8TRUTH B2031A/B2030A User Manual
Fig. 3.2: Correct speaker setup
This effect can be reduced by turning the speakers towards the listener. To make reflections from ceiling or floor less likely, the tweeters should be on the same height as your ears. Please note that the TRUTH should be operated vertically. Where this is impossible, place it horizontally as shown in figure 3.3, to allow for an improved stereo image.
Fig. 3.3: TRUTH setup horizontally
Not only the physical location of speakers but also the acoustic characteristics of the room have a substantial effect on the way your TRUTH sounds. Make sure that the room neither sounds too hall-like nor too dull-basically, neither like a bathroom nor totally without an echo. You can alter the room acoustics easily by installing or removing carpets, curtains or furniture. Fabric covering on the wall opposite the speakers might be a good idea if the room is too reflective. The next chapter describes how to adapt the TRUTH to the room acoustics, once it has been set up properly.
3.4 Adapting the TRUTH to the room acousticsThis chapter describes how you can use the switches on the rear of the B2030A/B2031A to adapt the speaker to the acoustics of your control room. However, you should try to improve a potentially impaired sound by optimizing the loudspeaker placement beforehand.
If you are still having problems, you could try the following: The ROOM COMPENSATION switch (9) allows you to lower the bass range, depending on the speaker position. Ex-factory, the switch is set to a neutral position. If you’ve set up the TRUTH close to the wall or in a corner, try reducing the low-frequency level in steps of 2 dB. Since every room and speaker setup are unique in their acoustic properties, we cannot provide more specific information here. The same applies to the HIGH FREQUENCY switch (10), which determines the tweeter level (between +2 dB and -4 dB). Here too, the best setting depends on the room acoustics. If you have an additional subwoofer installed, you can attenuate the TRUTH’s lower cutoff frequency using the LOW FREQUENCY switch (8). This can be necessary when adapting the TRUTH to your subwoofer. Trust your own aural instinct, but don’t forget: Listening at high volume levels over long periods leads to listening fatigue and thus reduces your ability to judge the sound. Consequently, we recommend regular pauses to keep your hearing “healthy”.
As a general rule, you should set up and adjust the TRUTH with great care. Above all, you should take your time: unlike hi-fi speakers, the B2030A/B2031A is tuned to produce a neutral sound, which can be confusing when you are working for the first time with such a high-quality speaker. Don’t try to adjust the TRUTH with its rear panel switches to produce a “bombastic” sound that impresses you or other listeners. To get a feeling for the TRUTH’s sound, you should listen to as many records as possible that were produced in other studios. We also recommend that you listen to your own recordings over as many other systems as possible, for example, your car system. If you find that your mixes are somewhat "dull" in their overall sound, the reason might be too much treble from your TRUTH. On the other hand, if you set the bass level too high, you will find that your mixes lack bass power. Tuning a speaker can take several days’ time, so once again: take your time!
It might be necessary to insert an equalizer between console and speaker, in particular, if you prefer extreme setups or sound images. The BEHRINGER ULTRACURVE PRO DEQ2496 has proven its usefulness in practice, as it is not only a simple equalizer but also features a real-time analyzer. You can use our measuring microphone ECM8000 to automatically adapt the TRUTH to your room or modify its frequency response.
