Memorex VHF Wireless Handheld Microphone - MKA381 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I work professionally as an audiovisual technician, and grabbed this mic on the cheap because I throw an annual karaoke event using mostly wired equipment; I'm accustomed to using high-end Shure wireless kits from day to day, but I can't afford those for my little shindigs!

My first impression is that this is not a bad product for the money at all.The transmitter (microphone) takes one nine-volt battery, while the receiver (base) can either be plugged into an outlet or fitted with a pair of AA batteries.The manual doesn't specify battery life, and I haven't stress tested that part yet. The kit comes with a patch cord that is 1/8-inch "mini" to quarter-inch.The mini end plugs into the base.

The range of the microphone is 7 meters, about 21 feet.The microphone works best when you're line-of-sight with the base (i.e. you're facing it), though I was able to get the microphone to transmit from my living room to my study-- only 15 feet, but around 2 corners.Be warned that if you like to dance and twirl or are otherwise not mostly facing the receiver, you'll experience some audio dropouts.It's not a big deal-- there aren't any horrible bursts of static-- but your voice will be momentarily muted.Placing the microphone base at the edge of the stage, with a cord run to the machine or mixer, would almost certainly minimize or eliminate audio dropouts.

Another reviewer has complained that this mic is 'fuzzy.'I don't find that to be true, BUT BUT BUT-- the microphone outputs a line level signal, rather than the more common microphone level signal.Line level is lower-impedance and higher-level-- very generally speaking, a LOUDER signal than mic level, so if you make the mistake of plugging this microphone into a microphone-level input-- which many mixers and karaoke machines use primarily for microphones-- you'll undoubtedly encounter 'fuzziness', really just heavy distortion.If you get one of these, make sure you plug it into a LINE INPUT on your karaoke machine or mixer.

My tech-head brain still has a couple of questions about this unit, though.You can't change the frequency on either the mic or the base.Does this mean that only one of these Memorex wireless kits can be used at a time, or could several be bought and used?I don't know this, and I'm scared to sink another $20 and test it out.Someone please buy two of these and report back!:-)

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Product Description:
Memorex MKA381 VHF Wireless Handheld MicrophoneModel: MKA381SKU: 233877379MManufacturer: MEMOREXCondition: NewPass the microphone around the room with ease at your next karaoke party using this Memorex VHF Wireless Handheld Microphone. Combine with your karaoke player (sold separately) and let the songs begin. Includes on/off switch and a sleek, slim VHF receiver with antenna.