Behringer B2031P

[adwilk]

The mods are you suggest are already linked in the thread. I've actually considered getting 3 of these speakers and modding them. I'm interested in seeing what they sound like.

They are a really cool speaker.. I dont have the recommended digital crossover, but even playing with a graphic eq on my computer and SPL meter, you can see really really quickly that you can create almost any sound signature you want. I'm using one pair in my office and have occasionally hooked them up my electronic drum set.

I'll say one thing, dont expect them to be the best thing you've ever heard, but they are extremely unique for their price point. At low to moderate listening points, its difficult to pick up a weakness so to speak. Most speakers in that price range have an obvious flaw... While I'm sure these do, its tough to pick it out. I certainly have never owned some of the stuff some of these guys have, but I've had some really nice gear that didnt make the move with me. At the moment, I'm not in any HUGE hurry to replace these behringers, i'm reasonably satisfied for the time being...

 

[lsiberian]

They are a really cool speaker.. I dont have the recommended digital crossover, but even playing with a graphic eq on my computer and SPL meter, you can see really really quickly that you can create almost any sound signature you want. I'm using one pair in my office and have occasionally hooked them up my electronic drum set.

I'll say one thing, dont expect them to be the best thing you've ever heard, but they are extremely unique for their price point. At low to moderate listening points, its difficult to pick up a weakness so to speak. Most speakers in that price range have an obvious flaw... While I'm sure these do, its tough to pick it out. I certainly have never owned some of the stuff some of these guys have, but I've had some really nice gear that didnt make the move with me. At the moment, I'm not in any HUGE hurry to replace these behringers, i'm reasonably satisfied for the time being...

With Chris' Mods many of those weaknesses will dissapear.

Heck if the drivers are good enough you could probably build new boxes for em.

 

[adwilk]

With Chris' Mods many of those weaknesses will dissapear.

Heck if the drivers are good enough you could probably build new boxes for em.

I did the driver mod, didnt do the bracing... you probably could build a pretty good box for them... I couldnt, so I didnt. I'm very happy

 

[lsiberian]

I did the driver mod, didnt do the bracing... you probably could build a pretty good box for them... I couldnt, so I didnt. I'm very happy

Bracing is highly recommended. If you need somone to cut you a couple braces I'm sure someone would be willing. What kind of brace and what size LxW do you need. Maybe I can cut a pair for you.

 

[adwilk]

Bracing is highly recommended. If you need somone to cut you a couple braces I'm sure someone would be willing. What kind of brace and what size LxW do you need. Maybe I can cut a pair for you.

I really appreciate the gesture... But I'm almost never gonna play them loud enough to generate audible cabinet resonance... if I did, I'm shopping for another speaker at that point...

 

[WmAx]

They are a really cool speaker.. I dont have the recommended digital crossover, but even playing with a graphic eq on my computer and SPL meter, you can see really really quickly that you can create almost any sound signature you want. I'm using one pair in my office and have occasionally hooked them up my electronic drum set.

I'll say one thing, dont expect them to be the best thing you've ever heard, but they are extremely unique for their price point. At low to moderate listening points, its difficult to pick up a weakness so to speak. Most speakers in that price range have an obvious flaw... While I'm sure these do, its tough to pick it out. I certainly have never owned some of the stuff some of these guys have, but I've had some really nice gear that didnt make the move with me. At the moment, I'm not in any HUGE hurry to replace these behringers, i'm reasonably satisfied for the time being...

I am not saying you said the following.... I'm just making it clear for others: I have never claimed this speaker was overall excellent on an absolute scale. I only mean it's superb in it's price range. You have to spend 5x or more to get speakers that have substantial strengths over these....

The drivers and crossover are actually good enough that putting them into a better cabinet would yield positive results. You need to keep the front mount plate that is the wave guide for the tweeter when transplanting the drivers. This is critical.

They biggest weak point is that you need to use them actively crossed over, blocking bass from them, and use subwoofer(s) to get the full potential.

-Chris

 

[WmAx]

I really appreciate the gesture... But I'm almost never gonna play them loud enough to generate audible cabinet resonance... if I did, I'm shopping for another speaker at that point...

Cabinet resonance is ever-present, at low or high SPL. It only disappears when playing the speakers at a level where room background noise is high enough SPL to mask the effect.

-Chris

 

[EddieF]

Ordered a pair of the 2030's.
Will be fronts or rears in bedroom depending we'll see (or hear).
$130 delivered. Give it 2 weeks. I'll let you's know.
Come on UPS Thanks.

 

[EddieF]

I now OWN the 2030's and my thoughts are:
they really need grills and are on the ugly side,
they are built solid as a rock it appears and heavy as one too (a good thing)
wish i bought ceiling speakers instead!
they sound good but may be too accurate for compressed xm/siri and dtv.
moved them to rear today and ba's back to front today since i have no eq as of yet.
Checked the ohms and were dead on even with each other 6.7? i forget.
The ba's are 3.7 and 4.1...the 3.7 ohm speaker is slightly louder.
Thats my input.
Ed

 

[lofgrenmeister]

b2030p

Hi,

First post here, i'm swedish/norwegian so sorry for any grammatical errors

Extremely useful information here, thanks alot WmAx (and everyone else), i've been reading reviews of the b2030p for a long time now and have my sights set on them.
But every single hifi/studio equipment shop clerk i've mentioned them to have simply replied with laughter and/or disbelief. And i've promptly left the shop feeling like a complete idiot.
But I think i'm gonna go with my initial gut feeling over these speakers and order 3 pairs.

I have a question for WmAx (or others of you with good experience with the Behringer Truth series):

Active crossover has been mentioned as a nescessety for these monitors/speakers, being a person with minimal knowledge in studio equipment and techniques, what exactly does this mean?
Do you have to use a standalone crossover unit for these or will the buildt-in crossover functionality in my Harmon Kardon avr255 receiver suffice? Cutting them at 80-85Hz?

I plan on pushing them quite hard for HT use, but it wouldn't be that pleasant if heavy distortion kicked in at the loud peaks.

I'll be doing all the mods listed by WmAx, aswell.

Thanks

 

[WmAx]

Hi,

First post here, i'm swedish/norwegian so sorry for any grammatical errors

Extremely useful information here, thanks alot WmAx (and everyone else), i've been reading reviews of the b2030p for a long time now and have my sights set on them.
But every single hifi/studio equipment shop clerk i've mentioned them to have simply replied with laughter and/or disbelief. And i've promptly left the shop feeling like a complete idiot.
But I think i'm gonna go with my initial gut feeling over these speakers and order 3 pairs.

I have a question for WmAx (or others of you with good experience with the Behringer Truth series):

Active crossover has been mentioned as a nescessety for these monitors/speakers, being a person with minimal knowledge in studio equipment and techniques, what exactly does this mean?
Do you have to use a standalone crossover unit for these or will the buildt-in crossover functionality in my Harmon Kardon avr255 receiver suffice? Cutting them at 80-85Hz?

I plan on pushing them quite hard for HT use, but it wouldn't be that pleasant if heavy distortion kicked in at the loud peaks.

I'll be doing all the mods listed by WmAx, aswell.

Thanks

The receiver's built in crossover will work, although it will not provide the most seamless transition for music reproduction. But it will be fine for movies.

To use an external active crossover you would also need an external amplifier for the main channel speakers as almost no surround receivers have the needed internal amp bypass loop to insert a proper external active crossover into the signal chain of the receiver's internal circuits.

Besides, for optimal music reproduction, you would also need 2 subwoofers for maximum/seamless integration along with the external active crossover due to the relatively high frequency that you have to cross over the B2030P speakers.

-Chris

 

[EddieF]

update

Almost a year ago I kinda complained about these speakers. Well, after having them sit around since then, I put them ontop my living room speakers. Laying down they fit width perfect. No rear speakers in here so I connected them to rear surround outs. Set levels to match my 20 yr old Cerwin Vega mains and they sound great! When I tried them in bedroom it was on analog rca in's where as now its digital Onkyo.
I'm more then satisfied. Thankyou for the nod to buy.

 

[sholling]

I'll add my two cents. I'm not sure how well they would do in a larger space with higher volumes but when paired with a sub and powered by a receiver the 2030Ps make great PC speakers. They just excel up close.