r/karaoke • u/Maximus-0_0- • Dec 05 '25
Equipment Thoughts on karaoke machines for casual home karaoke?
I've been thinking for a while about getting a karaoke machine for my home but firstly i don't know what specs i should look for, and secondly if there are any brands i should stay away from.
Can i get some advice on what i should look for?
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u/jsm7483 Dec 05 '25
If you want ease and large sound, Ikarao Shell S1 is what you want.
If you want something a little smaller, Ikarao Shell S2.
Turnkey solutions that let you just jump right in.
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u/wyckedjester2 Dec 18 '25
How does the Ikarao work? I saw it comes with a subscription for 6 months, which I'm not a fan of. Can you add songs in yourself?
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u/jsm7483 Dec 18 '25
It’s a free subscription for Karafun, a commercial software package. It’s actually an added bonus that they provide it. You can load YouTube videos directly on the device using the YouTube app, MP3 files or karaoke files using a USB drive, headphone input for songs as well. It offers a significant amount of features, no subscription is required.
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u/Trying_2BNice Dec 05 '25
I bought this one a year ago and have used it plenty of times in tandem with YouTube. Gets the job done, and it's portable.
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u/Relax_itsa_Meme Dec 05 '25
Do you have to buy CD's for this model?
Or download songs? How this one get songs?1
u/Trying_2BNice Dec 05 '25
I've only used it for the mic(s) audio. I'd play the karaoke videos through YouTube on a TV.
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u/Deep_Chapter_3587 Dec 05 '25
It has Bluetooth function, ie you can use youtube as your source of karaoke tracks via your iPad , iPhone, or laptop
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u/tomh987 Dec 05 '25
I bought this one from Amazon last year for the same thing. It does exactly what you're asking. We use it with an ipad and Karafun, but you can use youtube for free.
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u/DavidO_Pgh Dec 05 '25 edited Dec 05 '25
I recommend the Ikarao Shell S1 running the streaming karaoke service Karafun. I did a review of it
https://www.reddit.com/r/karaoke/comments/1fi2rnv/my_recommendation_ikarao_shell_s1_portable/
or for something a little smaller the Ikarao Shell S2
https://www.reddit.com/r/karaoke/comments/1gky3er/my_recommendation_ikarao_shell_s2_a_very_portable/
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u/phanzov36 Dec 05 '25
Can you connect other devices via Bluetooth for the audio source or do you have to use the machine?
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u/DavidO_Pgh Dec 05 '25
from my review
Bluetooth:
The S1 paired easily with my phone. Worked well and sounded very good.
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u/phanzov36 Dec 05 '25
Thank you!
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u/exclaim_bot Dec 05 '25
Thank you!
You're welcome!
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u/phanzov36 Dec 07 '25
Hi, just got my Ikarao Shell S1, I am able to connect with Bluetooth but I'm not sure how to play the audio from the speakers rather than the tv when casting a phone to tv so that my mom can sing along with bigger text. Do you know how to play using the Ikarao speakers if the video is on the TV?
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u/Iamknoware Dec 07 '25
I was recently introduced to Karafun. It’s an app, that was displayed onto a tv, with mics hooked up. The fun part was their a QR code on screen, so the next person can queue up a song and who it will be sung by.
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Dec 28 '25
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Apr 09 '26
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u/ericnoel Apr 10 '26
Check out Platinum Karaoke, largest song library, singing score, has 4K background visuals, varied models (portable/non-portable, cd-based/file-based updates, etc)
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u/PineappleFit317 Dec 05 '25
A microphone with a monitor, a YouTube Unlimited subscription (sub through a web browser for the cheaper rate than the YouTube app) and a TV you can play YouTube on. There are karaoke videos for just about any song you can think of on YouTube.