AudioReputation is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission Learn More
Karaoke sessions are the life of any party. They help create a vibe while ensuring everyone can join in on the fun. You get to sing your favorite songs and party with your friends, thanks to the lyrics on the screen. While karaoke bars are a great place to start, they can be quite expensive at the end of the night.
Not just that, you can’t always enjoy a family-friendly setting at karaoke bars. And, in such cases, you might want to set up and do karaoke at home. So how do you do it? And is it more feasible than opting for a commercial place?
Here’s all you need to know about doing karaoke at your home and creating that killer vibe at your parties and get-togethers.
Table of Contents
What Gear Will You Need for Karaoke?
Firstly, you’ll need a karaoke machine, which is quite obvious. Then, you need to get a smartphone, a Smart TV, or a PC to play karaoke in your house. This method is quite easy to follow, and in no time, you’ll be having a good time with your friends.
Now that you have a setup, you can choose the type of display that you want to have in front of you. You can opt for a TV or even a projector if you want to display the lyrics. However, you should focus on the little details as well while looking out for the equipment.
Let’s discuss them in detail below:
1. Karaoke Machine
Karaoke machines come with a built-in library of songs. They also let you display the lyrics of the songs on a screen, along with a mic that you can use to sing your favorite tunes. They are generally plug-and-play machines, and you can use them straight from the box after plugging in.
The best part about these machines is their convenience. This means you don’t need to be tech-savvy to use this device. That said, you will find tons of Karaoke machines out in the market. But, if you ask us, there is not much that differentiates these machines and you can surely go for a cheaper version if you’re tight on a budget.
That said, if you have money to spare, you can buy karaoke machines that come with additional features like portable functionality, display out, additional ports, support for multiple microphones, amplifiers, and more.
2. Smartphone or Tablet
A smartphone or a tablet can also help you karaoke easily at home. This is a more feasible option if you aren’t looking to invest in new equipment or spend a lot on your setup.
Whether you have an iOS or Android device, you can easily download apps to help you karaoke right at home. These apps can display lyrics and play instrumentals in the background, so you can easily keep up with any song, even if you don’t know about it.
Many apps will also offer additional perks like different mic modes, audio effects, and sound effects that you can use to improve your karaoke experience further. So if you aren’t looking to invest in a new device but still want the best possible karaoke experience at home, then a smartphone or a tablet might be the next best option for you.
3. PC
While smartphones are a great way to karaoke right at home, there might be times when you might need to use them for other purposes. This will leave your audience without a way to karaoke or have access to any music, which can kill the entire vibe of your karaoke session. In such cases, using your PC to karaoke at home might be a more viable option.
Using a PC to karaoke has its own perks, like the ability to use multiple microphones, automation, apply additional sound effects, use auto-tune, and much more. Depending on how you wish to proceed, you can even use professional-level mixing apps and DAWs further to customize your karaoke setup for professional-level sound quality to enhance the overall experience.
So, if you’re an enthusiast looking to experiment and make the most of your karaoke session, then using a PC is recommended.
4. Smart TV
Smart TVs have become the norm since they were first released a decade ago. Chances are that if you bought a TV in the past five years, it is likely a Smart TV. Most Smart TVs run a skewed version of Android that allows them to run proprietary streaming apps that can help you stream content from popular OTT platforms.
You can use the Android functionality to install Android apps that can help you do karaoke directly from your TV without the need for any other device. Using a Smart TV to karaoke has its share of disadvantages, though. Mainly, the lack of a keyboard will force you to type using the remote when searching for songs. This can be cumbersome and tedious, which can hinder your karaoke experience.
However, you can fix this by using a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard.
How Do I Set Up Karaoke at Home?
You can set up karaoke at home easily using a few steps. You will first need to power on the preferred device you choose to karaoke, connect it to a display, and then set up your speakers and microphone. You should then be able to enjoy karaoke at your home in no time.
Let’s check out the different methods through which you can set up karaoke at home with ease.
Method 1: If You Have a Karaoke Machine
Karaoke machines are the easiest to set up for karaoke at home. Let’s start by choosing an appropriate karaoke machine for you. Here are our top 6 karaoke machines that you can use to get a party started right at your home easily.
Generic Microphone Karaoke Machine
This is my first recommended budget choice that won’t burn a hole in your pocket while providing you with basic karaoke functionality to help you enjoy karaoke at home. There are tons of generic microphone karaoke machines out there, and our choice comes from the house of BOANOK.
This microphone is a wireless mic with Bluetooth functionality that has a built-in speaker and recorder functionality. The BOANOK karaoke machine is the perfect choice for small parties and intimate karaoke sessions on a budget. It has Bluetooth 5.0, programmable LEDs, and four to eight hours of battery life, depending on your usage.
So if you want to karaoke on a budget with a small group of friends at your home, then the BOANOK karaoke machine will serve you well.
Flyasny Karaoke Machine
My next recommendation is the Flyasny Karaoke machine. This karaoke machine features wireless microphones, a dedicated portable speaker, and an aux-in port. In terms of the speaker, it comes bundled with a 6.1” subwoofer which helps provide bass-heavy sound during your karaoke sessions.
The Flyasny Karaoke machine has Bluetooth 5.0 for exceptional connectivity with a maximum supported distance of ten meters. It also has a great port selection with a TF card reader, a USB A port, and an aux-in. The Flyasny Karaoke machine shines with its two microphones bundled in the package with wireless functionality and dedicated voice effects.
It has a 3000 mAh battery which helps provide a battery life of six to eight hours, depending on your usage. So if you’re looking to invest in a karaoke machine for the first time and would like your money’s worth, then the Flyasny Karaoke machine should be the perfect fit for you.
JYX Karaoke Machine
The JYX Karaoke machine is a professional karaoke machine that offers unrivaled experience and exceptional portability. It has a PA system, dedicated sound effects, and the ability to adjust your sound output on the fly. It also has a dedicated mobile device slot that can fit mobile devices of all sizes, including tablets of up to 22cm.
The JYX Karaoke machine also has seven knobs that help you control the reverb, treble, and bass in real time to adjust your sound output according to your preferences. It comes with two wireless UHF mics and a remote to help you manage your karaoke session remotely. The machine produces excellent sound thanks to its 10” subwoofer and two 3.5” tweeters.
It also has a 6600 mAh battery which offers a battery life of up to 72 hours. So if you’ve been looking for a professional karaoke machine that does it all, then you can’t go wrong with the JYX Karaoke machine.
RHM Karaoke Machine
If you’re looking for a small and powerful karaoke machine, you should check out this device. Its available in three different colors, supports a PA system, and comes bundled with two wireless microphones. It has two 15w tweeters alongside a 4” subwoofer to produce excellent sound in all ambient settings. In terms of battery life, the RHM Karaoke machine can last up to 12 hours thanks to its 13200 mAh battery.
It also has great connectivity options with an aux-in, USB A, and SD card ports. It also has a dedicated slot to hold your mobile devices so you can easily view lyrics and sing along to your favorite song on the fly. So if you’re looking for a small, portable, yet powerful karaoke machine, the RHM Karaoke machine should serve you well.
MASINGO Karaoke Machine
My final recommendation is the MASINGO Karaoke machine. This professional karaoke machine has a sleek and modern design alongside a disco ball that can get the party started instantly. It comes with two dedicated wireless microphones as well as an RCA out port to ensure you can connect it to your TV.
It also has aux-in and USB ports so you can play your favorite tunes using a thumb drive or a mobile device. In terms of sound output, it provides a 30-watt output. So, if you’re on the hunt for a professional karaoke machine that has great microphones, then you should definitely check out the MASINGO Karaoke machine.
Now that you have chosen your karaoke machine, you can simply connect it to a song source in your home and get the party going. You can use the aux-in to connect to your mobile or PC, which can then also be used to display lyrics for any song you prefer.
You can choose to use a dedicated karaoke app or your preferred music streaming app. Most music streaming apps also allow you to view lyrics in real-time, which can help you karaoke easily.
If you’re looking for dedicated karaoke apps, check out our recommendations in the next section below. If all else fails, you can choose to use YouTube, which features dedicated karaoke tracks from free sources.
Method 2: If You’re Using a Phone or Tablet
If you’re using a mobile device, then you can use dedicated karaoke apps. They can help you karaoke directly from your mobile device. Whether you’re using an Android or iOS device, I recommend the following apps.
Karaoke Apps for iOS Devices
I recommend the following apps if you’re using an iOS device like an iPhone or an iPad.
- Smule: Download Link
- KaraFun: Download Link
- iSing: Download Link
- StarMaker: Download Link
- The Voice Karaoke: Download Link
Karaoke Apps for Android Devices
If you’re an Android user, you should check out the following apps to help you karaoke at home.
- BackTrackIt: Download Link
- KaraFun: Download Link
- Smule: Download Link
- StarMaker: Download Link
- MixIt: Download Link
Once you have downloaded an app, you can connect your mobile device to a speaker. I recommend connecting your device using an aux cable for better sound quality, but a Bluetooth connection should also work fine.
You can then launch the app and start a karaoke session using the microphone on your device. For added fidelity, you connect your headphones and use the in-line mic you will find on them to sing along with your favorite song more easily.
Method 3: If You’re Using a PC
PC users will need a few things to karaoke easily at home. Use the requirements section below to help you get familiar with the equipment you will need.
Requirements
You will need the following peripherals to karaoke using your PC. You might own some of these already, which should make it easier to karaoke at home.
- An external microphone
- A speaker system
- An easily accessible display
Karaoke With Your PC at Home
You can now use the steps below to karaoke with your PC at home.
- Power on your PC and connect your speakers and microphone to it. If you have a tower PC, you likely have a dedicated microphone-in at the back of your PC. If you’re using a laptop, you might have a shared aux in and out port that also supports a microphone in and out. In such cases, you can use a splitter or connect a Bluetooth speaker to your laptop instead.
- Once everything is connected, you must allow your PC to stream your microphone input over your microphone. This can be done by enabling listening for your microphone in Windows privacy settings or by using a dedicated karaoke app that does the same automatically for you. If you don’t wish to use an app, you can open Sound Settings > Recording > Microphone > Properties and then enable listening for the device. Your audio input and output will then be combined, which will allow you to sing along with your favorite songs.
- You can now launch one of the sources below to access karaoke songs and sing along with them. If you enabled listening for your microphone, as stated above, you wouldn’t need to use a dedicated karaoke app. However, using one will definitely make your experience a bit easier.
You should now be easily able to karaoke using your PC at your home.
Method 4: If You’re Using a Smart TV
SmartTVs have a fairly simple setup thanks to the all-on-in-one setup. You will first need the following things when using your TV to karaoke at home.
Requirements
The following things will be needed so you can easily karaoke using your SmartTV at home.
- A speaker system with mic-in
- An external microphone
- A karaoke app supported by your SmartTV
Karaoke Using Your SmartTV
You can now use these steps to karaoke using your SmartTV.
- Most smart TVs allow you to install and use Android apps. You can use this to your advantage and download a preferred karaoke app from the Android apps listed in this post at the top. Download the app and install it on your TV.
- Now connect your microphone to your speaker system and connect your speakers to your TV. You can also choose to connect your microphone to your TV directly, but it will force you to use a dedicated mixer app to combine your audio in and out signals to karaoke at home.
- You can now launch the app and karaoke directly on your TV.
These steps will help you karaoke from your TV. If your SmartTV uses a proprietary OS and doesn’t support installing Android apps, then, unfortunately, karaoke will be a tough task. In such cases, I recommend using one of the alternate methods listed above.
FAQs
The best way to karaoke at home is by using a dedicated karaoke machine. It eliminates the hassle of finding compatible microphones and combining your audio in and out signals into a single stream.
You can use the methods we have listed above to karaoke using YouTube. Once you combine your audio in and out signals, you can search YouTube for karaoke songs, whether using your mobile device, SmartTV, or PC.
Yes, tons of microphone apps can help you karaoke and automatically combine your audio in and out signals. Check out our top picks in Method 2 at the top to find a microphone karaoke app that fits your current needs.
Conclusion
Karaoke is always fun, and if you like to jam with your friends, oh boy, it is a gem. By now, we hope you understand all the different methods you can use to set up karaoke in your home.
If you ask us, we would always root for going with a karaoke machine as it’s the only way to give you the best experiment. Now, although this was the best method, that doesn’t mean that the other methods are not useful.
You can go for anything and everything while setting up the karaoke because, in the end, what matters is that you enjoy your session with convenience.
We hope that you liked this article. If there is anything related to setting up karaoke in your home that we’ve missed, we would love to know about it from you. Feel free to drop a comment or reach out to us with any of your queries.
Since the time I got my first pair of headphones in 2012, I’ve been fascinated by these little gadgets that have the power to change our moods through our favorite music. Whether it was the cheap $5 earphones or the premium JBL headphones, I have played my favorite music on tons of different audio devices for all these years.
At AudioReputation, I test and review headphones of all kinds. From popular earbuds like the Airpods pro to the expensive HIFIMAN Susvara, I always perform a deep test and present my honest and unbiased opinion to my readers.