Polk Audio AM2555-A Hitmaster Stage Monitor Loudspeaker for Gaming

by Polk Audio

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 14.5 x 10.2 x 9 inches ; 12.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 17 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0030BERMI
• Item model number: AM2555-A
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #2,535 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: December 1, 2009

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Polk Audio HitMaster: Hit the Road and Rock Out to Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and Other Games

Rock out like the star you are with this powerful stage monitor loudspeaker. Really get into your game, and take advantage of the clarity and power of digital sound, with this full-range, stage-monitor-style speaker. More power and bigger, better sound turn your video game fantasies into reality. Solid construction and extreme portability make it easy to take your show on the road.

---

Looks and Sounds Like the Real Thing

The HitMaster connects to any game system, and can even be daisy-chained with other HitMasters The horn-loaded tweeters are positioned for maximum sound dispersion

The Polk Audio HitMaster Monitor replicates a classic rock band stage monitor speaker, complete with carpeted baffle and faux-leather exterior. It's awesome for posing like a rock star as you battle your way to victory in today's most exciting rhythm-based music games. It's engineered to take advantage of the high quality audio of these new games. The HitMaster's fast response and superior dynamic range takes digital gaming audio to the superstar level.

Yeah, It Goes to "11"

Headline your way to living-room fame with a mighty 80-Watt (max) onboard amp powering a dynamic Single Point Stereo Array. The 6.5" woofer is tuned with Dynamic Balance Technology, for distortion-free mid-range and low end even at stadium-rocking volumes. Dual 3x5" professional-style horn tweeters, with efficient Neodemium magnet structures, are aimed to provide incredible details and wide dynamic range. The HitMaster ignites your meteoric rise up the charts.

Big Bass Impact

The HitMaster's mass-optimized woofer feeds twin turbo rear-firing ports, for floor-shaking waves of big bass impact. When Polk Audio first started making stand-alone home and auto subwoofers, Led Zeppelin was still together and AeroSmith was still playing the clubs around Boston. So Polk knows a couple or three things about filling a room with big musical bass you can really feel, whether you're standing on the stage or cheering in the crowd.

Easy Connection to Any Game System--Even Daisy-Chain Several HitMasters Together

Daisy-chain multiple HitMaster Monitors via Line Level inputs and outputs, so your band mates can jam right along with you. The HitMaster also features a 1/8" input jack for quick connection to TVs, iPods, and other sources with a 1/8" headphone output, and comes with its own 9-foot Stereo RCA Connector. There are no setup menus, you just plug and play, and play and play!

Take Your Show on the Road

Touring can be a drag, but not when you have The HitMaster in your road crew. It's strong, but lightweight (only 13lbs!). Constructed of heavy-duty MDF, with internal bracing to eliminate buzzing effects, protective steel-mesh grille, and corner guards, The HitMaster can take the hard knocks of the road. The convenient top-handle is easy to grab and won't let you down. Sling The HitMaster into the car and head off to the next gig!

What's In The Box

HitMaster Portable Powered Floor Monitor

9' Stereo RCA Cable

Quick Start Guide

---

Technical Specifications

Two 1in Neodymium 2.5in x 5.5in Horn Tweeters & one 6.5in Mid-Woofer

Sound Level Pressure (SPL) 103dB

Total Continuous Power @1% THD: 60 Watts RMS

Total Continuous Power @10% THD: 80 Watts RMS

System Frequency Response: 40Hz-20Khz (-10dB)

Signal to Noise Ratio – 95dB (A Weighted)

Product Dimensions: 14" (W) x 9.5" (D) x 8.5" (H)

Product Weight: 13 lbs

---

What the Experts Are Saying

"I’d recommend buying a HitMaster even if you don’t own a video game system. Its low price and high quality make it a perfect MP3 speaker system for folks who want to take their amplification with them (inside or outside)."

-- Victor Paul Alvarez, East Bay Newspapers April 14, 2010

Product Description

Rock out like the star you are with this powerful stage monitor loudspeaker. Really get into your game, and take advantage of the clarity and power of digital sound, with a full-range stage monitor speaker: The HitMaster! More power, and bigger, better sound turn your video game fantasies into reality. Solid construction and extreme portability make it easy to take your show on the road.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High quality sound in a portable package, April 10, 2010

By	Gertrude, the Bad Queen "Double, double toil ... (If it's still summer, Lake Michigan) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)

This review is from: Polk Audio AM2555-A Hitmaster Stage Monitor Loudspeaker for Gaming (Electronics)

(What's this?)

This is a high-quality, resilient speaker that is good for a lot more than a game system. The sound quality is amazing. I have used this speaker in a variety of circumstances to very good end. Yes, it does work with music games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band but to only use it as a game system speaker is to miss most of its capabilities.

I have used this speaker in a variety of applications - in different rooms, for students, and even in the backyard. It has been useful in my office hooked up to an ipod, blasting gorgeous sound in a long narrow room that has defeated most speaker systems. It has also proven itself for Audio Books, in a variety of situations. In the classroom, using a boom box has always been problematic as only the few students seated most closely to the speaker are able to understand it, but this allowed the sound to fill the room in a pleasing way. No more kids hanging over the table to hear a book on tape! I have also been able to use this outdoors, setting it up on the deck while I did yard work (okay, puttered in the yard) and was able to hear it clearly. (Lucky for me, my neighbors are only here on weekends.)

I did actually set it up as a game speaker, too. The hookup of this speaker is self-explanatory, with pictures. My installation in our game system was not standard because we use a receiver between the game systems-dvd-vcr-tivo and television. To get the speaker in the mix, I interrupted the feed to the stereo system and sent the audio to the speaker instead of the home theatre system. The only problem this caused was limiting the placement of the speaker. It had to be right in front of the television, which I suppose was the point for Guitar Hero and Rock Band. The sound of all games was improved by the speaker. As Mario would say, "It's a go!"

The sound quality is amazing. Polk's experience in sound systems is readily apparent. It has one 6 and 1/2" mid-range speaker flanked by two 3x5 horn tweeters that produce clean treble. The cabinet functions as an acoustic sub-woofer, with two ports at the back of the cabinet. The sound is incredibly rich and has ample power without distorting sound.

For audio books, music, and game play, this unit has enough sound quality to overpower a large living room. For those who want high volume, you don't have to turn it up to the highest setting where distortion occurs.

This is a substantial speaker, much more than a game system speaker.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A rating of 3.5, March 8, 2010

By	Paladin08 (Folsom, CA) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Polk Audio AM2555-A Hitmaster Stage Monitor Loudspeaker for Gaming (Electronics)

(What's this?)

The unit arrived at work and several of us immediately plugged it into the Wii then fired up Guitar Hero II.

Pros:
- super easy to setup
- LOUD! Even at a 4 of 11 (not yet half way) on the volume settings, we had the office manager running in from down the hall wondering what we were up to.
- Full sound. It's not just a sub-woofer but a full speaker sound.
- It does make you feel like you are on a stage and want to rock out!
- Less than 15lbs = portable. Carry strap included
- If you have a big space you want to blast some music, get the necessary cable (not included) and plug in your MP3 player

Cons:
- Some Guitar Hero songs sounded as if they had too much treble. No way to adjust the bass.
- Some Guitar Hero songs sounded too much bass.
- It's a big unit. Hard to just "fit" this next to the console in some setups. You can't just slip it into the entertainment center for most folks I'd wager.
- a pouch or something on the side to carry the cables would make this more portable
- I'd plug the MP3 player into it, but the necessary cable is NOT provided. Not to mention most of us have small portable speakers for the MP3 player already. If that is what it is going to be used for, who needs a 12 pound monitor?!?

OVERALL:
This unit is for a specific use...to pump up the volume of console games when a surround sound speaker system isn't available to plug into. It's portable enough to take to a friend's house too. But without control over the bass/treble, loose cables to lug around and overkill for most other activities this unit may only appeal to a select few for the price.

5.0 out of 5 stars Professional grade, May 20, 2010

By	Dr. Peter J. Glidden "KingFox" (Gli Angeli, California) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)

This review is from: Polk Audio AM2555-A Hitmaster Stage Monitor Loudspeaker for Gaming (Electronics)

(What's this?)

This is a great piece of equipment at a great price. One can really crank up the volume on either a game or with an mp3. I have paid waaaaaay more than $100 for less effective mp3 systems...and this device really pays out! I can't even imagine what the actual performer's crowd will do with this...