2-in-1 microphone/speakers for smartphone karaoke are the latest craze in Vietnam, though reports of the Chinese-made gadgets catching fire have raised consumer concerns.

Since hitting the market in late 2016, ‘karaoke mics’ have gained tremendous popularity among local singing enthusiasts thanks to their convenience and ability to turn a quiet affair into an all-out sing fest.

The mics consist of a microphone on one end and a funnel- or square-shaped speaker that is attached to the other, functioning in a similar manner to megaphones but with a significantly more party-friendly appearance.

Most karaoke mics sold in Vietnam are equipped with a 1,000mAh to 2,000mAh rechargeable battery and many include responsive lights and the ability to adjust the treble, input karaoke music via USB, and record performances.

Priced between VND150,000 (US$6.70) and over VND1 million ($45) each, the mics seem to have hit the right market in Vietnam, where locals are infamous for making sure neighbors know how talented they are at singing.

With a two-in-one microphone and a smartphone for music and lyrics, amateur Vietnamese singers can organize a karaoke party at their own convenience on the street corner for all to hear, rather than paying for the privacy of a karaoke room.

Though the popularity of the mics does not seem to be slowing down any time soon, multiple incidents of the mics catching fire or exploding during use have raised safety concerns over their cheaply-produced batteries.

Huu Nghia, an electronics mechanic in Ho Chi Minh City, said that it is “a daily matter” for such China-made microphones to pose fire risks.

According to Nghia, in order to produce such complicated products at such a low price, the components must be cheap to produce and therefore of extremely low quality, increasing the risk of the product short circuiting.

Those who charge their microphones overnight expose themselves to the possibility of setting their house on fire, Nghia said, explaining that most of these mics are not designed to automatically shut the circuit when the battery has been fully charged.

He advised users not to sing with the mics while they are plugged in, unless of courses one wants to add a little spark to their performance.

Footage of a karaoke microphone exploding and catching on fire inside an office. Clip: Youtube

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