Singing along to lyrics on a phone screen works for one person, but a living room full of friends wants the words on the big screen. A karaoke machine for TV solves that by sending video to your television over HDMI, or by pulling audio out of a smart TV so microphones and music mix together cleanly. This guide covers the main ways to do it, from all-in-one machines with an HDMI output to karaoke mixers, soundbars with microphones and plug-in mic kits for specific TV brands, with honest notes on who each one is not for.
Three ways to do TV karaoke
Before you shop, decide which job the TV is doing. In the first setup, the karaoke machine is the brain: it runs a song app or plays from your phone, then mirrors lyrics to the TV over HDMI while its own speaker plays music and vocals. In the second, the TV is the brain: you run YouTube, KaraFun or another karaoke app on a smart TV or streaming stick, and a karaoke mixer or soundbar grabs the TV audio through HDMI ARC or optical and blends in wireless microphones. The third is the simplest: a USB microphone receiver that plugs into a compatible TV and uses the TV’s own karaoke feature.
Machine-as-brain is the easiest for casual parties. TV-as-brain gives the best song library and picture, and usually the best sound if you already own a decent soundbar. Mic-only kits are cheap and tidy but tied to one TV brand.
Our picks
Ikarao Shell S3
The Ikarao Shell S3 is a compact 80W machine with its own lyrics screen and an HDMI connection for the TV. It ships with a six-month KaraFun Prime trial, custom key and tempo, pitch correction on the two wireless mics and a battery rated for around seven hours, so it can move from the lounge to the patio.
Best for: people who want a large licensed song library and a machine small enough to store on a shelf.
- Pros: KaraFun built in, key change, battery power, works with or without the TV.
- Cons: an 80W speaker is fine for a living room but will not carry a big backyard party.
JYX NX202
The JYX NX202 takes a different approach: no built-in screen, but HDMI, optical, coaxial, AUX and Bluetooth inputs so it can take audio from your TV while you run a karaoke app on the big screen. A five-driver layout, two UHF wireless mics and dedicated mic tone, echo, bass and treble controls make it a sound-first choice.
Best for: smart-TV owners who want a karaoke speaker with proper TV inputs rather than another screen.
- Pros: many TV connection options, physical echo and tone knobs, vocal cut and recording.
- Cons: no lyrics display of its own, so you rely on the TV or a phone.
Sound Town SWM15-MAX Karaoke Mixer
If you already have a soundbar or home theatre receiver, the Sound Town SWM15-MAX is the neatest upgrade. It sits between TV and soundbar, extracts the TV audio through HDMI ARC or optical, mixes in two wireless microphones with selectable effects and sends everything on to your speakers. Quarter-inch jacks also accept wired mics or even an electric guitar.
Best for: anyone with a good soundbar who wants karaoke without another speaker in the room.
- Pros: HDMI ARC, optical, Bluetooth and AUX, adjustable vocal effects, keeps your existing sound system.
- Cons: needs a soundbar or amp to make any sound; you must enable CEC and set the TV to PCM output.
Rybozen Wireless Microphone Karaoke Mixer
The Rybozen karaoke mixer is the budget way to add microphones to a TV setup. It outputs the mixed music and vocals to a smart TV, home theatre system or other sound system over HDMI or 3.5mm AUX, includes two UHF handheld mics with separate volume controls, and has two extra wired mic inputs for bigger groups.
Best for: casual TV karaoke on a tight budget, or groups that need more than two microphones.
- Pros: HDMI and AUX connections, room for four singers with wired mics, low cost.
- Cons: no HDMI ARC, so routing is less elegant than a mixer that pulls audio straight from the TV; a rated 100-foot range is shorter than pricier systems.
SunTrok Karaoke Soundbar
The SunTrok karaoke soundbar combines a 2.1 soundbar, a wired subwoofer and two rechargeable 2.4GHz wireless microphones. It replaces your TV speakers for movies and turns into a karaoke system when the mics are switched on, so it suits small flats where a separate machine would be clutter.
Best for: people without a soundbar who want better TV sound and karaoke in one purchase.
- Pros: doubles as a home theatre upgrade, remote control, low footprint.
- Cons: a budget-brand soundbar, so do not expect premium movie sound.
PUREMIC Karaoke Microphones for Samsung TV
Some recent Samsung smart TVs support karaoke microphones directly. The PUREMIC Samsung TV microphones pair with a USB-A receiver that plugs into the TV, so vocals come through the TV speakers with no extra box at all. The maker notes it is designed for the TV’s own speakers rather than a soundbar.
Best for: Samsung owners who want the tidiest possible setup.
- Pros: nothing to place or wire, rechargeable mics, DSP anti-feedback.
- Cons: Samsung only, check your model first, and it is not meant for use with a soundbar.
Comparison table
| Product | Best for | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
| Ikarao Shell S3 | Large song library | KaraFun, key change, battery |
| JYX NX202 | Smart-TV karaoke apps | HDMI, optical and coaxial inputs |
| Sound Town SWM15-MAX | Existing soundbar owners | HDMI ARC mixing |
| Rybozen Karaoke Mixer | Budget and bigger groups | HDMI out, four mic inputs |
| SunTrok Soundbar | Small rooms | Soundbar, subwoofer and mics |
| PUREMIC for Samsung | Samsung smart TVs | USB receiver into the TV |
How to choose a karaoke machine for TV
Check the connection first. HDMI output on a machine sends lyrics to the TV. HDMI ARC or optical on a mixer or speaker takes sound from the TV. These are different jobs, so make sure the product does the one you need. Look at the back of your TV for an HDMI port labelled ARC or eARC before buying a mixer.
Watch for lag. Singers hear delay instantly. Wireless UHF and 2.4GHz microphones running through a mixer or machine have very low latency. Bluetooth microphones paired to a TV or soundbar often add a noticeable echo-like delay, and TV picture processing can push lyrics out of sync with the audio. Turn on your TV’s Game mode to cut video delay.
Count the microphones. Two mics covers duets; for bigger groups look for systems that accept extra mics, or add a separate wireless pair from our best karaoke microphones guide.
Decide where songs come from. Built-in apps are convenient but often need a subscription. If your TV is not smart, a streaming stick such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select adds YouTube and karaoke apps for very little money. YouTube karaoke channels are free but vary in quality. If you want to sing songs that have no karaoke version, our roundup of vocal remover apps shows how to strip vocals from almost any track.
Match power to the room. A compact 80W machine is right for a lounge; a large open-plan space or backyard needs more. If you want a full component setup with a separate mixer, mics and speakers, see our guide to the best home karaoke systems, and if the TV is optional, browse the overall best karaoke machines.
Setup tips for clean TV karaoke
- Use a certified HDMI cable and plug into the ARC port when using a mixer.
- Set the TV to send audio as PCM rather than Dolby or DTS if the mixer cannot decode surround formats.
- Keep singers behind or beside the speaker to avoid feedback, and lower echo before raising mic volume.
- Turn off the TV’s own speakers when audio goes to a soundbar, or you will hear doubled sound.
For a full walkthrough of cables, apps and room layout, read our guide on how to set up karaoke at home.
FAQ
Can I connect any karaoke machine to my TV?
Only if it has an HDMI output, a video output or an audio input your TV can feed. Many cheap Bluetooth karaoke speakers have no video output at all, so lyrics stay on your phone. Check the product listing for HDMI before you buy.
Why is there a delay between my voice and the TV?
Delay usually comes from Bluetooth microphones or TV picture processing. Use wireless mics that connect to a receiver in the machine or mixer, avoid routing vocals through Bluetooth, and switch the TV to Game mode.
Do I need a smart TV for karaoke?
No. A machine with its own app and HDMI output works with any TV that has an HDMI port. A smart TV or streaming stick only matters if you want to run karaoke apps on the TV itself.
