Awesome Accessories
Which karaoke accessories you need will depend on what kind of system you buy. For example, if you’re buying a portable Bluetooth speaker that doubles as a karaoke machine with traditional microphone inputs, the first thing you’ll need is a good microphone like the Shure SM58 and a cable (or two). If your device offers only quarter-inch inputs, you’ll want to add an XLR to quarter-inch cable or an XLR to quarter-inch adapter.
That’s a great start, but even if your machine comes with built-in wireless mics, there are some good accessories worth considering to raise the experience a notch or two.
Photograph: Parker Hall
A Mic, Stand, Cable (and Adapter)
The Shure SM58 ($109) is the most popular stage mic on Earth for a reason: they're bulletproof and they sound great. If you need of a mic, we highly recommend picking up the SM58; they're probably what you've used at your local juke joint.
Our favorite mic stands are from the German brand K&M ($83), but you can totally get away with an Amazon Basics Mic Stand ($23) at home. I like colorful microphone cables like these ($12). If you need one, snag a quarter-inch to XLR adapter ($10 for two) so that your mic can plug into every karaoke machine you find.
Shure SM58 Microphone Photograph: Parker Hall
A Vocal Effects Box
If you want to mess with the way voices actually sound, or to create cool harmony lines with yourself on the fly, we highly recommend the new Antares Headrush VX5 pedal ($299). This thing can make you perfectly in tune, but it can also do things like stack layers of your own voice on top of or below each other. You can even hook up an instrument and play along with tunes and have it match the key of your axe.
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