Karaoke Forums

I have about 5K to spend on a new karaoke system for home use only (and only to sing karaoke, no DJ purpose). The room size is 22x30. I want a system that can play karaoke songs from an external hard drive or laptop and from CD, CDG and DVDs. I've already have a very good TV & laptop, so no money is need to spend on them. I'm not really sure what I should buy besides 2 pairs of good Shure wireless microphones. I hope that this new system will provide a much better sound than my current one that I want to replace, comprising: a 2000'sAudio AKJ-7050 mixer/amplifier, RSQ CDG-DVD player and a pair of 200W (normal) / 300W (peak) 2000'sAudio speakers and a pair of noname wireless microphones.
If you need any more information to better help me, please ask. Thanks so much in advance for your suggestion.

Well you aren't going to need to spend 5K for just a home PA. Take a look at a decent mixing board with effects built in like the Yamaha MG124CX
http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMMG124CX $270

A couple of powered speakers like the Behringer B212A (not my favorites but are better for budget)
http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHB212A - $280 each
If money were not an issue I would much rather go with the QSC HPR122i
http://www.zzounds.com/item--QSCHPR122I - but these are much pricier @ $900 each

Along with your Shure wireless & laptop for music, you wouldn't need anything else. So with the Behringer speakers $830 minus shipping & misc cords.
With the QSC speakers $2070

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I like all these choices. I would add some sort of an equalizer between the mixer and the speakers. At the high and complicated end, the dbx DriveRack PX. At the lower end, something like the dbx 215:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--DBX215

You can probably get away without the EQ, adjusting the music at your PC source and the mics at the mixer. But it is nice for shaping the sound.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Lon, did I miss something? I didn't see any digital key control on either the music OR the vocals?

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

He stated he was going to run computer for the music which most of the programs out have a key changer built in. I didn't recommend a program for his laptop, i'll let others do that as what I like most seem not to.
Why would you need a key control on the vocals?

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As an option a medium sized POWERED MIXER like a Yamaha EMX312.
It has the all power and the features and effects you could want. You can even look at the BEHRINGER powered mixers for a little less expense.
Try a Yamaha Powered Mixer with pair of Yamaha BR12 speakers ..just something differant.

For home use it can be as simple as Winamp with Pacemaker and the MP3+G plugin. There is a thing called "JustKaraoke" from Tricerasoft, but it's key changer is terrible.

My cohort who hosts karaoke at my service club decided to spend the $180.00 for CompuHost at home. He played with Winamp and Siglos, and just decided he liked CompuHost a lot better because he knew it.

I use MTU Hoster for practice at home. It works great for that purpose -- better than CompuHost -- and I had already converted most of my library to KMA. I rip to MP3+G, and it is pretty easy to import from that format to KMA.

Bottom line is that for home use, a lot of things will serve. For pro gigging, I am a big believer in going with the best, and I consider that to be CompuHost.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Software wise, JustKaraoke is a good program if you want only karaoke. Personally I like CompuHost better but that is just my opinion which happens to agree with Mcky that out of all the software out there, Compuhost is by far the best out there. You can even record with it. But it's overkill since you're also paying for a great filler player that you're not going to use.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

OP may need a program that play both mp3g and .vob. Some of those recommended will not play .vob files.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Thanks all so much for your replies.
I really want to spend all 5K (litlle less or more) on this system so that I can get the best sound, complete & easy to use) with the money. So far, from your suggestion, I will buy:
- a pair of QSC HPR122i Powered 2-Way Speakers (1x12 in.) from zzound.com as suggested by Lonman (I have a question for Lonman: Will the SC HPR153i 3-Way Powered Loudspeakers, 600 Watts, 1x15 in. from the same website give me better sound for my purpose, again money is not a problem?)

- DBX 215 Dual 15-Band Graphic Equalizer from zzound.com

- Yamaha MG124CX stereo mixer (can I improve the sound quality & recording ability with a more expensive mixer, e.g., digital mixer with firewire, e.g., Yamaha N8 8-Channel Digital Mixer with Firewire Interface, http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMN8. BTW, what is the difference between a stereo mixer and a digital mixer?)

- a pair of Shure SM58 wired microphones (please suggest if you know of good Shure wireless microphones, thanks)

- a CGD, VCD, DVD Karaoke player (please suggest if you know of a high quality player, thanks).

- Compuhost software/ or JustKaraoke and probably a software that plays mp3+g or vob. files

I have a bunch of kids from 10-24 years old. Please suggest Karaoke package/collection that I should buy for them.

BTW, is it true that I either need a mixer and powered speakers or powered mixer and regular speakers, NOT a powered mixer and powered speakers?

Thanks so much for all the help. I appreciate it.

Have a look at Bose L1: expensive but it fit well in a living room
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... sku=600095

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

They will definitely give a much fuller sound, better bass response. I was thinking
This is a decent choice. I don't think you'd really need it personally, if anything i'd go with a dbx Driverack made for powered speakers. You'll be able to tailor the room almost perfectly (nothing is perfect).


You may want to consdier the new Mackie PROFX12
http://www.zzounds.com/item--MACPROFX12
This is their newest small console for computer recording as well. You aren't going to need much bigger.


SM58 for wired. Almost any of the wireless Shures are good - prefer a minimum SM58 head.


You could actually use your player you have now.


Download demos & get a feel for yourself, I prefer MTU Hoster.


Check out the Supercore.


Mixer & powered speakers (or regular speakers & a separate amp) or powered mixer & regular speakerrs - not as good a combo.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

C'mon, WAY expensive. They are good for hiding in a room though. I personally feel they don't have enough oomph, bu5t in a small living room they'd probably actually kick, but still ALOT of money for what they are.

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It cost ONLY half the budget that he set aside for equipment . It look good in the living room and Bose is a very recognized (home audio) brand. Of course we can get just as good a sound, or better, from a system half the cost of an L1.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

I had a bose 901 system complete with the system eq (first home theater), a smaller 301 system for a small room & an Acoustimass 6 system. I replaced the Acoustimass 6 with set of Mission 7561 dual towers (bi-amped) & a JBL 10" powered sub (with matching 5 point surround speakers) & these blew anything I ever owned from Bose away!
But as far as being able to get better (or equivalent sound) at half the price is my main point. Yes it will be a bigger system though!

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Thanks again Lonman, Jian and all.
I did check the Bose L1. I really like everything it provides except for one very important thing that was agreed by several reviewers that it provides an extremely crystal clear, very accuracy sound that you can't hide bad voices. Since my kids are just a bunch of amateurs I think I should better stay with the SC HPR153i 3-Way Powered Loudspeakers, 600 Watts, 1x15 in.

My revised system will be:
Mackie ProFX8 8-Channel USB Compact Mixer with Effects
SC HPR153i 3-Way Powered Loudspeakers, 600 Watts, 1x15 in.
DBX DriveRack PA 24-Bit EQ Loudspeaker Control System
RSQ CDG-DVD player (my old player - I probably will look for a better one and use the old system in a different room)
Shure PG288/PG58 Dual Vocal Wireless System (http://www.zzounds.com/item--SHUPG288PG58)
MTU hoster (it's a stand alone software that can import BIN, CDG, MP3G, WMAG, WAVG, ZIP, MP3, WMA and WAV Files into a hard drive)

BTW, I have some questions about the Shure PG288/PG58 Dual Vocal Wireless System, http://www.zzounds.com/item--SHUPG288PG58. Do the sound from these two microphones same if two persons use them at the same time. I'm confused because of the PG288 & PG58.
Should I buy a dual vocal wireless system (1 receiver + 2 microphones) or 2 single wireless systems (2 receivers + 2 microphones)?
If 4 persons want to sing at the same time, will 2 wired microphones and 2 wireless microphones work with the above system?
For the Shure PG288/PG58 Dual Vocal Wireless System, I have to choose either ?Cnannel H7, K7 or M7 (http://www.zzounds.com/item--SHUPG288PG58), I don't know the differences between them. Which one should I choose?
is a VHF wireless system or a UHF wireless system better for home use?
Thanks so much!

I personally like separate wireless systems as some dual systems don't allow for your mikes to be individually adjusted when it comes to amount of echo, mid, lows and volume to each mike. As for 2 wireless and 2 wired, if the mixer allows for that many microphones then yes you can run all four together.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

"No highs, no lows -- must be Bose!"

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

I would agree with having 2 separate systems for the wireless. The dual you listed only has 1 output meaning both mics are going to be adjusted the exact same. So if you get someone that need more treble & someone that needs more bass & less treble singing, one is going to have to sacrifice their sound over the other. With individual systems, both mics can be adjusted accordingly - just make sure they run different frequencies!
VHF is prone to more interference, however I run an older Shure VHF wireless & it sounds just fine - in a bar. They are a little cheaper as well and most likely would be just fine for home use.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I would skip the amp and speakers and just buy a pair of QSC HPR122i powered speakers. When you hear em, they'll make you smile.