7TRUTH B2031P/B2030P User Manual

The BEHRINGER TRUTH B2030P/B2031P is a so-called near-field monitor,

which means that the impact of the room acoustics on the sound will be reduced considerably owing to the short distance between speaker and listener.

Fig. 3.2: Incorrect speaker setup

This illustration shows how you shouldn’t do it: you can clearly see that a portion of the sound bounces back from the walls before it reaches the listener’s ears. Thus, direct and reflected sound waves overlap which results in a coloration of the sound.

Fig. 3.3: 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 the illustration

(i.e. woofers closer to each other), to allow for an improved stereo image.

Fig. 6.4: 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.

3.3Adapting the TRUTHs to the room acoustics

To acoustically adapt your TRUTH to your control room, in cases when the speakers are located in unusual places or when you have specific sound requirements, you may have to use an external equalizer. It should be connected in the signal path between your mixing console and your amp.

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.

As a general rule, you should set up and adjust the TRUTHwith great care. Above all, you should take your time: unlike hi-fi speakers, the TRUTH 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 an equalizer 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!