At some point in our lives, we have all taken to the mic and belted out our favourite karaoke tune, but have you ever thought about the equipment that goes into helping you replicate your rock icons?
As one of the country’s leading suppliers of audio equipment, one of the most common questions we’re asked here at London Karaoke Hire is, what are the best karaoke speakers? You might think that this could just be a case of purchasing the very best equipment, but there are actually a number of factors to take into account.
When it comes to choosing the right speakers for karaoke, it is important to remember that they are only one piece of the entire sound system. For optimum sound and performance, each part of this system will need to be working together, so before being able to answer what are the best karaoke speakers, it is important to understand how you will be using them. For example, will your speakers need to be portable, in order to travel around? Or will they be based in a permanent karaoke booth?
When you know how your speakers will be used, you will then be able to choose the right type of party speakers for you.
Active vs. Passive Speakers
In order to be able to answer what the best karaoke speakers are, then choosing between active or passive speakers is a crucial choice. What’s the difference between the two?
Active Speakers
An active speaker is a form of powered speakers, and requires no external amplifier as they come with amplification already built-in. These are a very popular speaker as they are essentially an all-in-one solution that lets you simply plug in and start using them.
For most active sound systems, the amplifier will have already been tuned to the speaker, ensuring you can enjoy the very best sound from the start. Active speakers do not need any technical knowledge in order to use them, and there is also usually a form of sound control on each unit to let you sculpt the sound as needed.
This kind of plug-and-play speaker system is great for those seeking portable karaoke systems, with each speaker designed to be powered using a battery – although they are not as lightweight as the passive alternative.
Passive Speakers
On the other hand, passive speakers are more like your conventional speakers found on a hi-fi sound system. Unlike active speakers that come equipped with a built-in amplifier, passive speakers utilise an amplified signal that requires an external speaker amp.
Passive speakers are a popular choice for a more extensive karaoke PA system, with separate speakers and amplifiers letting you expand the operation quickly and cost-effectively. A passive speaker set up also enables you to upgrade the speakers without needing to replace your entire karaoke system.
Thanks to them requiring an external speaker amp, passive speakers are incredibly lightweight, which makes them very useful for those needing a portable karaoke system.
Another positive with passive speakers is that should one unit fail, you can quickly replace it without needing to change the entire system. Once installed, you can also amend volume and noise levels from one control centre; however, this does require a professional sound engineer.
Speaker Set Up – Point Source vs. Line Array
Once you have been able to decide on the type of speaker your karaoke PA system is going to use, you then need to determine the best setup. Typically, there are two techniques to setting your speakers up to provide the optimal sound coverage to a room. These are:
Point Source
A point source speaker system provides a listening experience that envelopes the entire room. A good analogy is thinking of a stone being dropped in some water and seeing the expanding circles it produces. This set up will see sound expand in all available directions in the room, thinning out the further away from the speaker it moves.
As this sound hits objects, such as walls and ceiling, it then reflects back off those surfaces, which can cause a loss of clarity, however effective soundproofing and carpeting of a room can dampen this and improve sound quality.
Line Array
A line array set up sees speakers arranged in a vertical line, allowing them to send sound waves further. These are typically used in much larger rooms, and in recent years, have become increasingly popular at music venues and festivals.
Line array techniques give a more consistent sound level all the way across the venue, and the speakers can be positioned to reduce how much sound is sent towards the ceiling. This helps to minimise the sound reflecting back and distorting the clarity of the music.
How London Karaoke Hire can help you
As one of the UK’s leading providers of karaoke equipment, our experienced team will always be able to help you find the best karaoke speakers for your set up. We stock a wide array of equipment suitable for any budget or venue in two class levels, Premium and Professional.
For small events, our QSC K2 series premium speakers are a fantastic option, whilst for more professional setups, we also offer a Martin Audio Blackline Powered-X system. For some of the best performance, then we also recommend our Martin Audio MLA Mini, which is capable of being used in either a point source or line array setup.
Choosing the best speakers for karaoke is not a simple question, and it will depend entirely on the size of the room and your requirements. Active, or powered, speakers are often the most suitable thanks to their ease of setting up and not needing a professional sound engineer to set up.
However, whatever your requirements might be, get in touch with our experienced team today, and we will be able to help you find the perfect solution. We also have a range of ex-hire, quality products available to purchase through our sister company.
