Best Karaoke Microphones

Buying guide for best karaoke microphones

Karaoke is about sounding good, but it also can be about looking good. Fortunately, plenty of karaoke microphones exist that deliver great audio results while also creating a great aesthetic while you’re on stage.

The karaoke machine you already own may ship with microphones, but you should still be able to substitute your own mics, if desired. If you don’t already have a karaoke machine, some microphones can even deliver a built-in karaoke machine and speaker that you can pair with a smartphone app, creating an all-in-one device.

A wide range of styles of these microphones are available. Some focus on colors and pizzazz, while others yield outstanding audio quality. Wireless and wired microphones are available. Some can serve dual purposes, giving you a microphone that’s useful for presentations during the business day and for karaoke parties at night.

Even if you don’t have a go-to song, you’ll look like the most serious karaoke singer when you bring your own microphone to the party. Finding just the right karaoke microphone is easier when viewing our product recommendations and reading through our shopping guide.

A microphone that works for karaoke may also work for other events, such as singing at church or at a school concert or for speaking over a public address system.

How to buy the best karaoke microphone

Wired vs. wireless

Karaoke microphones are available as either wired microphones that plug into a jack or wireless models without a cable.

A wired microphone uses a cable that extends from the bottom of the mic. The end of the cable has a connector on it that pops into a jack on the karaoke machine or on your computer. Some cable connectors use USB or a 3.5-millimeter audio jack that provides adequate quality. The highest quality connectors are XLR connectors, delivering professional-level results.

Wireless microphones use technologies like Bluetooth, radio frequency (RF), or infrared to make a connection with the karaoke machine. Some wireless models have a small, simple karaoke machine with its own speaker built into the mic. Because wireless models don’t use a cable, singers have more freedom of movement.

Pickup pattern

The pickup pattern for karaoke microphones refers to the method by which the microphone picks up sound.

• Unidirectional: A unidirectional microphone only draws sound from one direction, so it works well in a noisy room. When pointed at the singer, the mic focuses on this audio, drawing less audio from other nearby areas.
• Bidirectional: A bidirectional karaoke mic draws sound from the front and rear of the microphone. This type of microphone is good for karaoke songs where two people are singing and sharing one mic.
• Omnidirectional: The omnidirectional karaoke microphone draws sound equally from all directions. This results in the greatest level of audio quality, especially for group songs. However, in a noisy room, this mic picks up quite a bit of stray noise, reducing the clarity of the audio from the singer.

Many wireless microphones ship in sets of two, although some sets have as many as eight microphones.

Important features for karaoke microphones

Power

A wired microphone should not need an additional power source, as the mic’s power runs through the cable. The wireless mic uses either a rechargeable battery or an alkaline battery that needs replacement.

Color

Some karaoke mics use a standard black- or silver-colored handle and a black or silver microphone head. Such microphones work well for either karaoke or a business setting while giving a presentation.

Others may provide a wide range of colors, such as pink or blue. These colorful karaoke microphones may have glitter or other decorative items that make them fun to use.

Some may even make use of LED lights that can pulse in time with the beat of the music. However, it’s more common for any LEDs to be part of the karaoke machine.

Weight

Most karaoke microphones weigh 0.4 to 0.8 pounds (or about 180 to 360 grams). Wireless mics that contain batteries typically weigh more than corded microphones that don’t need batteries. If the karaoke microphone has a built-in karaoke machine and speaker, it likely weighs more than the average.

An extremely heavy microphone for karaoke may be uncomfortable to hold for long songs. Children may also need a microphone that weighs less.

How much do karaoke microphones cost?

Inexpensive

The least expensive karaoke microphones cost about $5 to $10 for wired mics and about $10 to $20 for wireless mics. Wired microphones are simple designs that usually don’t have the highest level of audio quality. Most are standard black with 10 feet or less of cable.

Wireless microphones for karaoke in this price range are often models made for children, so they don’t have great build quality. These kids’ mics have a built-in karaoke machine and speaker on them.

Mid-range

Average karaoke microphones cost about $10 to $20 for wired models and $20 to $40 for wireless models. Microphones in this price range have a solid level of audio quality. A wired microphone in this price range has about 15 feet of cable length, giving singers more freedom of movement.

Wireless mics in this price range offer long battery life and are easy to use for adults or kids. These microphones are better for older kids than younger kids because they function more as serious microphones than toys. They may include two to four microphones in the kit, and the price per microphone fits in this price range.

Expensive

For the highest-quality karaoke microphones, expect to pay $20 to $100 for wired mics and $40 to $100 for wireless mics. If you’re purchasing microphones in a kit of two or four units, the price per mic fits in this price range. Such microphones deliver excellent audio quality and the longest-lasting batteries. They may have some interesting and colorful design features that make them fun to use for karaoke.

If you want a mic with a built-in karaoke machine and speaker that works far better than a kids’ toy, you’re likely to find it in this price range.

Generally, inexpensive wireless microphones don’t provide a great sound quality. If you need to save a lot of money, a cheap wired microphone may serve you better in terms of quality.

Troubleshooting problems with karaoke microphones

If you’re struggling to make your karaoke microphones operate successfully, try these troubleshooting tips.

• Check that you don’t have an improper wired connection. When ordering a microphone for your karaoke machine that uses a cable connection, it needs to have the proper connector. Without a connector that matches your machine, the cable won’t fit in the machine and it won’t transmit audio.
• Check the jack. For a wired microphone, the jack on the karaoke machine needs to be clean. If kids use the machine, it’s possible the jack could have food or liquid in it, causing audio errors.
• Check the volume settings. Some karaoke microphones have volume controls on the microphone itself. The volume control also may be on the karaoke machine or on its smartphone app. Check all these areas to make sure nothing is set to mute.
• Charge the battery to avoid audio problems. Wireless microphones need to have plenty of battery power or you may begin experiencing audio problems. If the battery charge is too low, the microphone may crackle or deliver inconsistent audio quality. It’s always a good idea to check the battery charge ahead of time when you’re planning a karaoke party.
• Prevent blockages with the wireless signal. A wireless microphone for karaoke may run over an infrared signal or a radio frequency signal. If objects are blocking the infrared signal, simply move them. If other wireless devices are trying to use the same radio signal, you may have to adjust the settings on the microphone to switch to a different frequency.
• Check your distance to limit Bluetooth issues. Many wireless microphones use a Bluetooth connection. However, Bluetooth has a limited distance over which it works — usually about 30 feet under ideal conditions. If objects sit between the microphone and karaoke machine using Bluetooth or if other objects in the area are also using Bluetooth, this could negatively affect the signal range.

Sometimes, sound quality problems aren’t the fault of the karaoke microphone. Instead, the singer may be holding it too close or too far away for the best sound quality.

FAQ

Q. Is it hard to connect a karaoke microphone to Bluetooth?

A. Most manufacturers of wireless microphones attempt to make the connection process over Bluetooth as easy as possible. If you have experience connecting other Bluetooth devices, the microphone should work in a similar manner. However, Bluetooth technology sometimes can be finicky, leaving you with a connection that won’t hold or that produces crackles.

Q. How long should the battery last in my wireless microphone for karaoke?

A. A battery inside the microphone should give you four to six hours of performance. However, this is only an estimate. Cheaply made karaoke microphones may only provide a couple of hours of battery performance before needing a recharge.

Q. Are wired karaoke microphones better than wireless microphones?

A. Both types of microphones have advantages and disadvantages. A wired microphone is going to deliver consistent sound without worries about having a dropped Bluetooth connection. However, a wired microphone limits the areas where singers can walk while they do karaoke. Your karaoke machine may have a limited number of ports for wired microphones as well.

Q. If I buy a karaoke machine, does it include a microphone?

A. The majority of karaoke machines include at least one microphone, either a wired or wireless model. However, if you want to sing duets or group songs, you may need to purchase more karaoke microphones separately.