Will Behringer B2031P's work well with my receiver?

[adwilk]

I'll happily endorse the 2030P. It surpassed my expectation for a "cheap" speaker. Don't expect a lot of bass, but the bass is natural and present. Well worth the price tag for sure. I can't speak of the 2031. Unless you find a great deal on a used pair of bookshelves, I don't think you'll find a better speaker for less than twice the cost. That said, depending on what you listen to and what your preferences are, you may or may not like them. The Dayton BR-1 is another pretty good option. It provides more bass than the 2030 but perhaps is a little boomy. Its a different kind of speaker, not necessarily "neutral" and isn't as laid back as the 2030. I found it more enjoyable for pop/rock music. Infinity Primus 152/162 are other great budget options if you feel like diggin a little deeper into your pockets.

 

[chris357]

how about a littel higher budget for soem used NHT SB 3's or SB 2's they are harder to find but probably under 300 and are great speakers.. and then when you ahve more money for mains they are great surrounds.. and look good too

 

[JerryLove]

how about a littel higher budget for soem used NHT SB 3's or SB 2's they are harder to find but probably under 300 and are great speakers.. and then when you ahve more money for mains they are great surrounds.. and look good too

Or, for the same $300, he could add an inexpensive sub to the (flatter) 2030p... which also make great surrounds (and non-surrounds).

 

[Cristofori]

Or, for the same $300, he could add an inexpensive sub to the (flatter) 2030p... which also make great surrounds (and non-surrounds).

What is it that make the 2030 "flatter" than the 2031?

Has anyone measured or tested the performance and found that the 2030 was indeed flatter?

Can a mid size bookshelf speaker with less than a two inch difference in woofer size be just as flat as the next model down?

 

[JerryLove]

What is it that make the 2030 "flatter" than the 2031?

Because measuring it with a calibrated mic both on and off axis produces a FR graph with less variance on the Y axis across the covered X range (there's a point in the lower freq. where the 2030 has fallen farther than the 2031: but that can be covered with a sub).

Has anyone measured or tested the performance and found that the 2030 was indeed flatter?

Yes.

Can a mid size bookshelf speaker with less than a two inch difference in woofer size be just as flat as the next model down?

Yes, a hypothetical bookshelf can. This one, in fact, isn't.

 

[Cristofori]

Because measuring it with a calibrated mic both on and off axis produces a FR graph with less variance on the Y axis across the covered X range (there's a point in the lower freq. where the 2030 has fallen farther than the 2031: but that can be covered with a sub).

Yes.

Yes, a hypothetical bookshelf can. This one, in fact, isn't.

Thanks for the info. Do you have a link to that test?

 

[JerryLove]

Thanks for the info. Do you have a link to that test?

I know WmAx ran some (I've personally seen the modified speaker he later tested). Perhaps a search of the forums?

 

[bandphan]

I know WmAx ran some (I've personally seen the modified speaker he later tested). Perhaps a search of the forums?

You saw the moded speaker?

 

[KEW]

I know WmAx ran some (I've personally seen the modified speaker he later tested). Perhaps a search of the forums?

Are you sure he has tested the 2031P?

 

[bandphan]

I'll tell you something you might or might not find amusing: while I do own a pair of B2030P; I have never listened to music on them. I did a full measurement analysis and deducted relative performance and some simple modifications based on testing/analysis - but at no time have I ever hooked up a pair, sat between them and listened to music program. I do plan to use this pair in my workshed though, along with an active crossover and stereo subs plus some acoustical treatments.

-Chris

Tested but not listened the 2030s

 

[JerryLove]

You saw the moded speaker?

Yes. If he had moded both I might have tried to buy them while I was up there.

I suppose listening to it would have been better: but time had become short.

 

[Cristofori]

Thanks for all the input everyone, although it appears that no one who replied owns, listened to, or tested the 2031p's.

I think I can understand why the 2030's might be a tad better (flatter?) over the 2031p's, but probably only with sub support. But so far, I haven't heard anything really convincing that the 2030p's would be the better choice. Also, there were more and better online reviews on the 2031p over the 2030p.

Although it would be nice, I don't know when and if I will get a subwoofer, and my musical tastes and somewhat smaller room at the moment don't require tons of bass. Still, I'd like to have as much decent bass as I can get, which the 2031p's should certainly have more of over the 2030p's.

I may decide to go with the 2030p's at the last minute if I hear anything new, but as of now I will be placing an order for the 2031p's tomorrow.

At this price, I really can't lose either way (hopefully)!

 

[KEW]

Can someone direct me to some concrete info on the 2031 vs. 2030 comparison?

I have to say that I have heard the 2031's and they sounded pretty fine to me (actually, fantastic for their price). I have searched and searched and have not found any direct reference to someone who as A/B'ed these speakers. Nor can I find anything indicating WmAx has ever had the 2031's in hand for listening or for testing.

No doubt, physics dictates that the larger driver won't be quite as fast, and that the larger cabinet is more prone to resonance (unless they added bracing). For someone buying a sub to use with them, the 2030 is definitely a good choice and a logically better choice.

However, to answer the OP's question, the issue of how much SQ do you sacrifice to get the extra bass needs to be addressed. I have not heard the 2030's, but, IMHO, the 2031's are great speakers!

 

[lsiberian]

It has nothing to do with fast it has do with roll-off. Get the bigger drivers are slower nonsense out of your head and forget you ever thought of it.

I suspect the only difference between the two speakers is they swapped the bottom drivers. meaning the crossover leave a noticeable dip in the midrange area where the roll-off of the larger driver exceeds that of the smaller one. Given that such a dip occurs in a more sensitive listening area I'd suggest you give up some slight extension for the accuracy in the critical voice band. You can get a Dayton 12" for 150 and you should. It's a good sub for the money. Paired together you will have a great setup.

As far as Quad making better amps than Behringer. That's a no brainer. But the amps also cost a lot more money. I personally am a fan of the Yamaha P2500

 

[WmAx]

Without a sub, the B2031P is the better choice. If a sub is used, the B2030P is better. The B2030P has a substantially smaller cabinet with less radiation area, to effect less cabinet vibration acoustic output. The larger driver will likely produce worse off axis response characteristics. The B2030P has extraordinary off axis uniformity. The larger driver will also have lower frequency break up modes, which will likely be much closer to the frequency range that the driver is used within, possibly causing reduced mid-range resolution as a result.

-Chris

 

[Cristofori]

Without a sub, the B2031P is the better choice. If a sub is used, the B2030P is better. The B2030P has a substantially smaller cabinet with less radiation area, to effect less cabinet vibration acoustic output. The larger driver will likely produce worse off axis response characteristics. The B2030P has extraordinary off axis uniformity. The larger driver will also have lower frequency break up modes, which will likely be much closer to the frequency range that the driver is used within, possibly causing reduced mid-range resolution as a result.

-Chris

Thanks for the info. I may decide to go with the 2030P and just wait for the sub, but I'm not sure yet. At this price, I really can't lose with either choice.

I checked out the Dayton 12" subwoofer but it is no longer available on Amazon.com and neither were any of their other products, and they don't know when they will get more. Which indicates to me that Dayton is either no longer dealing with Amazon or they are now a defunct company.

What gives?

 

[adwilk]

Thanks for the info. I may decide to go with the 2030P and just wait for the sub, but I'm not sure yet. At this price, I really can't lose with either choice.

I checked out the Dayton 12" subwoofer but it is no longer available on Amazon.com and neither were any of their other products, and they don't know when they will get more. Which indicates to me that Dayton is either no longer dealing with Amazon or they are now a defunct company.

What gives?

Dayton is not defunct. Check out partsexpress.com or the audioholics store...

 

[Cristofori]

Dayton is not defunct. Check out partsexpress.com or the audioholics store...

Ok, Thanks. I suppose it would be a good idea to check out the Audioholics store!

 

[WmAx]

Thanks for the info. I may decide to go with the 2030P and just wait for the sub, but I'm not sure yet. At this price, I really can't lose with either choice.

I checked out the Dayton 12" subwoofer but it is no longer available on Amazon.com and neither were any of their other products, and they don't know when they will get more. Which indicates to me that Dayton is either no longer dealing with Amazon or they are now a defunct company.

What gives?

A pair of the Dayton 8" powered subs from www.partsexpress.com is ideal for your situation. You want a pair, with one near each B2030P, for best bass integration. Later, or now, you can upgrade the driver in the sub with a high quality CSS TRIO 8" driver ($85 each). All you need to do is exchange the driver and retune the port to the proper length.

-Chris

 

[Cristofori]

A pair of the Dayton 8" powered subs from www.partsexpress.com is ideal for your situation. You want a pair, with one near each B2030P, for best bass integration. Later, or now, you can upgrade the driver in the sub with a high quality CSS TRIO 8" driver ($85 each). All you need to do is exchange the driver and retune the port to the proper length.

-Chris

Thanks, I was going to ask if going with the 8" sub would be ok, since the smaller size would fit better with my set up, but you already answered the question! I don't need mega bass anyway with my type of music and smaller room. These 8" subs should ingrate nicely.

My 2-channel Marantz receiver has only one single ended subwoofer input. Do I need to get some kind of splitter to make this work?

P.S. I will save your suggestion about the CSS Trio drivers, but retuning the port is something I don't know about. If it's too complicated, all pass on that.