Karaoke Forums

Hey everyone.   I sure could use some help.   I am so frustrated I could pull my hair out.  I would really appreciate some help.
I am starting a home karaoke system for my family and to use when we have get togethers at our home.  I have a Bose Lifestyle 28 II system installed in my home.   I just bought an RSQ222 system and a Shure SM58 mic, using a 20 ft. cord (I know that with a longer cord you can lose some quality, but it's negligible to my ears).   I am running the RSQ karaoke player through the AUX jacks in my Bose system and the music plays just fine.   However, in order to hear the mic's it's necessary to turn the mic volume to at least 6, but the vocal/music balance is better if the mic is up to 10.  But, even at six if anyone decides to raise the volume of their voice while trying to sing a part of a song, there is cracking and distortion in my Bose speaker system.  

So, trying to think this through, and after doing considerable research on this site, I decided I needed a mixer that would allow me to lower the input level of the music and increase the input level of the mic - thereby creating a balance which would eliminate the need to jack up the input into the Bose and eliminating the distortion.  

I went out and bought a Peavey PV6 mixer (I didn't want to spend a lot of money).  I hooked that up and got the mix right and sure enough, I went to use the mic, and the distortion was still there.  

In an effort to troubleshoot this issue, I hooked the entire system up to my bose wave radio and tried it out.   Still, I had the same kind of distortion.   So, I eliminated the Bose Speakers as the issue.   I then tried a little cheap mic I bought a long time ago at Wal-Mart and got the same distortion.

Continuing to troubleshoot, I hooked up my very, very old singing machine all-in-one system to my bose system through the auxillary speaker RCA jack and I still had distortion.  

I still wasn't sure if my Bose speakers were defective or not, so I decided to play a DVD and another CD pretty loudly and listened real carefully for any distortion.  Clear as a bell.   With my old singing machine system still hooked up to my Bose Lifestyle system, I played a CD through it (no mic's) and although the quality was obviously lacking, there was no distortion.   However, as soon as I opened my mouth and spoke just a bit through the system theough the mic - crackle/distortion.

Is my Bose system just not up to handling live voices?  What do you all think?  Do you need special speakers to handle live vocal?   Remember - we're not professionals (obviously...  listen to my subs.. ha ha)  we're just having some fun in our living room.   What gives?   I don't want to spend more money... I just want to be able to enjoy a reasonably sounding system that won't give distortion.

Please help.   Any advice you can share is so greatly appreciated.
Slmamp

Well, I am no expert in this area but it may be due to one of two reasons. The distortion can sound if the cable is bad and have a bad grounding or it could be a impedance mismatch. My suspect is the cable on the microphone. Did the cable some with the microphone? Do you know the spec for the microphone cable? I would try to change the cable to see if that's the problem. It's possible that the ground connection broke on the cable or it could be wrong impedance on the cable. Good luck.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

You're probably right ...As good as your home stereo system is for music playback --I'm betting the speakers are not up to handling LIVE voices etc.

Well, honestly, I'm not sure what the impedance is on the mic.   I bought the Shure SM58 which does not come with a cable, and at the same time and at the same high-end music store (for bands, musicians, etc. - not a best buy type store) I bought the cord, which they said was the cord that would be best for my system.  So, I'm not sure.  How can I tell what the impedance is?

If you had a mixer you could adjust the trim on the mic and eliminate the problem. I have a 300 watt stereo reciever with 3 way 15" speakers. The mic jacks on jvc cd players don't work for crap. If you run a mixers record out, not line out to the aux in on your stereo it will work with no problems.


Soulution by a mixer plug mic into mixer and karaoke player into stereo channel on mixer. Like I said record out on you aux in on your stereo.

Lyquideye -
I think I'm going to try your suggestion.   I bought a Peavey PV6 mixer and my intention was to do just what you said.   I wan't given great info at the store, though and I wasn't able to separate the music and mic.   But I've figured out a way to do that so I can lower the music and up the mic so I have better balance overall and then record-out to the amp.   I think that'll fix the issue.
Thanks for the advice.   I'll let you know how it goes.
Steve

I have the same Bose speakers in my system but they are NOT good at recreating live vocals.  Even when I run the mixer ahead of the receiver, the vocals always distort.  You'd be better off picking up a set of pro speakers used strictly for your karaoke.  You can hook them up to the receiver still on the B output & turn the Bose set off while singing.  A mixr is still a good idea as well but I would start with the peakers first.

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Lonman -
Thanks for the advice!   I really appreciate it.  What kind of speaker would you recommend I buy for my system?   I wouldn't want to spend more than about $100 if possible, but I'm also the kind of guy that'll spend what's necessary to get the job done right.   Your recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks again for the help.
Steve

Ok - I'm doing some research online and I may be TOTALLY underestimating the cost of these things.   Ignore my previous request to spend less than $100.   I don't think that's possible.   What's a decent speaker at a decent price?  Any/all recommendations welcome.
Thanks!!!

Try to Peavey Pro lite series.  Very inexpensive and pretty good quality for the price.  I believe it is available in 10' 12" or 15".  Go for at least the 12".

Cheers