Soundcore Rave 3S review: Superb wireless mics make this karaoke speaker sing

When it come to large , boomingparty loudspeaker system , are you teamdance - till - dawnor are you more a circuit board - carrying phallus ofcamp karaoke ? While there are no wrong answers ( we ’re fans of both ) , if your party - utterer priorities lie with being capable to belt outLivin ’ On a Prayeranytime , anywhere , then Soundcore may have just cracked the codification with its new Rave 3S political party — nay — karaoke speaker .

I ’ve reviewed several company speakers over the years , and although the lion ’s parcel of them have had mike ( and guitar ) inputs to adapt pumped up mics and even wireless dongles you could plug in for connecting wireless mics , the Soundcore Rave 3S is the good karaoke speaker ( I ’m just sound to call it that from here on out ) that I ’ve come across to date . Not only does it come with two really good wireless mics that connect with relaxation and stow away nicely , but the Rave 3S has some fantabulous AI vocal removal technical school ( and other fun karaoke features ) that can turn any song into a karaoke pickle .

The Rave 3S is , of form , also no slouch if all you desire to do is party . Its 200 - watt production is Brobdingnagian for its size and $ 349 price , and its LED lightshow is on par with any other on the marketplace . Frizz - up your hair , folks , as we ’re half - means there in this review of the Soundcore Rave 3S AI Party Speaker .

Soundcore Rave 3S specs

Design and features

Bluetooth speakersare with child , but what I like about party / karaoke speakers is that you get a wad more actual thrill for your buck . Yes , many of them , like the 1,100 - wattJBL PartyBox Ultimate , are huge and impractical for most , but when you start getting down to more manageable modelling like the Soundcore Rave 3S , the party opening increase tenfold .

The Rave 3S is n’t small-scale , but its not too big either . Its barrel - esque form stands just under two feet tall and about a base around . Its unanimous handle makes its 23.6 - Irish punt weight an leisurely airlift , although I would n’t want to block it too far . The 36 - poundJBL PartyBox Stage 320 , in comparison , features uncompromising bike and a telescopic handle , which would have been a skillful soupcon on the Rave 3S. The stagecoach 320 is also $ 600 , so maybe I should just hit the gym more .

The Soundcore Rave 3S is effectively portable , and I ’ve enjoyed shore up the loaner unit the company sent me on everything from ordure and chair to coffee tree table , in corners , and more . Its fatheaded , textured plastic armor is strong , and it has sturdy rubber rails on one side for pose it horizontally to go through its spacial audio feature ( more on this afterward ) .

Derek Malcolm / Digital Trends

Behind the Rave 3S ’s metallic element front grillroom is a words of three vertically - stacked 2.5 - column inch “ full - orbit ” drivers that run from the top down the centre where they meet a big 6.5 - column inch woofer . undulation of light-emitting diode igniter zig alongside the full - range speakers while the woofer is circumnavigate by three rings of light-emitting diode .

As is standard for many party speakers , all the physical controls for the Rave 3S sit on the speaker ’s top , and they include the basic power , bulk , cart track skip / caper / pause , Bluetooth pairing and Auracast connection buttons ( for pairing multiple Soundcore Speaker ) , and a physical clit for controlling the LED lights . This is handy when you do n’t have your phone nearby and just want to change by reversal the bulk down or hop a raceway .

to boot , there ’s a course of karaoke ascendency for the included wireless mics ( volume and reverb ) and the Rave 3S ’s cool outspoken removal feature ( more on all this in a bit ) . Everything is big , grippy , and leisurely to get at , and is all covered by asplash - proof IPX4 water ratingso you do n’t have to sweat a wee bit of rain or a slop vodka - Red Bull .

Derek Malcolm / Digital Trends

The back of the Soundcore Rave 3S is flank by its two rubber mic holder that securely stow and hold the wireless mics in place , even during transportation . On the bottom is a sizeable peaceful bass radiator interface for additional low - ending oomf , especially if you bond this affair in a corner .

A tightly - sealed golosh panel cover flips back to reveal the verbalizer ’s humble stimulus . There ’s a undivided 3/4 - in ( 6.35 mm ) laborer for a physical mic or guitar , a switch to toggle switch between the two , and a mass dial to control their volume .

There ’s also a single 3.5 mm aux comment should you want to connect any analogue source you wish . The Rave 3S ’s 12 - hour bombardment is charged via a USB - atomic number 6 input found on this panel , too . A full charge only takes 6 hours .

Wireless microphones and karaoke FTW

Do n’t get me untimely , I do it me some karaoke , but more often than not when I ’ve retrospect political party speakers , it ’s been a bit of an after thought . This prison term was different , and I ’ll state you why .

First , the Rave 3S ’s wireless microphones areright there , handily mount on the side just pray to be set free . And they ’re gracious microphone , too — well make , silky , and with some weighting that blab quality . Plus , they ’re include . JBL ’s wireless mike , as compare , are sold separately for $ 150 a pair . They also call for to be used with a wireless dongle that you plug into the 1/4 - in remark . Only a dyad JBL party verbalizer sheaf make out with mics .

With four AA battery ( two for each mic ) include in the box , there was no excuse to not fire them up . No fishing out my wired mics or messing with a dongle . But sure as shooting , I cogitate , the mics and karaoke have only oeuvre when connected through an app or Bluetooth link process , correct ? Wrong again . Each mic has its own power clitoris , and when pushed it automatically connects to the Rave 3S which is signaled by an audible chime . Done .

Well , not quite , it gets even skillful . Not only is the Soundcore app unneeded for connection , but each mic has its own bulk control ( big “ + ” and “ - ” buttons ) , so you may get a decent portmanteau of your part over the music . And as I intuitively learned without reading so much as a Sir Frederick Handley Page of the ready - startle usher , that pressing the little mike ikon on the mic aerate the Rave 3S ’s AI Vocal Removal feature of speech . With a song , any Sung , take on from my pair iPhone andmusic streaming service app(I used Spotify ) , I could ascertain the amount of vocal that were stripped from the birdsong , down toalmostnone at all , powerful from the mike .

This is huge for karaoke fans because it means you do n’t have to mess with the Soundcore app ( although you could , and it does have additional features like outspoken sweetening presets ) or the physical dials on the speaker ( you could do this , too ) while you ’re in the eye of the good carrying out ofInto the Shallowsof your entire living .

The Vocal AI lineament works really well , allow you go it wholly alone or contribute a piddling help from the literal song . It even has an Auto Guide Vocal lineament that detects when you stop singing ( maybe you bury the row ) and adds the original vocal music back in to compensate . And when you start talk again , the original vocals are step by step languish out . The feature sounds good and works seamlessly .

The whole karaoke experience , from mic setup to pairing a phone to adjusting the vocal and sound personal effects , was so effortless that my teenage girl and her friends just reckon it out on their own .

How does it sound?

The Soundcore Rave 3S is one fantastic karaoke speaker . But how does it party ? Pretty good , as it twist out , with all kind of headroom for well filling little - to - spiritualist space with sound . I only carry off to bear on the Rave 3S to 60 % of its volume in my bread and butter room before give birth to back it off . For the most part , things stayed watch crystal clear until I got greedy and advertize it , wherein the speaker starts to fuzz up in the highs . It ’s pretty unnecessary to run it that loud , in my opinion , but if larger room or feast halls is your end , limit your sights on a bigger company loudspeaker system like the 240 - watt JBL PartyBox Stage 320 or the 250 - wattLG Xboom XL7

As far as tuning get going , the Rave 3S shares many of the same EQ presets and well-grounded profile as theSoundcore Boom 2 Plusboombox speaker I recently reviewed . Soundcore still come in just behind JBL and Sony as far as overall moral force , soundstage , and clarity . That ’s not a bad thing , consider the insurance premium you have to make up for thosespeaker brand . Plus , with fantabulous EQ accommodation options in the Soundcore app , and the Rave 3S ’s huge Bass - up feature , you do n’t of necessity call for to spend extra money to chance your own sweet spotlight — tuning the speaker to every genre I threw at it was as a affair of move a few EQ slider or experimenting with a preset .

Perhaps the biggest well-grounded surprise with the Soundcore Rave 3S , though , was when I turn the speaker on its side and set off its “ Spatial Audio Mode . ” While it ’s not big when doing karaoke , the feature delivers a simulated surround effect , with any song , that seemingly comes from all around you . It ’s not Dolby Atmos , no , but when playing layered and nuanced music such as the Flaming Lips’Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robotsor Pink Floyd’sDarkside of the Moon , you get things like cool isolated melodies , ride cymbal , and outspoken harmonies drawing your attention in all directions . Once I discovered this , I just give it on because it was done so well .

Lights and Soundcore app

As far as companion apps for Bluetooth twist go Soundcore does it better than most . The Soundcore app is free and provides easy control and additional features for its products ’ audio capabilities , as well as allow customization of their ignition effects .

In the app ’s Audio section , you could control playback , adjust volume , and toggle the BassUp hike . The app also offers four solid preset EQ options , along with a customizable 9 - striation balance , letting you fine - melodic phrase relative frequency between 80Hz and 13kHz and spare your own presets . Of naturally , here you also have access to the Rave 3S ’s karaoke features , such as reverb and Vocal Enhancer ( add warmth or shimmer , for case ) , as well as the AI Vocal Removal .

The Light tab country opens up the presets for the Rave 3S ’s light-emitting diode spark . And alike to other Soundcore speakers with light feature , you get access to a smattering of presets that pulse and scoot along to your euphony in a range of dissimilar colors and patterns . I honestly do n’t really notice that much of a difference between the patterns , but eternal rest assured they add a vivacious , bright company atmosphere , especially in small infinite where the light bounce off the walls and ceiling .

The bottom line

The Soundcore Rave 3S is a powerful , great - sounding party speaker , yes , but as akaraoke speaker , it ’s an absolute joyousness . Its wireless mike alone are deserving the price of admission , and I have yet to find a party / karaoke talker with mics this well designed and well-fixed to connect and habituate as the brace that come with the Rave 3S.

Not too heavy and not too big , the Rave 3S ’s portability - to - major power proportion is perfect , with exculpated , dynamic audio expectant enough to fill humble - to - medium sized room , even if all you need to play is music . But if karaoke is your jam , there ’s almost no fuss at all — you do n’t take karaoke - specific track to sing along , the loudspeaker system will strip the vocals from any track you stream to it , and you’re able to easily check it all from the mic while you blab or through the Soundcore app .

Should you buy it ? Yes . For $ 350 , it ’s unvoiced to ticktock . You could take a look at theJBL PartyBox On - the - Go Essential , too , as it ’s the same monetary value as the Rave 3S. It includes only one wireless mic , though , and it ’s only 100 James Watt . Australian company BlueAnt just released its newX5i party speakerthat ’s more compact , inexpensive , and includes two-fold mics as well , but its 120 - W business leader wo n’t touch the Rave and it does n’t have the brand hoard as Soundcore or JBL , so be heady .

If you screw to have singalong karaoke parties , the Soundcore Rave 3S is the karaoke speaker to get .