Ever feel like there was something missing from your Rock Band or Guitar Hero party? Sure, you might have the instruments, the four people playing and heck, you may have even bought the fog machine and light show kit built for Rock Band 2. But does there still seem to be something missing? Maybe the speakers you are currently using don’t have great bass. Want to crank the volume up to 11? That’s where Polk Audio’s speaker comes in, the HitMaster. This beast of a speaker system is perfect for playing your favorite music game on your Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, or PlayStation 2. You can also hook up any music player into the HitMaster with the auxiliary slot located on the back of the device.
You’re probably asking yourself, what will this audio system do for me? For starters, it does add quite a style to any Rock Band or Guitar Hero party you may have. The reason why, is because it looks exactly like a stage monitor. The HitMaster’s design gives you the ability to have a more realistic experience while playing any music game. The device is also a great solution for just playing your music. For example, I have some Billy Talent and Nickelback playing behind me while I write the review and it just sounds awesome. The HitMaster is also very easy to setup. Just plug it in and go! There is no difficulty in set-up or complicated instructions to follow, which makes the HitMaster perfect for any gamer new and old.
The sound quality the HitMaster provides is excellent. The amount of bass the HitMaster can push out is incredible and will be great for anyone who is throwing a party, playing games, or having a simple speaker in the room to play music while you and your friends hang out. The one problem I have with the HitMaster is that there is no bass control whatsoever. So, the amount of bass that it will push out depends on how much you crank the volume. However, it isn’t that much of a problem if you cranked the volume all the way up to 11 (yes, the HitMaster does have a dial which can be set to 11).
Keep in mind, that the HitMaster is not meant to be played on games such as a shooter or action/adventure game. The games that really made the HitMaster shine for me was DJ Hero, Rock Band, and Guitar Hero. Basically, you want to be blasting music from the HitMaster to get the ultimate experience.
The HitMaster includes an 1/8" input jack (standard for most audio cables), a stereo RCA input and output, and a fuse where you can set the voltage. With the Stereo RCA output, you can plug an additional set of speakers to give you more sound, or you can simply loop it to the HitMaster then to your TV to give a subwoofer feel.
One more thing that is worth mentioning is the durability of the HitMaster. Polk Audio states that the HitMaster can take quite a beating and even say on their website, "Sling The HitMaster into the car and head off to the next gig!", which is about the abuse it will take without breaking. After doing a few of my own tests, tossing it on top of my bed and rolling it down a few stairs, the only thing that seems to be wrong is the mesh on the front of the device being dented a little bit. It also includes a little handle on top of the unit for easy carrying.
Is the HitMaster worth it? Polk Audio has a good reputation for audio equipment and I play a lot of music games, so I think this is the perfect addition to any gamer’s setup if you play Guitar Hero or Rock Band. Even if you just use it as a music player, it provides excellent bass and sound for all types of music from Hip-hop, Techno, Rock, Metal, Punk, or whatever you listen to. The HitMaster is definitely Recommended (with a capital "R"!) for those of you who love and play music, whether it be playing Rock Band, or just by listening to your favorite tunes. With the missing cable and no bass control being the only downer, it still makes quite an amazing unit for the price of $99, which is fairly inexpensive for audio solutions.
For specs and more information about the HitMaster, including on how to purchase it, please visit the official website here at Polkaudio.com.
The good:
– Great sound quality
– Plays music from your game consoles and music players
– Stylish design
– Very durable with convenient handle for traveling
– Good price
The bad:
– No bass control is a bummer
– No audio cable for music players is included
Rating: 4.75 out of 5
The HitMaster package includes a 9′ Stereo RCA cable, power cable, Quickstart Guide, and the HitMaster speaker.
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Thanks to Polk Audio for providing the HitMaster for review. Visit Polkaudio.com for more details on the HitMaster and their other products.
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