Which Brands of Shower Room Inspection Equipment are Good?

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Tom Dunn is a writer who specializes in home heating and cooling. He once blew up an extension cord with a space heater and a Marshall half-stack unit.
After another round of testing, we plan to add the Ikarao Shell S1 10.1-inch Smart Karaoke Machine as our new favorite. We’ll update this guide with more details soon.
Are you itching to hum? Are you itching to perform? Do you dream of belting out your favorite songs in front of a handful of enthusiastic friends, enjoying the beauty of sound under the sweaty stage lights of your living room? Well, my dear bard, you may need your own karaoke machine.
Karaoke is a great way to bring people together who love music, whether they are good singers or not. If you want to have the best home karaoke experience, we recommend the Tonor K20 Wireless Karaoke Machine because it will make you look and sound great no matter what tunes you choose.
Equipped with two high-quality wireless microphones and an awesome disco ball, this portable speaker system has everything you need to get your karaoke party started.
The Tonor K20 wireless karaoke machine ticks all the boxes for a successful at-home karaoke session, including a tablet stand, adapter cable, and a host of other thoughtful accessories. It also has the best-sounding wireless microphone of any karaoke machine we tested, with a range of about 100 feet in case your performance gets out of hand. With a built-in LED light show and a disco ball on top, the Tonor can turn any room into a concert hall, getting even the shyest singers belting out their favorite tunes. Like all the karaoke machines we recommend, the Tonor doesn’t come with a song library, so you’ll need a Wi-Fi connection and a screen to access YouTube (or other services) to play the music and lyrics. But the Tonor stands out by offering all the audio connections you’ll need, including Bluetooth and an auxiliary audio input (cable included). You can even play music from a USB stick or microSD card. However, the speakers sound better at higher volumes, which may be too loud for some users (or their neighbors). As an added bonus, Tonor has built-in recording capabilities, so you can record your performance and share it with friends, or listen back to your performance later and refine your tone.
The Moukey’s microphone doesn’t sound as clear as we’d like, but the speaker itself sounds great and has a built-in microphone stand on one side. We’re not sure the owl face is appropriate, though.
The Moukey MTs10-2 karaoke machine’s speakers sound better than our top pick, especially at low volumes. The basic controls are also easy to use, even if some of the extra features can be confusing. The wireless microphone also sounds and feels a little cheap – although there are a couple of handy mic stands built into the side of the unit. Like the Tonor, the Moukey can play songs via Bluetooth or an auxiliary input port, USB stick, or microSD card, and it can also display a dynamic LED light show to inspire your stage fantasies. It doesn’t have a disco ball, though, which is more disappointing than we expected, and the speaker itself, which the company says resembles an owl, actually looks more like an angry audience member. Still, it might inspire you to really rock out to your next song.
The sound quality of this small portable karaoke machine is not as good as our other products, but it comes with lots of fun lights and sound effects to keep you entertained.
If you don’t care too much about sound quality and just want to have fun, the Singsation Star Burst SPKA25 is a great choice. It’s small enough to carry in one hand, which you might need since it has two wired microphones and a cable that’s only about 6 feet long. However, like the Tonor K20, it has a disco ball on top, as well as various LED patterns that can be displayed on the speaker itself. The Singsation also includes a variety of pitch-shifting options (think Alvin and the Chipmunks), as well as some fun sound effects that let you add air horns, hand claps, and other embellishments to your karaoke performance. That said, the mic and speaker sound is decent but not great, and it’s the only all-in-one karaoke machine we tested that doesn’t have a built-in rechargeable battery (it requires eight AA batteries to power the battery, which is powered by a DC wall adapter). But if you’re looking for a simple speaker with a light show that amplifies your voice to sing along, the Singsation is an affordable entertainment product.
If you already have a home stereo system you like, Rybozen is an easy and affordable way to add a pair of wireless microphones to your speakers.
The Rybozen K201 Portable Karaoke Microphone Mixer is essentially an audio streaming device that lets you sing through your existing stereo system using a pair of wireless microphones. It offers a very simple setup: There’s a ⅛-inch audio input and ⅛-inch audio output, as well as Bluetooth and a variety of adapter cables that should work with just about any home audio system. For example, you can connect the Rybozen to a smart TV and soundbar, or connect it to a computer or tablet and a pair of desktop speakers and play your favorite karaoke songs from YouTube. In addition to our top picks, the Rybozen has some of the best microphones we’ve ever tested, and it’s one of the few models we’ve tried that offers individual volume controls for each microphone, in case you and your singing partner tend to hum at different volume levels. Overall, this is a great option if you already have a sound system you’re happy with and don’t want to store another speaker.
I started writing songs for Wirecutter in 2017, and in 2000 I began singing and playing guitar in bands all over the East Coast. I’ve also worked as a theatrical sound engineer and mixer at music venues, and have engineered and produced several independent albums. I’m also known for my pitch-perfect rendition of Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping” at karaoke and gab.
To compile this guide, we gathered sources from major retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, Guitar Center and other specialty music stores, and karaoke-focused companies like VocoPro and the popular Ace Karaoke retailer in San Gabriel, California, just down the street from downtown Los Angeles. The list includes more than 100 karaoke machines. We tried dozens of karaoke subscription services that let you upload your own video files with lyrics or otherwise access hundreds of thousands of backing tracks with lyrics in English, Spanish, and even Tagalog. We read more than 1,000 customer reviews, polled karaoke fans on Facebook, and consulted a group of Wirecutter staffers who love karaoke. We also interviewed 2020 Karaoke World Champion Garvaundo Hamilton.
This guide is for anyone who wants to get their singing fix at home or in small gatherings. Maybe you’re tired of singing in the shower (even if the acoustics are great). Maybe you and your friends really enjoy the interactive aspect of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and would like to be able to more fluidly incorporate your voice into the songs. Or maybe you know deep down that you’re headed for the lights, the Lear jets, the riches, and the fame, but you still need a little practice. Karaoke is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States, with over a thousand dedicated karaoke bars and countless venues that host the occasional karaoke night. Karaoke app Smule claims to have 50 million monthly active users — and that’s just one app. With all those people singing their hearts out, it’s understandable that some of them might want to take the experience offline and do it in a room with others.
However, if you’re looking to throw a big party or find talent at your local bar, this guide isn’t for you. For that, you’ll need to hire a professional KJ (karaoke DJ). If you’re looking to become a KJ yourself and are looking for advice on professional-grade gear, this isn’t the place for you either. This guide also won’t help you find a full-fledged public address (PA) system—we considered recommending one, but decided it would be too complicated for most people who just want to host a few small karaoke nights.
The biggest problem we faced while writing this guide was also the simplest: What is a karaoke machine? Is it the microphone itself? Is it the ability to mix a song source with a separate vocal track? Is it the little screen that displays the lyrics? Is there some cheesy computer fireworks in the background? Should a karaoke machine come with the big folders of beer-stained CD+Gs that are passed around the bar every week? What are people looking for in a home environment?
After several hours of research, we were back where we started: there was no clear answer to the question of what exactly a “karaoke machine” was.
But we learned that a karaoke machine isn’t necessarily (and rarely is) a portable screen for reading lyrics. In fact, the karaoke enthusiasts we surveyed said they’re more than happy to find the songs they want to sing on YouTube, which already has millions of free videos that remove the vocals and show only the lyrics. (There are also karaoke subscription services that offer more advanced features.) We found that most consumer-grade karaoke machines don’t even have screens. Instead, they act as conduits—a speaker system designed to be used with a tablet or smart TV. In other words, you’ll need to provide your own Wi-Fi connection and a screen, but a good karaoke machine should take care of the rest.
2020 Karaoke World Champion Garvaundo Hamilton gives us another point of reference to help shape our approach. “There’s less expectation in karaoke,” he told us. “You’re doing it for fun, with friends, in a different setting. I’m not going to lower my singing standards just because it’s karaoke. But there is a slight difference because I expect you to have a good time.”
This is the main guiding principle we settled on: a karaoke machine does not necessarily have to have a screen, but it should prioritize fun.
Here’s some more information we learned from talking to karaoke lovers that helped us in our search for the best karaoke machine:
Some of the karaoke machines we looked at in our preliminary research also offered some interesting amenities, like light displays or the ability to record the audio of the performance. Our focus group didn’t think these things were absolutely necessary, but some said they might like the extra features if they were available. We also asked them what they thought about using a standard mixing console to create a custom karaoke system, but they all agreed that it was too cumbersome. Everyone we spoke to emphasized that the fewer things you have to hook up, the better.
Most modern consumer karaoke machines don’t have screens. Instead, they act as channels—a speaker system designed to work with a tablet or smart TV.
With these criteria in mind, as well as the expectation of enjoyment, we looked for karaoke machines to test for ourselves. We favor models with a variety of audio input/output options, making them more suitable for a variety of home audio systems. We think Bluetooth and an auxiliary input port will be fine for most people, but we wanted to cover as many basics as possible.
We narrowed the initial list down to 25 models and ended up testing 7. Four karaoke machines have built-in speakers as well as a built-in light display: the Tonor K20 Wireless Karaoke Machine, the Moukey MTs10-2 Karaoke Machine, the Ion Audio Party Rocker Max, and the Singsation Star Burst SPKA25. We also tested two karaoke machines without speakers that are designed to connect to an existing home audio system (if you already have a soundbar, for example): the VocoPro SmartTVOke and the Rybozen K201 Portable Karaoke Microphone Mixer. Finally, we tested one more model: the VocoPro WiFi-Oke Wireless Karaoke Machine with Wi-Fi connectivity and a built-in screen, which is perfect for those who don’t have a tablet or smart TV, or for those who really want a completely standalone machine. setup to take people with you carrying karaoke.
The Polk MagniFi Mini AX is the best all-around soundbar because it’s loud and immersive, has a small footprint, is affordable, and is easy to use.
First, though, we had to set up each machine. We took detailed notes on how easy (or not) the setup process was. Are all the audio jacks and knobs clearly labeled and easy to operate? Can you figure out how to access all the features without referring to the manual each time? (If you do need to refer to the manual, does it actually work?) We focused specifically on the Bluetooth connection and auxiliary port, assuming these are the inputs most people will use most of the time. While every karaoke machine we tested came with its own auxiliary cable, there was no consistency in the other cords or accessories included in each box—like a tablet stand or a splash guard to keep drool from getting on the microphone cover. For karaoke machines with light displays, we also checked how customizable they were, if at all. For the speaker-less models we tested, we also installed them on two different TV models, as well as a computer and iPad, to see how it all compares.
We then launched into a rousing rendition of our favorite Thin Lizzy songs, plus a little Biz Markie and T-Swift. (If you live on the third floor of the building across from me, I’m sorry you didn’t like me singing Misfits songs on Halloween.) We checked the overall clarity of the microphone’s sound: Is it a mess or something? Can you hear the song coming through? Can all the words be clear? We also tested holding the microphones at different angles to get a better idea of ​​each microphone’s dynamic response. If the karaoke machine has EQ or echo options, we’ll try those options, too, to see how they affect the sound, if at all.
We also looked at how easy it was to use the machine between songs. Does the machine have a built-in pause or skip button? If it has a tablet holder, is it stable enough to allow us to select the next song without interrupting the flow of the night? If the karaoke machine has additional inputs (such as for an additional wired microphone), we check those as well, usually using a Shure SM58 microphone, which is the unofficial standard in the live music industry. We also compared the sound from these additional inputs to the quality of the machine’s own microphone.
Finally, we took the wireless and Bluetooth-enabled machines outside and measured their signal range. We also assessed the overall speaker quality at different volume levels. After that, we opened and disassembled each device to get a better look at its individual components and how they were connected.
Equipped with two high-quality wireless microphones and an awesome disco ball, this portable speaker system has everything you need to get your karaoke party started.
The Tonor K20 Wireless Karaoke Machine is the best overall karaoke machine because it’s easy to carry, set up, and use, and the sound quality is clearer than other models we tested. It’s essentially a 250-watt speaker on wheels with a telescopic handle that comes with a bunch of thoughtful accessories (including two wireless microphones) for easy transport between participants. The Tonor easily connects to your tablet or smart TV via Bluetooth or an auxiliary cable. You also have the option to play music from a USB drive or microSD card (if you have songs downloaded from a subscription service, for example), which should cover all your needs. The package even includes a tablet stand, allowing you to use the device as a lyrics screen and sing along to your favorite services. Plus, there’s a really cool disco ball on top, which adds to the overall show experience. But don’t worry – it’s easy to turn off if you have photophobia.
The Tonor comes with two wireless microphones, runs on a pair of AA batteries (not included), and comes with an auxiliary cable, an auxiliary-RCA cable, and a DC adapter for charging. The package also includes some non-audio accessories, such as a remote control; a tablet holder that attaches to the telescopic handle; and a pair of washable foam covers (called pop filters) that protect the microphone from hiss and impact; there’s a soft carrying case that will hold everything, so you don’t have to worry about storing everything between gigs. It’s these thoughtful details that make this karaoke machine truly stand out.
The Tonor’s microphone sounds the best of all the karaoke machines we tested, delivering clear audio whether we were singing directly overhead or howling from the side. In our tests, the mic’s range was about 100 feet before the wireless connection began to drop out. Every other mic we tried had a similar range (except the VocoPro, which has half the range), but none sounded as good as the Tonor. (At best, our voices sound muffled and distorted, and the narrow, single-sided diaphragms muffle everything no matter how much we sang into them.)
The Tonor’s built-in speakers sound good, with two 3-inch tweeters (for higher frequencies) and an 8-inch woofer (for lower sounds) in a resonant wood cabinet. Compared to the Moukey MTs10-2, which has a larger woofer, and the Ion Audio Party Rocker Max, which only has a single tweeter, the Tonor sounds surprisingly less full-bodied at lower volumes. But when we cranked up the volume enough to separate the speakers, the sound was even richer than other models we’ve tested. Still, you probably won’t want to turn it up too loud—the 250 watts of power can handle plenty of volume. If you really want to tweak the Tonor’s sound at lower volumes, it has a pair of bass and treble equalizer (EQ) knobs to help you dial in the tone you want, though you probably won’t have to tinker with it too much.
The Tonor has a fun built-in light show, with a bright LED on the front of the speaker and a disco ball on top. The disco ball isn’t as bright as the one on the Ion Party Rocker, but it’s also less likely to hurt your eyes while still being bright enough to turn a dimly lit living room into a club-like atmosphere. You can’t control the LEDs in the speakers or the disco ball, although they do start moving more sporadically as the music reaches higher peaks. It’s not exactly a synchronized light show, but then again, karaoke isn’t exactly a productive gig. If you don’t want to use the disco ball (say, if you’re sensitive to the flash or just don’t like it), it’s easy to turn it off by pressing a clearly labeled button on the front. Without the light, the Tonor’s battery should last up to 12 hours. While we didn’t get exact measurements, we found that we could enjoy several great karaoke sessions without needing to recharge.
Everything else you need to operate the Tonor is also on the front panel, and more importantly, everything is clearly labeled and easy to find. This may seem like a cliché, but unfortunately it’s less common among other karaoke machines, perhaps less common than you might think. For example, the Tonor is the only model we tested that has the power switch on the front panel, where all the audio input options are also located. (If you’re nervous or unsure about setting up audio equipment, the user manual (PDF) is simple, clear, and detailed.) The front of the unit features a master volume control, several independent smaller knobs for microphone volume, and an echo level knob that creates an effect somewhere between reverb and delay (a little can help your voice sound louder and smoother, but it can quickly become too much).
The Tonor’s two EQ knobs let you adjust the bass and treble levels of the audio input. We don’t think most people will need to bother with this—like we said, the speakers sound pretty good on their own—but if you want to boost the bass a bit or add some high-end sizzle, this is a good option. The Tonor also has an additional ¼-inch input in case you want to add an extra wired microphone. You can even plug a guitar into this jack—it has a preamp that boosts the input signal to line level, so the audio comes out at the same volume as a wireless mic. By comparison, the Moukey MTs10-2’s ¼-inch input is set to mic level, making it noticeably quieter than the wireless mic included with this particular model.
The Tonor has an LCD screen that displays the current audio input and battery level. If you’re using a USB stick or microSD card to play audio, this screen will help you navigate the menus. There are a few small buttons next to the screen that let you control input sources, as well as pause/play or skip tracks when using Bluetooth or Drive. You can stop or start music directly on the unit without having to pull out your tablet or remote, which is another thoughtful feature that makes the overall experience of using the Tonor more enjoyable. Other buttons help you control the Tonor’s built-in recording options, which require a USB stick to be connected to record data as MP3s. We won’t discuss this in detail – it’s hardly a necessary feature. But it’s another nice extra feature that’s surprisingly easy to use. Moukey has a similar recording option, but we didn’t even know how to use it.

The Tonor’s biggest drawback is the same as all the all-in-one karaoke machines we’ve tested: While there’s a master volume control for the microphones, there’s no way to control each microphone individually. This might only be a problem if you plan to sing a duet with someone whose voice level is very different from yours, but not if you plan to sing a version of David Bowie and Mick Jagger with a particularly quiet partner. “Street Dancing,” which can be annoying.
As we mentioned above, the Tonor’s sound at low volumes isn’t as powerful as other all-in-one karaoke machines we’ve tested. But it still sounds good (the EQ knob helps) and actually sounds great at higher volumes. This could be because the Tonor’s 8-inch subwoofer is smaller than the Moukey’s 10-inch subwoofer (the Ion Party Rocker also has an 8-inch subwoofer, but only a tweeter). The distance between the speakers depends on the depth of the speaker cone, so there are many factors at play. It’s also possible that we’re being very picky about this, which most casual karaoke enthusiasts won’t notice. But hey, that’s our job.
We don’t like the DC power port on the front of the Tonor, which makes it very visible when plugged in for charging. But all the electronic controls are on the front panel alone, which is a plus in other ways, so we’ll live with it.
The Moukey’s microphone doesn’t sound as clear as we’d like, but the speaker itself sounds great and has a built-in microphone stand on one side. We’re not sure the owl face is appropriate, though.
If the Tonor isn’t available, or you want something with a richer, quieter sound, or you just like angry owls, the Moukey MTs10-2 Karaoke Machine is a great choice. Like the Tonor, it comes with two wireless microphones and has all the same audio input options, plus two ¼-inch inputs for additional wired microphones (meaning you can use up to four microphones at once, whereas the Tonor can only use three). It also has a built-in FM radio in case you want to sing along to your favorite radio station. While the unit itself sounds better than the Tonor, the included wireless microphone feels and sounds cheaper. The Moukey also doesn’t have a disco ball—we wouldn’t mind if its LED display didn’t make the speaker look like an angry spectator glaring at you from behind a scowl.
The Moukey’s control panel is on top of the pop-up speaker, rather than on the front. Like our top pick, it has a telescopic handle and a removable tablet holder, giving you a convenient place to read the text prompts. The main control knobs (echo, mic volume, master volume, and bass/treble EQ) are larger and easier to find than the similar knobs on the Tonor. We also find their placement more logical. Like the Tonor, the Moukey has pause/play and forward/back buttons next to these dials, making it easier to skip or stop songs on the machine itself.
This machine has a few extra features that the Tonor doesn’t have: a “mic priority” setting (which automatically pauses the music when the microphone picks up sound) and “automatic” vocal removal (which is said to help you create a karaoke version of any song). Unfortunately, both features are annoying and largely useless. The mic priority setting is the most frustrating – it’s only really useful if you plan on using the Moukey to perform at a party, since you can’t hit the “pause” button yourself. Vocal Remover basically cuts out all the midrange (PDF) frequencies where vocals tend to linger; it also removes most of the important guitar and keyboard sounds, making the song sound like an empty imitation of itself. The Moukey is said to have built-in recording capabilities, but we couldn’t figure out how to get them to work, and the user manual wasn’t helpful.
The Moukey wireless mics are noticeably lighter than the others, and each one has a different color ring on the bottom so you can tell them apart if you need to. (To be fair, though, there’s no need to tell the two apart since the Moukey doesn’t have a separate mic volume control.) They also feel like they’re made of slightly cheaper plastic and feel more comfortable, prone to breaking if dropped. Fortunately, the Moukey has two convenient retractable mic stands on the sides, making it easy to store the mic between songs. As for the sound, the Moukey wireless mic is great. They had too much gain and weren’t very responsive, so we had to sing directly into the top center of the mic, and our voices still sounded a little distorted and muddy. The echo effect can help soften the edges a bit, but too much of it can make the sound muddy. While Mookie’s promised wireless range is only about 65 feet, in our testing we were able to get up to nearly 100 feet before the microphone started to lose signal.
Moukey also has the ability to connect two additional ¼-inch wired microphones. However, unlike the Tonor’s ¼-inch input, the Moukey’s seems to operate at or close to mic level, which we think is why these wired mics are noticeably quieter than their wireless counterparts. The company acknowledged the issue in response to an Amazon reviewer’s question, but it’s still an odd design choice. However, if you connect an instrument-level source (like a guitar) to these ¼-inch inputs, you’ll be fine.