I have read some of the DJ and solo artist perspective on "the tube" but there has been no one comment on if this would be suitable for karaoke - more specificly, a PC driven karaoke machine.

I have been in the karaoke business for 15 years and have switched to the mp3/graphics venue to lighten my load of players, discs, amps, etc. The DJ walking in with an IPOD and this stick or tube sounds great, but they are the only ones using the equiptment...

I have used a compressor to reduce the risk of speaker damage due to dropping of the mic, screaming, all the things that a KJ has to worry about from night to night, but will the tube handle what my two 15" JBLs handle now? Will I get the same clarity from varied vocalists without having to EQ the system each time???

There is little to no respect for the guy who makes his living doing karaoke in the "professional music world" of Myrtle Beach but I have taken great pride in making my show the best of the rest. I use shure beta 58 mics, have the JBL IONs, have over 10 thousand songs in my library and have a theatre/music degree. So maybe the question has not been asked simply because no other karaoke quy cares that much about making his show sound as good as it can... sounds egotistical, but it's the truth.

If there are any other guys or gals out there that are currently using the tube for their shows, I need some brutal, honest and forthcoming thoughts on this product.

Thanks in advance,
Tim St. John
tstjohn@sc.rr.com
AIM: beachharlequin
YAHOO: adudeon707

Howdy Tim,

I have a few thoughts. First, I know that Karaoke has a peculiar reputation, but I have to say the few times I have seen people doing it, they were having a ball. I mean, what's wrong with people singing their hearts out to their favorite music? I saw one big get-together when I was in China, and it was really, really fun and a few of the singers were excellent. It's an active form of music making, which is better than any TV.

As for how the system will work, I have no doubts about its performance. The speaker is designed to be a magnifying glass of whatever you want. If you have great Karaoke backing tracks they will sound great. If you use a certain kind of vocal microphone (e.g. SM58) we've developed a preset for that microphone that optimizes its performance when used with the Cylindrical Radiator(tm) speaker. To my knowledge that alone can not be found anywhere else. Finally, you will spread the sound more consistently throughout the performer and audience area than any other approach. Folks close to the speaker will not get blown out and folks far away will enjoy full entertainment quality sound.

These are my experiences and those of many, many owners, some of whom have written on this forum. Of course, you will have to judge this for yourself. Try em out. I don't think you will want to perform any other way once you hear this remarkable new speaker.

Tell us what you decide and how things go, will you?