SOMETIMES singing into a hairbrush in front of the mirror just isn’t enough.
If you are planning a Christmas or New Year party, you may want to invest in a karaoke machine.
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But whether you want something for the kids to play around with or whether you want to unleash your inner Adele at home, there are plenty on the market to choose from.
Sound quality varies a lot and that is often reflected in the price.
So which do you choose?
Mum-of-three Lynsey Hope, 41, from West Malling, warmed up her vocal cords and tested out some best-sellers to see how they fared and which was the best value.
Here she shares her verdict:
Groov-e Karaoke Boombox
- £49.99, groov-e.co.uk
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Lynsey says: “A retro style machine, but I liked it.
“It is Bluetooth and CD enabled allowing you and your guests to belt out classics all night.
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“Perfect for solos or duets, it comes with two microphones, a 10-song karaoke disc, integrated flashing LED party lights and video output so that lyrics can be displayed on your TV.
“The sound quality was good and it was small and easy to store. Hours of fun and a great price.”
- SOUND: 7/10
- EASE OF USE: 6/10
- VALUE: 7/10
- OVERALL: 7/10
Vtech Kidi Super Star DJ 10-in-1
- £59.99, smythstoys.com
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Lynsey says: “Essentially a karaoke machine and DJ mixer in one.
“It looks attractive and little ones were lining up to help me test it out.
“My major issue with this is that it is top heavy and therefore a bit unstable.
“That said, it’s great for younger kids who like doing pretend shows and want to mess around making music and would make an impressive gift.
“I was expecting the sounds to be better for the price but my daughters Olive, five, and Ivy, loved playing with it.
“The disco lights are fab too.”
- SOUND: 6/10
- EASE OF USE: 8/10
- VALUE: 7/10
- OVERALL: 8/10
iDance MegaBox 2000
- £159.99, ryman.co.uk
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Lynsey says: “For serious party throwers, this powerful 400 watt Bluetooth speaker and PA system has incredible quality sound and a built-in disco light show to make your party extra special.
“It has a wireless microphone for karaoke and has a built-in USB so you can use it to charge your smartphone or tablet.
“The battery will last up to eight hours and it has a handle and wheels so you can take it anywhere.
“Super expensive and bulky to store but cheaper than hiring your own DJ and might be a good investment if you throw a lot of parties.”
- SOUND: 10/10
- EASE OF USE: 7/10
- VALUE: 7/10
- OVERALL: 8/10
RockJam Sing Cube Portable Bluetooth Karaoke Speaker
- £37.99, amazon.co.uk
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Lynsey says: “Unbelievable value for money. The sound quality of this is great – you’d think it was much more expensive.
“The kids love it and suitable for adults to use at a party. I’d definitely recommend it.
“The sound isn’t that loud but fine for parties and gatherings at home.
“You’ll have hours of fun with this.”
- SOUND: 10/10
- EASE OF USE: 9/10
- VALUE: 9/10
- OVERALL: 9/10
Easy Karaoke Bluetooth Karaoke Party System
- £44.99, currys.co.uk
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“Great for family nights in. It was a bit of a faff to set up.
“It plugs into the TV and lyrics appear on the screen if you insert a disk.
“I found it worked better if you have a strong internet connection and if it was poor, it kept kicking you off and you have to reconnect.
“The microphone was quiet and it was fun for family nights at home.
“Don’t expect too much from this but it was super fun.”
- SOUND: 6/10
- EASE OF USE: 5/10
- VALUE: 6/10
- OVERALL: 6/10
Easy Karaoke The Portable Party Box
- £29.99, ryman.co.uk
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Lynsey says: “Thought this was a great price. The system has flashing disco lights and comes with two microphones for duets.
“Easy Karaoke also supply a code which enables you to stream thousands of karaoke songs for free.
“It gives you around four hours of playing time on one single charge and has a built in speaker.
“Great for parties and karaoke nights at home and it’s small, compact and easy to store. My winner.”
- SOUND: 9/10
- EASE OF USE: 10/10
- VALUE: 10/10
- OVERALL: 10/10
