’s simple to set up and reliable to use.
Pros:
- Clever duet mode for multiple mics and multiple singers.
- Powerful inbuilt speakers with two channels rather than one.
Cons:
- More expensive than many of the other options.
BlueFire Bluetooth 4 in 1 Karaoke – Wireless Microphone with LED Light
This is another great option for those who love something bright and exciting. The vibrant LED lights really add to the party vibe, and you can enjoy multifunctionality from these karaoke mics.
Once again, at this price range, they are not professional models. Don’t expect to see them on stage at a festival soon, but they have a decent built-in speaker and allow you to listen clearly to your singing, or laugh along with your friends.
The front panel of the hand-held mic has controls for you to choose the function of this “4-in-1” model. You can choose to use it as a Bluetooth speaker, recorder, mic or even as a loudspeaker.
If the Bluetooth is causing you problems, you can connect using a 3.5mm audio jack. It makes a fun gift and party activity.
Pros:
- Decent battery life at 5-6 hours per charge.
- Can easily be used with YouTube videos.
- Inbuilt lighting.
Cons:
- May struggle to connect with some Apple devices, especially wired.
- Clarity of the speaker isn’t as high as some alternatives.
TONOR Wireless Microphone – Cordless Dynamic Mic Handheld Microphone System
This TONOR wireless dynamic mic system is something a little different. It is more professional than a lot of the mics that are clearly designed with parties in mind. TONOR models can be used on stage, at churches or even at a performance.
This system gives you two mics and a wireless receiver. They work at up to 200 feet distance, and a dual antenna provides low interference.
The cardioid mics reject unwanted noise and provide a high sound-quality. There are 15 different frequencies to choose from to send the signal between the mic and receiver.
Keep in mind the fact that this does not have an inbuilt speaker. You will need to connect it to an amplifier or PA system to be able to hear it.
You can’t just hook this up to a phone and start singing. It takes much more preparation including loading up the backing tracks loaded from an audio source.
Pros:
- Quality wireless system for use on stage.
- Stable signal and long range.
- Cancels unwanted noise and provides a high sound-quality.
Cons:
- Only works with added equipment such as a PA system or speakers.
- No compatibility with your phone or tablet.
Singing Machine CPK545 – Official Carpool Karaoke Mic
Carpool Karaoke is something of a modern sensation. This is the official microphone to accompany James Corden’s feature, and though it is designed to work in cars (passengers only) it can be used as a karaoke mic pretty much anywhere.
The microphone picks up signal from an FM tuner such as that in your car, or from an aux cord so you can load up songs on a device. There is also the option to use a music app or a karaoke app to load songs via Bluetooth, so it’s fair to say you have choices in where you are sourcing your tunes.
Like many of the other mics on our list, this has some options on the control panel, such as increasing the reverb and volume.
One downside is the lack of an inbuilt speaker. The idea is that the car speakers become the karaoke system. This is fine if you are in the car, and you can even use a radio at home, but it would be better if there were inbuilt speakers so you could use the mic anywhere.
Pros:
- Great for using in your car and recreating carpool karaoke.
- The mic is surprisingly high-quality.
Cons:
- No inbuilt speakers, so you need to connect to a stereo.
Phenyx Pro 4-Channel UHF Cordless Mic Set – Great Value for Money
This is another set of mics with a wireless receiver, and they are great for bigger PA systems. They are very sturdy, and robust dynamic mics great for limiting feedback and using for live performances.
The four mics have fixed frequencies and connect at 541.9MHz, 546.3MHz, 561.6MHz, and 568.65MHz, with reliable stability. The receiver can be mounted in an audio rack, and connected via XLR outputs or with wireless transmitters. The mics need AA batteries to function.
The microphones are great quality, but they are only good for karaoke at home if you know what you are doing with the audio signal. You will need to connect this transmitter to an amplifier and speakers.
These mics are great value-for-money. To be able to get four quality microphones for such a good price is rare. If you want to do group performances such as your best One Direction impression then you can use this karaoke microphone system. These microphones don’t connect directly to your phone, so you need to know how to use a receiver and connect to a PA system.
Pros:
- Excellent value microphones.
- Reliable and stable connection up to 260 feet.
- Cardioid pickup pattern rejects unwanted noise such as off-axis noise.
Cons:
- More setup than most other microphones, with no direct connection to your device.
Amolabe Karaoke Microphone – 4-in-1 Wireless Bluetooth Microphone
If you are looking for a cheap option, the Amolabe can be a great choice. It’s a good option for children at a pocket-money sort of price. It works by connecting to a device and streaming backing tracks. You can use YouTube or karaoke apps to load songs and start singing in seconds, as it is so easy to connect via Bluetooth.
Besides karaoke, there are also some other uses for this microphone – you can use it as just a Bluetooth speaker, or to record your voice.Â
The loudspeaker has a 52mm driver. This is pretty impressive, as it is relatively loud for such a small product.
On one full charge, you can expect to get 5-8 hours of use. If you don’t want to use the wireless capabilities, you can also use an aux cable to connect.
There are some funny added extras. There are five “magic sounds” to add novelty effects and make everyone laugh. There’s also an echo effect which gives more of a character to your voice.
You get a 12-month warranty for this product, which is great when you consider it comes at such an affordable price. It’s great to keep the kids entertained on the weekend even if you are on a tight budget.
Pros:
- Easy to connect to a multitude of devices.
- Very affordable and great for children.
- Surprisingly loud.
Cons:
- Quite a tinny and low-quality sound.
- Not very robust. This is not going to last you decades.
GOODaaa Wireless Bluetooth Microphone – best Mic with Duet Mode
The GOODaaa microphone is a sturdy piece of music equipment, and one of the few karaoke microphones to have an inbuilt “duet” mode. This means if you buy two of the products, you can use them in conjunction with one another. Two people can each use their own mic and perform together. It can load from a device using Bluetooth, or from a TF card or aux cable.
No products found.The powerful speakers do a good job of recreating audio. They’re suitable for use as a Bluetooth speaker even if you don’t want to use them as a karaoke mic. There are inbuilt effects including the duet mode, echo, volume control, and a specific mode for playing music without singing along.
This mic is in the mid-range when it comes to the price. As well as having a better battery life compared to some cheaper models, it is also equipped with a really reliable Bluetooth 5.0 connection. It’s easy to connect to your device whether you’re an Android or Apple user.
This mic has an inbuilt vocal remover designed to cut the vocals from existing songs.
Pros:
- Well-made mic with stereo sound.
- Easy to load songs via Bluetooth, or from a TF card.
- One of the few mics with a duet mode to use two mics at the same time.
Cons:
- The inbuilt “vocal remover” function is unreliable.
- The speaker could be a little louder.
BONAOK 2021 Karaoke Microphone – portable Wireless Bluetooth Car Karaoke
The 2021 model from BONAOK combines the functions of both a wireless microphone for use in the car and a model to use at home or on-the-go. As well as connecting easily to your car’s stereo, this has its own speaker system with a rechargeable battery that can last up to 10 hours of use.
The dynamic microphone is good at rejecting unwanted noise and allowing people to sing away without worrying about background noise getting amplified along with their voice. The speakers boast 26W of power, while some of the karaoke mics out there only have 5W. This mic has a great overall sound quality when the inbuilt speakers are in use.
This is another karaoke system that supports duet mode, so you and a friend can sing along at the same time. It even has reverb and EQ functions, and a handy display on the front panel so you can see how much of the effects you are using and make adjustments quickly and easily.
Pros:
- Clear audio from a powerful speaker offering 26W of power.
- Duet mode supported.
Cons:
- More expensive than many of the models on this list.
How does a karaoke microphone work?
A karaoke machine bundles lots of technology into the same handheld device. It has a Bluetooth or aux connection to be able to load up audio backing tracks, and a microphone to detect your voice. Both of these audio feeds are then sent either to the inbuilt speakers or to a radio or PA system.
Some karaoke systems involve an audio receiver and use radio to transmit the signal. These need to be connected to amplifiers or a PA system as they do not have speakers inbuilt.
If your karaoke mic is Bluetooth enabled, it is often as simple as connecting the mic to the app and loading up an app or your favorite songs on YouTube.
Can I use a karaoke mic in the car?
Many karaoke mics are now designed with car-friendly modes. They can connect to the car’s Bluetooth or even transmit via the radio so that you can hear your singing live through the car stereo. Keep in mind that carpool karaoke is not filmed while they are actually driving anywhere. If you’re driving the vehicle you need to stay in control. Karaoke games in the car are for passengers only.
Where can I get backing tracks for karaoke?
There are so many places where you can find backing tracks. If you want to, you can load up a song with the vocals still in place. Some mics even have a function to auto-detect and remove these vocals, but they tend to be unreliable. Backing tracks for karaoke can be found on YouTube, or on specific karaoke apps. Both Apple’s App Store and Android’s Google Play Store have a variety of different karaoke apps that can be used along with a Bluetooth karaoke microphone.
Do I need to connect speakers to a karaoke mic?
Some karaoke mics do not have inbuilt speakers. These can either be used with your car stereo, a home radio, or by connecting them to speakers. Some professional microphone systems require more equipment such as an amplifier and PA speakers.
The good news is that the majority of karaoke mics are self-contained, with rechargeable batteries powering both the mic and the speaker. You can use them anywhere with no extra equipment needed.
How do I connect my karaoke microphone to my phone?
For Bluetooth mics, it is usually as simple as making sure your Bluetooth is switched on, and that your device is “discoverable”. The karaoke mic will show up in a list of Bluetooth devices from your “settings”. Once you pair it with the microphone you will be ready to go.
Can multiple karaoke mics be used together?
Some microphones have “duet” mode which connects two of the microphones to the same device, playing the same music through both. This means that you can perform duets or even as a group. If you don’t have a specific duet mode, it is almost impossible to get the audio to synchronize, unless you are using a set of microphones along with a PA system, such as the Tonor Cordless Dynamic Mic Handheld Microphone System, but this needs a separate audio source for the backing track.
Can karaoke microphones use memory cards?
A lot of microphones take TF or Micro SD cards. The BONAOK Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone is a good example. You can download songs or backing tracks onto the card and connect it to the karaoke mic. The control panel on the front of the mic lets you control the tracks, skip through them, and adjust the volume.
A memory card means you don’t even need a device to be connected to your karaoke mic to load up backing tracks.
Summary
There are multiple ways to operate a karaoke system for a home karaoke party or just to practice your singing. Some karaoke setups are complex, involving mics, receivers, PA systems, and more. Others are incredibly simple. If you want to get a handheld product that you can use to stream music, sing along and even record as well as amplify, there are multiple suitable options on this list. The BONAOK Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone is a great example of a versatile model that needs no additional equipment for you to start belting out the hits.