Could someone please elaborate on what a karaoke machine actually is?
I mean, all it looks like to me is that it's a DVD player with some basic mixing capabilities.
Why do people buy specific players instead of just getting a basic mixer and a DVD player with analog outputs on it? Hook the mics up to the mixer, hook the DVD player up to the mixer, and then mix.
I certainly would never buy the stuff that appears on the sites linked above. The cheap ones appear to be completely under achievers, while the expensive ones all have speakers, and are massive.
The biggest difference is Karaoke CD +G gives you on screen lyrics. You know what to sing & when. The ntwo best brands of Karaoke players ae Vocopro & RSQ.
A cheap Yamaha mixer seems ideal, as mentioned above.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MG06
That should last someone for years and years without issue and seems appropriate for a more complex home setup.
But, I'm not sure that a karaoke machine doesn't deliver something additional that I'm not aware of, and I would like to be more informed on that product.