2024 has been an interesting year for soundbars, with some notable entries into the category such as the 17-driver LG S95TR, Bose Smart Soundbar with wireless earbud surround, Klipsch Flexus Core 300 with Dirac Live, Sonos Arc Ultra, and the $17,000 ultra high-end Steinway Lyngdorf Model S.
All of these soundbars offer something new; and we are far more interested in how they tackle room issues or support all of the relevant surround formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
The new Vizio MicMe Soundbar does offer support for the aforementioned formats but it also offers something new that some consumers might actually want.
Is karaoke still popular? In some places, it never went out of favor, but it has been awhile since we ventured into any karaoke parlors in Fort Lee or Los Angeles to drink and cut loose with some of our favorite songs.
Vizio thinks a lot of families might want this as part of “Family Movie” night — although we would encourage you to make sure the kids only get milk and cookies or some bubble tea. That might be wise for grandma as well.
Vizio MicMe Overview
The Vizio MicMe is designed to transform the living room into both a home theater and music entertainment arena by integrating karaoke functions when paired with the two included wireless microphones.
From John Schindler, Vice President of Product Management at VIZIO: “With the same excellence and innovation that customers have come to expect from VIZIO, MicMe reimagines the way users can experience karaoke, bringing together the entire family and friends through a new approach to entertainment,…We are excited to welcome MicMe to the VIZIO lineup and look forward to seeing users transform the way they host parties and spend time with their loved ones with this new entertainment experience.”
MicMe transitions from a soundbar to a karaoke experience as soon as a microphone is picked up. Users can bring up their favorite music or karaoke app directly from their Smart TV or stream via Bluetooth to begin singing. This includes the new MicMe Karaoke App – a free app powered by Stingray, which has access to over 85,000 karaoke songs on iOS and Android devices. The app will be available on November 29, 2024.
Pro Tip: Other compatible music and karaoke apps that users can access are Kanto Karaoke, Smule, Party Tyme Karaoke, Apple Music, Yokee Karaoke, and YouTube.
Users can adjust select settings directly on the mic or control advanced settings in the VIZIO mobile app. The app provides six voice enhancements and nine mic ambient color options. With up to eight hours of battery life on the wireless microphones, users can perform long singing sessions.
Grandma might want her beverage to be a double.
Once the mics are placed back on the charging dock, MicMe will switch back to support TV audio, without any additional steps.
Paired with two wireless microphones and a compact wireless subwoofer, the Vizio MicMe blends into any home decor setup. In addition to the modern design, the wireless microphones feature customizable ambient color lights to add even more personality to any performance.
When not being utilized for entertaining karaoke performances, MicMe can be used as a soundbar for improving TV sound. The MicMe incorporates Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding and DTS Virtual:X processing. However, with only two built-in speakers and an external wireless subwoofer, we suspect its immersive surround sound capabilities are limited compared to other multi-driver soundbars.
Vizio MicMe Specifications
| Product Type | Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer |
| Karaoke Support | Yes |
| Total Number of Speakers | 3 |
| Speaker Channels | 2.1 |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz-16kHz (+/- 5dB) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| DTS:X and DTS Virtual:X | Yes |
| Listening Modes | Movie, Music |
| Wireless Mics | 2 (Rechargeable) |
| Mic Charging Dock | Yes |
| LED Ambient Light Colors | Yes |
| Status Display | Yes |
| Capacitive Touch Keys | Yes |
| Mode Button | Yes |
| Lithium-Ion Batteries (Mic) | Yes |
| Fabric Mic Cap | Yes |
| Power On/Off Button | Yes |
| HDMI Inputs | 1 |
| HDMI eARC | Yes |
| Optical Audio Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes (.WAV playback only) |
| Voice Assistant | No |
| Bluetooth Input | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth LC3/LC3+ | Yes |
| Sound Bar Dimensions | 30 x 2.32 x 3.33 inches (762 x 58.9 x 84.6 mm) |
| Sound Bar Weight | 4.32 lbs (2.0 kg) |
| Microphone Dimensions | 1.31 x 8.56 x 1.31 inches 33.3 x 217.4 x 33.3 mm |
| Microphone Weight | 0.62 lbs (0.3 kg) |
| Charging Dock Dimensions | 4.44 x 1.10 x 2.32 inches (112.8 x 27.9 x 58.9 mm) |
| Charging Dock Weight | 0.26 lbs (0.1kg) |
| Power Supply Charging Dock | USB A adapter (100 – 240V/50-60Hz) |
The Bottom Line
The Vizio MicMe offers a different take on soundbar implementation with the addition of karaoke. This may expand the appeal of the soundbar to a younger customer base by encouraging more social interaction around TV viewing — you can make an evening of TV viewing and singing.
However, as a soundbar, the MicMe is pretty basic with only two speaker drivers in the soundbar section in combination with a wireless subwoofer. There is no dedicated center channel speaker to precisely lock vocals and dialog. And even though Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X decoding are included, immersive audio effects are constrained by its limited number channels.
Also, while the MicMe includes HDMI-eARC for simplified connection to compatible TVs, separate HDMI, digital optical, and analog audio inputs are not included that would have enabled other devices to be connected directly to the soundbar, if desired.
Given its modest $349 price tag, MicMe is a unique soundbar truly for those that like karaoke. Otherwise soundbars in the general price range from Vizio’s own line-up might be more appealing, such as the 5SV510M-08 5.1 ($198 at Amazon) and Elevate SL512X-08 SE ($499 $449 at Amazon).
Price & Availability
The MicMe has a matte frost white finish with premium light grey fabric and will be available online at retailers including Walmart, Sam’s Club, Best Buy, Amazon and Target for $349.99, with product shipments beginning at the end of November 2024.
For more information: vizio.com
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