Here’s a good reason to get off the sofa: a soundbar that morphs into a karaoke machine as soon as you pick up its microphone.
Slated to go on sale next month, the Vizio MicMe looks like your typical budget soundbar, what with its slim 30-inch-long white chassis and matching subwoofer.
Inside the soundbar is a pair of drivers that deliver 2.1-channel audio when combined with the sub, complete with immersive Dolby Atmos and DTS: X audio. (We’re assuming the height channels are virtualized, given the lack of up-firing drivers.)
What makes the MicMe special, though, are the two microphones that come in included in the box.
Pick up one of the mics, and the MicMe turns into a karaoke machine, blending your voice with tunes streamed from your phone via Bluetooth or from a smart TV app.
As you’re crooning, you’ll be able to adjust the karaoke settings using the mic itself or using the Vizio mobile app. Six voice enhancements will be available, along with a choice of 9 ambient colors for the mic.
The MicMe’s microphones boast up to eight hours of battery life, and a USB-A-enabled charging dock is included.
Besides the ability to stream tunes from your phone, Vizio is promising a free MicMe Karaoke App that will offer more than 85,000 karaoke tracks. The app will arrive by the end of November, Vizio says.
Nice, but in exchange for the MicMe’s karaoke abilities you’ll need to settle for somewhat limited connectivity options.
In the rear cavity of the MicMe is just a single HDMI-eARC port and a connector for the power cable. That means no optical or RCA inputs for older TVs. That said, there is a USB-A port that’s capable of WAV playback.
It’s also worth noting that the MicMe doesn’t ship with a remote; instead, you’ll need to use either your TV’s remote or the Vizio mobile app to control the soundbar’s volume.
Look for the MicMe to land at Walmart, Sam’s Club, Best Buy, Amazon, and Target for $349.99 in late November.
Author: Ben Patterson, Senior Writer, TechHive
Ben has been writing about technology and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2014, Ben joined TechHive in 2019, where he has covered everything from smart speakers and soundbars to smart lights and security cameras. Ben's articles have also appeared in PC Magazine, TIME, Wired, CNET, Men's Fitness, Mobile Magazine, and more. Ben holds a master's degree in English literature.