Karaoke Forums

I need a karaoke system and I feel like I'm swimming in a sea of choices! I want something for home use, but I'm also looking at taking my system to nursing homes/retirement facilities and putting on shows for the residents. (I love the songs of the 1930s through the 1960s--I'm a Lawrence Welk junkie!)

This post from LarG sounds similar to my plan, but I need extra advice.  http://www.karaoke-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=9167

I know I will need a wireless mic, and some other features like digital key control, single play, and vocal cancel. Is a single tray okay or should I have two trays so that I don't have to wait to go to the next song?

Also, as was posted in the above forum entry, I'm concerned about the weight/various pieces of the whole thing and my ability to lug it around (I'm not a big person).

I have no intention on becoming a KJ, if that's any help.

I don't understand a lot of the lingo about all the different file types, though I have decent computer knowledge, and I burn my own CDs regularly.

Thanks for any advice!

How much can you afford?  How much can you lift.  You don't need wireless mics.

I'd like to spend under $500, but I don't know if that's possible. I can lift around 40 pounds, but it would be better to have a rolling case or dolly.

The reason I want a cordless mic is so I can "work the audience." I'd like to be very mobile, have the ability to give an old person a squeeze, and maybe let them sing a line of a song. If a cordless mic will add a lot to the upfront cost, I can use a corded one. Can cordless mics be added to any system?

Portable system at $500. have a look at this


http://www.musiciansbuy.com/list.asp?cc ... 99999&pg=1

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

Hi Celeste, Flipper turned me on to 2 or 3 portable PA systems with amp/mixers.  The one I chose is the Peavey Escort 2000.  This system is compact and is on wheels.  It weighs about 80 pounds, but on wheels, that isn't bad.  Check my thread,  there were more excellent suggestions there.    Good luck, let me know how it goes.

I like the Passport system, have heard them and the pump out plenty of noise for the size DO NOT BUY A CRATE...I made that mistake and have had nothing but disappointment with it.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Thanks for the help, everyone!

What is a crate? Is that the same thing as an all-in-one karaoke system? (Please pardon my ignorance...I'm very new at this and I'm finding the learning curve fairly steep!)

I am considering VocoPro's Twister II. Does anyone know if this is a good system? or is an all-in-one system a bad idea? My guess is that this type of system, while it might have the same wattage, doesn't project sound like two separate speakers do. Comments?

I now realize the necessity to spend more than $500. I guess I gave plenty of you your chuckle for the day on that!

Crate is a brand name. I bought a portable crate system that I hoped would do two things, it would be portable and easily set up for product demonstrations at trade shows (it fulfills this adequately because what I am doing is at low volume) and it would be a fold back system for my gig rig...On this it fails miserably. Crate make the claim the system I bought could be used as a live PA system in small venues...wrong! it barely pumps out enough for my lounge room and as for using it as a foldback system the sound is muddy and distorted.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Crate is a brand of audio equipment.  It's the lower end of the Kustom line if I recall correctly and they were never a high budget outfit (although I have a 70's Kustom Combo amp I just love.)  With the limitations you have for budget and weight I am hard pressed to advise you.  Of the lower end products which your budget will allow I would say buy SoundTech.  They don't make a suitecase system that I know of but I think they have the best over-all sound.  Your speakers will need to have 12' woofers at the least and do not get speakers with piezo tweeters, the specs are great but the sound is harsh.

I am now going to say something that will probably get me shot by the high end audio tech types out there but, try Madison.  This brand is by all accounts except mine, Chinese junk audio equipment.  I bought the cheapest, bottom of the line 15" inch speakers Madison makes off a certain auction site and the sound is amazing for the money.  They blow JBL's JRX single 15" out of the water.  The are weak in the midrange but a little EQing will take care of that.  Food for thought anyway.  Now I have to go hide before the audio techies can draw a bead on me.

actually weedy, I still swear by my original Ashton Speakers. Ashton are a budget brand made in Australia. I still love the warmth of sound that comes out of them and used them for 7 years with no problems at all, in fact they are our backup rig. I updated to Wharfdale powered this time last year and it took me a long time to get used to the difference in sound. (obviously still not top range stuff I know) The only thing that sold me on the Wharfys was we keep getting booked . Last year we had done more gigs in the first 6 months than we normally do in a year and they kept on coming.
Interestingly a lot of musos rate Quest very highly here...but setting my Wharfdales up at a gig where the "feature band" playing after us used Quests, I was far happier with the sound distribution I got in a 44meter x 11meter venue than what the other band had. As they were kinda the main event and I wanted the night to go well, I allowed them to plug into my speakers when I had finished. I think they will be reviewing what they buy next time its time for them to upgrade

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

#1: A decent wireless system is going to run you around $300 at the low end, so I'd start off with wired mics if you only have $500 to spend.

#2: Stay away from VocoPro or any other brand that claims to be "KARAOKE" equipment. The majority of these brands are more expensive and lower quality than comparable PA equipment, and really are just PAs themselves with the "KARAOKE" branding on them.

Here are all of the AMS portable PA systems under $500:

http://www.americanmusical.com/sort--PA ... _1001.html

I would recommend these two:

1. Fender Passport P150 - $399.99
2. Squier 4 - $229.99

The Fender has twice the power (150 watts compared to 80 watts) of the Squier, and is a better quality unit, so it is well worth the extra $$$, but the Squier is a good little unit that will also do what you want it to do nicely. Squier is actually the budget brand made by Fender, so these are both coming from the same company.

Remember that you will also need to purchase a CDG player and CDGs in order to have a complete karaoke system. Both systems also come with a mic and all cables.

Hope that helps!!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Crate was originally a guitar amp.  They were hand made with quality components internally.  The original models were built out of wood which happened to be an actual wooden crate - hence the name!  These were some fantastic amps for the price.  I have an older combo as well i'll never part with.
They were never a part of the Kustom line, but were eventually picked up by St. Louis music in the later 70's which are also the parent company of such companies as Ampeg, Audio Centron, & Alvarez guitars.

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Tried them.  Thought they sounded very muddy on the low end & piercing in the highs.  Needed ALOT of eq'ing to compensate for room acoustics, as where the other speakers we were using - Peavey SP-2 didn't need much eq'ing for the room.  Both were being bi-amp with a Carvin DCM2000 on the 15's & DCM1000 on the highs, crossed over at approx 1200 hz - we did have to modify the wiring in the Madisons to allow for bi-amp capability.

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Really??? I had just the opposite result.  I thought the bottom was very clear and low, really low.  I agree the highs are a little harsh.  Did you try them in more than one room setting?  If you come across another pair you might give them another shot before they have been rewired.  I have never liked the sound of Peavey, that is pure mud in my opinion but they last forever because they don't produce anything but midrange.

Thanks for clearing up the Kustom/Create thing.

I,ve heard some excelent peavy.
They are seriously not bad.
Obviously there is better.

the powered speakers I have are moulded plastic and sound like poo. the mixer is almost as much use as a chocolate hockey stick. The only good thing about the whole system is the suitcase it packs down to and the little stands the speakers fit onto

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

I use a fender passport 250 and couldn't be happier with it (it also comes with 2 mics and cables). Although it a little above your price range ($899). Then believe it or not for a cdg player I'm using of the those Wal-mart karaoke machines you normally buy for the kids, but it has and audio out put jack that I plug straight into the PA and the sound is great. It also has a video out jack that I plug into a small portable tv.  In my opionion it's a great set up for doing what you want. I've never had a need for the digital key changing, but that would be my next up-grade.

Celeste,

Just starting out, you can't go wrong with the Fender P series, especially for the venues you have listed.  Don't pay more than $750 for the PD250 and you can find it for as little as $699.

One local KJ specializes (here in Fl) in those venues, and has found the greatest demand is for her to entertain for 45 minutes to an hours, without much audience participation!  She offers to do a different show every time and accomplishes this by bringing another singer with her from time to time.

I don't know how well the Wal-mart player will work; the cheaper players tend not to a have control for key changes.  I still have, my first Singing Machine CDG player. It loads up like lightening, but can't change keys.  Many of the professional decks available load much slower because they first have to determine what kind of disk (CDG, DVD MP3) has been loaded in.

You should, I believe, keep the cordless mic in your short term focus considering where you plan to entertain.   Many of those people won't be able to "come to you"
Best of luck!

Hi....

my pa equitments have been used 4 years now..from small room to very big and crowded place...i use yorkville pulse monitors...and yorkville active bass..QSC prossesor...and a berhinger mixer with digital effects...this equitments are just fantastic...only thing it thats heavy..so you need a rack with wheels...not quit the equitments to buy for homeuse..but just an advice to others who intend to buy pa equitments...hope you find the best of the best...regards linda39

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KEEP SINGING EVERYONE, IT ALLWAYS GIVES YOU A GOOD MOOD!

Well at under $500....you are not going to get anything that is not junk.


My wireless mics are $500 each.

The least expesive mic that will work is $100 it will not sound very good but if you want a wireless mic it's your option.

A player is around $100.

American audio has powered speakers for $200 each

You can get a cheap behringer mixer for $100

Speaker stands are $80 for the pair