Mr Entertainer Digibox. Portable Touch Screen Karaoke Machine and Media Player (2 x Wireless Microphones)

Product Information

Some karaoke systems use the CD+G format, which is essentially a normal audio CD with an extra data track containing the animated lyrics. Thanks to the included remote control, you don’t even need to be near the unit to control aspects like your volume, channel and so on.

Even George Ezra would have been impressed with our seven-year-old’s enthusiastic rendition of “Shotgun”, that’s for sure. It's probably fair to say that the sound from the GROOV-E GV-PS923-BK wouldn't fill Wembley Stadium, but if you're after a karaoke machine that can be carried between small gatherings, then there's a lot to like here. Even if your machine has built-in speakers, it may still be best to plug it into a hi-fi system for better sound quality and more volume (neighbours’ sanity permitting). While our older tester liked to experiment with this, it was the voice effects – you can change your voice from a squeaky mouse to a robot at the touch of a button – that got used the most. While the microphones are a good size and weight, and have the added bonus of voice-changing effects (the “chipmunk” effect was, unsurprisingly, a massive hit with the kids), they are wired, so you don’t have quite the same freedom to dance around the living room with these.Not many karaoke machines have a built-in display so this will normally be your TV, although you can also use a PC screen or your phone or tablet. Coming in at just 18cm x 17cm x 16cm, this high-spec karaoke machine packs all the features you could possibly want into its neat dimensions. With its light weight and ergonomic handle, transporting this device is no hassle at all – and, unlike some of the machines on this list, it's small enough to be stowed away out of sight when the party finishes. It’s easy to sync with Bluetooth, or there’s the option of connecting to your smartphone/tablet with the cable included.

For obvious reasons, a larger screen works better because it means that you can prance around the room and really perform the song rather than being stood in front of a small display, straining your eyes to read the lyrics. The unit itself is completely rechargeable and has a humongous eight-hour battery life, which is long enough to get you through an entire day of music on a single charge. The Digibox does away with traditional CD's and buttons, instead utilising touchscreen technology, wifi and apps to deliver ease of use and access to content in a way never before possible. It’s also got a playback recording function, allowing you to record your performances onto your phone using a wire.It’s Bluetooth-compatible, so you needn’t worry about your kids tripping over any wires – although you can connect it to your TV via an RCA cable to load up those all-important lyrics on the screen. It can be used standalone using the built in screen, and can be connected to your TV using the HDMI output (cable included). Although it’s relatively compact – measuring 35cm x 26cm x 32cm – it’s quite heavy (thanks to its wooden cabinet exterior, which helps with acoustics), and we were initially concerned setup would be complicated with a piece of kit this high-spec.