BEHRINGER TRUTH 3031A

The Truth B3031A active monitor is a two-way design that utilises an 8.75-inch Kevlar low-end driver and a two-inch ribbon driver in the top-end. Of course, ADAM is the main outfit responsible for popularising the ribbon, and now there’s a number of manufacturers seeing the benefits of this philosophy. Ribbon tweeters have the ability to reproduce high frequencies with an extremely high degree of transient response. The result is a very smooth and remarkably accurate top end – as smooth as a soft-dome design with the accuracy of a metal dome tweeter. Little wonder, then, that monitor manufacturers are jumping on the ribbon bandwagon.

The Truth 3031A monitor is powered with 100W for the lows and 30W for the top-end ribbon – both these figures are quoted with the amplifiers achieving 0.1% total harmonic distortion, with peak power quoted as 150W and 75W respectively. To my ear, it sounds like the distortion figures are given a nudge when these monitors are pushed to somewhere near peak output. The rear of the B3031As houses balanced XLR inputs along with unbalanced 1/4-inch jack inputs. Filters can be applied to the output of each driver with 6dB able to be lopped from the low-end driver and 4dB from the high-end ribbon – each in 2dB steps. There’s an input trim pot as well with ±6dB of attenuation or gain to match the B3031A with other monitors. A further filter section compensates for compromises in your room positioning. The cabinet employs a bass-reflex design with a pair of ports emanating from the front baffle alongside the tweeter, which itself is recessed into a waveguide-style extrusion.

We gave the Truth B3031As a pretty good belt in the AT editorial offices – serendipitously, alongside a pair of ADAM nearfields – and they sounded pretty good against the ribbon stalwarts, especially considering the price. We did notice a bit of lumpiness around the low to upper midrange, but again, at $799 a pair you’re not going to find a powered set of monitors sporting ribbon tweeters for less. Another Behringer bargain! – Brad Watts

Price: $799 a pair

Behringer: (03) 9877 7170 or www.behringer.com.au