Polk Audio AM2555-A Hitmaster Stage Monitor Loudspeaker for Gaming
- The HitMaster also features a 1/8-Inch input jack for quick connection to TVs, iPods, and other sources with a 1/8″ headphone output
- Features a 1/8-Inch input jack for quick connection to TVs, iPods, and other sources with a 1/8″ headphone output
- Daisy-chain multiple HitMaster Monitors via Line Level inputs and outputs, so your band mates can jam right along with you
- The 6.5-Inch woofer is tuned with Dynamic Balance Technology, for distortion-free mid-range and low-end even at stadium-rocking volumes
- There are no setup menus, you just plug and play, and play and play!
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.
Rating: 
(out of 10 reviews)
List Price: $ 99.95
Price: Too low to display
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Tags: AM2555A, AUDIO, Gaming, Hitmaster, Loudspeaker, Monitor, Polk, Stage
Review by Gertrude, the Bad Queen for Polk Audio AM2555-A Hitmaster Stage Monitor Loudspeaker for Gaming
Rating:
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 3×5 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.
Review by Paladin08 for Polk Audio AM2555-A Hitmaster Stage Monitor Loudspeaker for Gaming
Rating:
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.
Review by Dr. Peter J. Glidden for Polk Audio AM2555-A Hitmaster Stage Monitor Loudspeaker for Gaming
Rating:
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…
Review by Jamie R. Wilson for Polk Audio AM2555-A Hitmaster Stage Monitor Loudspeaker for Gaming
Rating:
Even with Polk Audio on the box, I wasn’t sure what to make of this. It’s called the “Hitmaster” and seems to be marketed in the same category as $200 wooden guitar add-ons for games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero, so my initial impression was that it seemed a bit hokey.
It’s not.
First off, it’s a cinch to hook-up. Plug the power cord into the wall and with both an 1/8″ auxiliary and RCA red/white inputs, you shouldn’t have any problems getting your game system, television, iPod, Android phone, or your Hi Bebe fetal doppler (if you’re so inclined) jacked in. It’ll take whatever you give it and blast it out the 6.5″ woofer with 80 watts of audio thrust from the on-board amp. Flipping the “on” switch gave my games an instantly richer, deeper sound and I was able to hear subtle sounds I had never noticed with the television speakers alone.
Though it seems to be marketed more toward the gaming community, my favorite use of the Hitmaster is for watching TV and movies. It’s not meant to be a replacement for a surround system, but it does bring the images on the LCD to life in a way that the internal speakers cannot. After 20 minutes with the Hitmaster, the TV speakers sounded dull. And this thing is loud. I almost never run it past 50% and most of the time it’s around 25-30%. Even then I sometimes find myself turning it down.
This would be great for a dorm-dwelling college student who wants some impressive audio punch with minimal fuss. An MP3 player, audio cable, and the Hitmaster would make a decent replacement for a full-on stereo system. And I have no doubt it would make a great addition to an existing home theater system.
The only drawback that comes to mind for me is that it’s not something that’s easily placed in a room. Like a stage monitor, it’s built to sit in the floor looking up at you. That’s great for Rock Band nights, but a bit visually cumbersome when it’s splayed out in front of your entertainment center around the clock. But that’s to be expected for what it is. It weighs in around 13 pounds and has an easily-grabbed strap, so moving it out of the way is no problem at all.
Overall, I’m impressed with both the quality and versatility. 5 stars.
Review by Enrique for Polk Audio AM2555-A Hitmaster Stage Monitor Loudspeaker for Gaming
Rating:
Loved it… I’m using it as a MP3 player speaker and as part of my live performance guitar rig. It’s light for gigging to different venues and loud enough so I can use it as a floor monitor for my Digitech RP500 using the headphone out jack to the Polk Audio Hitmaster. I’d highly recommend this for anyone looking for an inexpensive (but quality) portable speaker solution for gaming, music listening or as a stage monitor.