As is always the case with a two-way active monitor, each B2031 is equipped with two separate power amplifiers – one for the low frequency driver and one for the tweeter (150 watts and 75 watts respectively). The low frequency polycarbonate driver is 22cm in diameter and the high frequency duties are handled by a one-inch ferofluid-cooled titanium dome tweeter. The crossover circuitry consists of an active fourth-order Linkwitz-Riley filter kicking in at 2kHz. The enclosure also employs a bass reflex porting system to extend the low frequency drivers’ overall frequency response down to a quoted 50Hz. Other features of the B2031s worthy of note include: protection circuitry to look after the drivers and amplifiers in the event of overload; and electromagnetic shielding to allow close placement of the B2031’s to TV screens and computer monitors without interference.
At the back of the B2031s you’ll find a metal
amplifier housing which extends about an inch or so beyond the dimensions of
the speaker enclosure itself (H:W:D 400 x 250 x 290mm). The balanced XLR, balanced/unbalanced TRS and 240 volt IEC power cord all connect vertically upwards
into the amplifier housing, leaving the back of the B2031s free of plugs
jutting out at right angles. This arrangement makes it much easier to place
these monitors close to rear walls – not the best placement, admittedly, but
sometimes necessary. The rear panel of
the B2031 is also where you’ll find a number of active controls. These include:
Input Trim – which adjusts the B2031’s input sensitivity to the signal source;
Low Frequency cut – for adapting the B2031s to an additional subwoofer system;
Room Compensation – which rolls off bottom-end relative to wall/corner
placement (0, - 2, -4, -6dB); and High Frequency – which compensates for the
amount of high frequency damping in the monitor environment (0, +2, -2, -4dB).
High and low driver mute switches are also included, which the manual suggests
are for maintenance and servicing only – although found them quite useful while setting up, as
they allowed to get a feel for the
individual speaker components. First
impressions of the B2031’s were clearly centered on their extended bottom-end
and the impressive definition and detail in their stereo imaging. After much
listening, and a bit of tweaking of the rear-panel settings, the B2031s did a
creditable job of matching themselves to my particular monitoring environment –
particularly in their ability to modify the bottom end in order to compensate
for their less-than-ideal close-proximity to walls and corners.
A first mix on the B2031s – played back on a number
of passive monitors I usually use – revealed a few home truths about the
differences in working with passive and active monitor designs. Although the
essential balance of the mix held up impressively when played back on the passives,
overall it sounded a bit lifeless. All that wonderful detail and definition
that oozes out of the B2031s gets lost among the inherent limitations of your
typical near field passive monitors. In essence, you still need to ‘work the mix’
on the B2031s – sweetening it up, adding punch and color as the music requires
– so as to get the mix to translate effectively into the all-pervasive passive
world. From the first time I heard
active reference monitors I was a convert – particularly since I had the
advantage of comparing a set of active monitors right alongside a passive
version from the same manufacturer. The passive pair contained identical
speaker components to the active monitors and were being powered by an
amplifier of quite reputable design. The difference was such that it didn’t
take an audiophile to pick which monitors had more detail and definition.
The Behringer TRUTH B2031s follow in this grand tradition
of the active monitor. They certainly grabbed my attention from first listen
and continued to impress after countless listening sessions and mixes. At their
current price-point the B2031s will certainly keep the competition honest – as
well as leaving many similarly priced passive speaker/external amplifier
combinations sounding somewhat lifeless.
