Behringer Speaker B2031A User Manual

User Manual  
A50-13533-00005  
 
TRUTH B2030A/B2031A  
1.1 Before you get started  
Table of Contents  
1.1.1 Shipment  
The TRUTH was carefully packed at the factory to assure secure  
transport. Should the condition of the cardboard box suggest that  
damage may have taken place, please inspect the unit immediately  
and look for physical indications of damage.  
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Damaged units should NEVER be sent directly to us.  
Please inform the dealer from whom you acquired the  
unit immediately as well as the transportation company  
from which you took delivery of the unit. Otherwise,  
all claims for replacement/repair may be rendered  
invalid.  
1.1.2 Initial operation  
Please make sure the unit is provided with sufficient ventilation,  
and never place the TRUTH on top of an amplifier or in the vicinity  
of a heater to avoid the risk of overheating.  
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Before plugging the unit into a power socket, please  
make sure you have selected the correct voltage:  
The fuse compartment near the power plug socket contains three  
triangular markings. Two of these triangles are opposite one  
another. The voltage indicated adjacent to these markings is the  
voltage to which your unit has been set up, and can be altered by  
rotating the fuse compartment by 180°.  
Caution  
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This does not apply to export models that were for ex-  
ample manufactured only for use with 120 V!  
If you alter the unit’s voltage, you must change the fuse  
accordingly. The correct value of the fuse needed can  
be found in the chapter "Specifications".  
1. Introduction  
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Faulty fuses must be replaced with fuses of appropriate  
rating without exception! The correct value of the fuses  
needed can be found in the chapter "Specifications".  
Congratulations! With our new BEHRINGER TRUTH you have  
purchased one of the best high-resolution active studio monitors  
available. It is a tool that reproduces your program material with  
highest fidelity and balance, positioning sound sources accurately  
on the stereo basis.  
Power is delivered via the cable enclosed with the unit. All requi-  
ered safety precautions have been adhered to.  
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Please make sure that the unit is grounded at all times.  
For your own protection, you should never tamper with  
the grounding of the cable or the unit itself.  
The TRUTH features two separate amplifiers for bass and high  
frequencies, sporting loads of power reserve. On the bass end,  
a long-excursion woofer embedded in a sturdy cast-aluminum  
casing springs into action. The scope is broadened downward  
by using a special bass reflex system. In the upper frequency  
range, a specially developed dome tweeter provides for subtle  
signal reproduction. The chassis and the amplifiers are protected  
from overload using a sophisticated circuitry. The speakers are  
magnetically shielded, so you can use your TRUTH near computer  
monitors or TV sets. The audio signal is separated using an active  
crossover that guarantees accurate frequency separation and  
perfect tuning of both speakers among each other.  
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The sound quality may diminish within the range of pow-  
erful broadcasting stations and high-frequency sources.  
Increase the distance between the transmitter and the  
device and use shielded cables for all connections.  
1.1.3 Online registration  
Please do remember to register your new BEHRINGER equipment  
read the terms and conditions of our warranty carefully.  
We recommend that you experiment with your TRUTH away from  
the pressures of a recording session, in order to get a feel for it. It  
will be a good idea to listen to your favorite CD’s over the TRUTH,  
so that you can get an impression of the neutral sound this speaker  
produces—which might be somewhat unusual at first!  
Should your BEHRINGER product malfunction, our goal is to  
have it repaired as quickly as possible. To arrange for warranty  
service, please contact the retailer from whom the equipment  
was purchased. Should your BEHRINGER dealer not be located  
in your vicinity, you may directly contact one of our subsidiaries.  
Corresponding contact information is included in the original equip-  
ment packaging (Global Contact Information/European Contact  
Information). Should your country not be listed, please contact the  
distributor nearest you. A list of distributors can be found in the  
support area of our website (www.behringer.com).  
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The following user’s manual is intended to familiarize  
you with the unit’s control elements, so that you can  
master all the functions. After having thoroughly read  
the user’s manual, store it at a safe place for future  
reference.  
Registering your purchase and equipment with us helps us process  
your repair claims quicker and more efficiently.  
Caution  
Thank you for your cooperation!  
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The TRUTH is capable of producing extreme volumes.  
Please bear in mind, that high sound pressures do not  
only temporarily damage your sense of hearing, but can  
also cause permanent damage. Be careful to select a  
suitable volume.  
Introduction  
3
 
 
TRUTH B2030A/B2031A  
2. Control elements  
Caution  
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The POWER switch does not fully disconnect the unit  
from the mains. Unplug the power cord completely when  
the unit is not used for prolonged periods of time.  
The control elements described in the following are the same on  
both loudspeakers.  
The TRUTH should be the last device in the signal chain  
to be switched on and the first to be switched off. This  
way, loud switch-on "thumps" that can occur when pow-  
ering other equipment on or off can be avoided.  
Fig. 2.1: Front panel display elements (here: B2030A)  
{1} ON - This LED lights up as soon as you switch on the  
speaker.  
{2} LIMIT - Lights up as soon as one of the built-in protections  
is activated.  
Fig. 2.4: INPUT TRIM control  
{7} INPUT TRIM - Use this control to adapt the TRUTH’s input  
sensitivity to the signal source.  
Fig. 2.2: Rear panel connectors  
All connectors of the TRUTH face downwards, so as to allow you  
to place the speaker as closely to a wall as possible.  
{3} INPUT - These are the balanced inputs of your TRUTH, laid  
out as 1/4" TRS and XLR connectors.  
Fig. 2.5: Rear panel control elements  
{4} The mains connection is achieved via the standard IEC  
connector. A matching power cord is included.  
{8} LOW FREQUENCY - With this switch you can adapt the  
woofer to a subwoofer system or emulate the sound char-  
acteristics of small speaker systems.  
{5} FUSE COMPARTMENT/VOLTAGE SELECTION - Before  
plugging the unit into a power socket, please make sure  
you have selected the correct voltage. Faulty fuses must be  
replaced with fuses of appropriate rating without exception.  
Some units feature a fuse compartment that can be oper-  
ated in two different positions, allowing alternating between  
230 V and 120 V.  
{9} ROOM COMPENSATION - For maximum flexibility the  
TRUTH features a switch that adjusts the speaker depend-  
ing on its setup position.  
[10] HIGH FREQUENCY - This switch adapts the speaker's  
frequency response to the damping characteristics of the  
control room.  
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When using the unit outside of Europe (running on  
120 V), you have to implement a fuse with a higher  
rating.  
Fig. 2.6: Rear panel control elements  
The following control elements are found only on the B2031A:  
[11] POWER MODE - This switch allows you to toggle between  
"ON", "OFF" and "AUTO" power-up modes (see chapter  
3.1).  
[12] MUTE LOW - Disables the woofer for servicing and main-  
Fig. 2.3: The POWER switch  
tenance.  
[13] MUTE HIGH - Disables the tweeter for servicing and main-  
{6} Use the POWER switch to power up your TRUTH. The  
POWER switch should always be in the "Off" position when  
you are about to connect your unit to the mains.  
tenance.  
4
Control elements  
 
 
TRUTH B2030A/B2031A  
3.3 Speaker placement suggestions  
3. Applications  
Since the sound of a speaker depends to a great extent on its  
surroundings, placing your TRUTH correctly is very important.  
Please try to follow these suggestions through. Your efforts will  
be rewarded with better sound and higher resolution.  
3.1 Connection  
Use the enclosed power cord to connect the TRUTH to the mains.  
To avoid ground loops, both speakers and the mixing console  
should be fed from the same outlet. For your convenience, the  
B2031A features an automatic power-up system which activates  
the TRUTH as soon as a signal is present on its input, and deac-  
tivates the speaker after signal pauses of more than five minutes  
(only B2031A).  
Both speakers are built identically. There is no need to concern  
yourself with which speaker should be placed left and which  
speaker should be placed right. Place the TRUTH on a flat and  
stable surface, if possible use a dedicated speaker stand. In this  
way, the speaker is acoustically decoupled and won’t induce vibra-  
tions in nearby objects, which would affect the bass response. If  
you cannot use a stand, put the TRUTH on spikes or damping  
foam material. Another aspect is the distance between speaker  
and wall: keep the speaker away from the wall, as this would  
emphasize the bass response, particularly in corners, where two  
walls form an angle.  
Function: The switch for the automatic power-up system (11)  
has three positions. When set to OFF, the speaker is completely  
switched off and cannot be activated with the POWER switch  
{6}. PositionAUTO allows the automatic operation as mentioned  
above. In position ON, the B2031 is activated all the time and can  
be switched off only with switch {6}.  
The BEHRINGER TRUTH B2030A/B2031A are so-called near-  
field monitors, 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.  
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Be sure to switch the TRUTH off with the POWER switch  
during longer pauses.  
Now connect both speakers to your console by means of com-  
mercial XLR or TRS cables. Since the TRUTH is an active speaker  
system, instead of conventional speaker cables you will need  
normal TRS or XLR cables.  
Connect the TRUTH to the control room outputs of your console,  
so as to be able to control the monitoring volume independently  
of the main mix level. If your console does not have such outputs,  
you can also use the main mix outputs. However, in this case the  
speaker volume cannot be set independently of the main mix level,  
i.e. you must adjust the monitoring volume on the TRUTH. Please  
consult the operating instructions accompanying your console to  
find out whether it has balanced or unbalanced outputs. Connect  
these outputs to the TRS or XLR {3} input. If possible use the  
balanced connectors, so as to avoid interference and hum. It  
won’t help, however, to connect unbalanced outputs with balanced  
inputs. The benefits mentioned above will apply only when both  
inputs and outputs are of the balanced type.  
Fig. 3.1: 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.  
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Be sure to mute the signal sources before you put the  
TRUTH into operation.  
Once the TRUTH has been connected as described above, you  
can activate the speaker with the POWER switch.  
3.2 Level setting  
When the TRUTH has been connected properly and switched  
on, you can now turn up the console output that feeds the  
B2030A/B2031A. Provided you have a signal source connected,  
you now hear the audio material as it is played back by the TRUTH.  
The INPUT TRIM control {7} on the rear panel is set to 0 dB ex-  
factory, i.e. unity gain, which is okay when you feed the TRUTH  
from a pro-level console. In this case, the TRUTH automatically  
operates at maximum level, provided that your console has been  
set up correctly and its output is set to 0 dB.  
Fig. 3.2: Correct speaker setup  
The LIMIT LED {2} helps you control the level. It lights up as soon  
as overloading causes one of the internal protections to respond.  
The TRUTH doesn’t get damaged when the LIMIT LED lights up  
with occasional signal peaks. However, please make sure that it  
won’t light up all the time, because sooner or later this will activate  
the thermal protection system and temporarily mute the built-in  
amplifiers, to warn you that you are driving the TRUTH too hard.  
If so, you can reduce levels either on your console or using the  
INPUT TRIM control {7}. If the outputs on your console don’t  
provide studio-level signals, you can turn up the INPUT TRIM  
control. If you connect the TRUTH to the preamp output of your  
stereo system, it may also be necessary to raise the level on the  
TRUTH itself. To build up a rudimentary stereo system, you can  
directly connect the outputs of a CD player to the TRUTH’s inputs,  
and use the CD player to adjust the volume.  
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 figure 3.3, to allow  
for an improved stereo image.  
Fig. 3.3: 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 install-  
ing or removing carpets, curtains or furniture. Fabric covering on  
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The TRUTH is capable of producing high volume levels.  
You should mix your recordings at moderate levels, so  
as to avoid listening fatigue and hearing impairment.  
Applications  
5
 
 
TRUTH B2030A/B2031A  
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.  
4. Installation  
The BEHRINGER TRUTH features one balanced XLR and one bal-  
anced 1/4" TRS input. If connecting to other equipment is possible  
using balanced inputs, always make such connections because  
they offer maximal compensation of disturbing signals.  
3.4 Adapting the TRUTH to the room acoustics  
This chapter describes how you can use the switches on the rear  
of the B2030A/B2031A to adapt the speaker to the acoustics of  
your control room. However, you should try to improve a poten-  
tially impaired sound by optimizing the loudspeaker placement  
beforehand.  
Fig. 3.4: Rear panel legending  
Fig. 4.1: 1/4" TS connector  
If you are still having problems, you could try the following: The  
ROOM COMPENSATION switch {9} allows you to lower the bass  
range, depending on the speaker position. Ex-factory, the switch is  
set to a neutral position. If you’ve set up the TRUTH close to the  
wall or in a corner, try reducing the low-frequency level in steps  
of 2 dB. Since every room and speaker setup are unique in their  
acoustic properties, we cannot provide more specific information  
here. The same applies to the HIGH FREQUENCY switch (10),  
which determines the tweeter level (between +2 dB and -4 dB).  
Here too, the best setting depends on the room acoustics. If you  
have an additional subwoofer installed, you can attenuate the  
TRUTH’s lower cutoff frequency using the LOW FREQUENCY  
switch {8}. This can be necessary when adapting the TRUTH  
to your subwoofer. Trust your own aural instinct, but don’t forget:  
Listening at high volume levels over long periods leads to listening  
fatigue and thus reduces your ability to judge the sound. Con-  
sequently, we recommend regular pauses to keep your hearing  
"healthy".  
Fig. 4.2: 1/4" TRS connector  
As a general rule, you should set up and adjust the TRUTH with  
great care.Above all, you should take your time: unlike hi-fi speak-  
ers, the B2030A/B2031A 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 its  
rear panel switches 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!  
Fig. 4.3: XLR connectors  
It might be necessary to insert an equalizer between console  
and speaker, in particular, if you prefer extreme setups or sound  
images. 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.  
6
Installation  
 
 
TRUTH B2030A/B2031A  
5. Specifications  
Audio Inputs  
B2030A/B2031A  
XLR connector  
1/4" TRS  
servo-balanced input  
servo-balanced input  
10 kΩ  
Input impedance  
Max. input level  
+22 dBu  
Components  
B2030A  
Tweeter  
Woofer  
¾" ferrofluid-cooled dome  
6 ¾" polypropylene diaphragm  
B2031A  
Tweeter  
Woofer  
1" ferrofluid-cooled dome  
8 ¾" polypropylene diaphragm  
Amplifier  
Power Woofer  
B2030A/B2031A  
RMS @ 0.1 % THD  
Peak power  
80 W @ 4 Ω  
320 W @ 4 Ω  
Power Tweeter  
B2030A  
RMS @ 0.1 % THD  
20 W @ 6 Ω  
80 W @ 6 Ω  
Peak power  
B2031A  
RMS @ 0.1 % THD  
25 W @ 4 Ω  
Peak power  
100 W @ 4 Ω  
Crossover  
B2030A/B2031A  
Type  
active, 4th order Linkwitz-Riley  
Crossover frequency  
2 kHz  
System Specification  
B2030A  
Frequency response  
50 Hz to 21 kHz  
Sound pressure level  
max. 113 dB SPL @ 1 m (pair)  
B2031A  
Frequency response  
50 Hz to 21 kHz  
Sound pressure level  
max. 116 dB SPL @ 1 m (pair)  
Power Supply  
Voltage/Fuses  
B2030A  
100 - 120 V~, 50/60 Hz  
T 2.0 A H 250 V  
T 1.6 A H 250 V  
220 - 230 V~, 50/60 Hz  
B2031A  
100 - 120 V~, 50/60 Hz  
T 5.0 A H 250 V  
T 2.5 A H 250 V  
220 - 230 V~, 50/60 Hz  
Voltage/Supply current  
B2030A  
100 - 120 V~, 50/60 Hz  
max. 1.0 A  
max. 0.5 A  
220 - 230 V~, 50/60 Hz  
B2031A  
100 - 120 V~, 50/60 Hz  
max. 2.0 A  
max. 1.1 A  
220 - 230 V~, 50/60 Hz  
Mains connection  
B2030A/B2031A  
Standard IEC connector  
Dimensions/Weight  
B2030A  
Dimensions (HxWxD)  
317 x 214 x 211 mm  
12 1/2" x 8 2/5" x 8 1/3"  
Weight  
9.84 kg  
21 2/3 lbs  
B2031A  
Dimensions (HxWxD)  
400 x 250 x 290 mm  
15 3/4" x 9 13/16" x 11 3/8"  
Weight  
15 kg  
33 lbs  
BEHRINGER is constantly striving to maintain the highest professional standards.  
As a result of these efforts, modifications may be made from time to time to existing  
products without prior notice. Specifications and appearance may differ from those  
listed or illustrated.  
Specifications  
7
 
 
TRUTH B2030A/B2031A  
6. Warranty  
2. If the product needs to be modified or adapted in order to comply with  
§ 1 Other warranty rights and national law  
applicable technical or safety standards on a national or local level, in  
any country which is not the country for which the product was originally  
developed and manufactured, this modification/adaptation shall not be  
considered a defect in materials or workmanship. The warranty does  
not cover any such modification/adaptation, irrespective of whether  
it was carried out properly or not. Under the terms of this warranty,  
BEHRINGER shall not be held responsible for any cost resulting from  
such a modification/adaptation.  
1. This warranty does not exclude or limit the buyer’s statutory rights  
provided by national law, in particular, any such rights against the seller  
that arise from a legally effective purchase contract.  
2. The warranty regulations mentioned herein are applicable unless they  
constitute an infringement of national warranty law.  
§ 2 Online registration  
Please do remember to register your new BEHRINGER equipment right  
terms and conditions of our warranty carefully.  
3. Free inspections and maintenance/repair work are expressly excluded  
from this warranty, in particular, if caused by improper handling of the  
product by the user. This also applies to defects caused by normal wear  
and tear, in particular, of faders, crossfaders, potentiometers, keys/but-  
tons, tubes, guitar strings, illuminants and similar parts.  
Registering your purchase and equipment with us helps us process your  
repair claims quicker and more efficiently.  
Thank you for your cooperation!  
4. Damages/defects caused by the following conditions are not covered  
by this warranty:  
§ 3 Warranty  
= improper handling, neglect or failure to operate the unit in compli-  
ance with the instructions given in BEHRINGER user or service  
manuals.  
1. BEHRINGER (BEHRINGER International GmbH including all  
BEHRINGER subsidiaries listed on the enclosed page, except  
BEHRINGER Japan) warrants the mechanical and electronic compo-  
nents of this product to be free of defects in material and workmanship  
for a period of one (1) year* from the original date of purchase, in ac-  
cordance with the warranty regulations described below. If the product  
shows any defects within the specified warranty period that are not  
excluded from this warranty as described under § 5, BEHRINGER  
shall, at its discretion, either replace or repair the product using suitable  
new or reconditioned parts. In the case that other parts are used which  
constitute an improvement, BEHRINGER may, at its discretion, charge  
the customer for the additional cost of these parts.  
= connection or operation of the unit in any way that does not comply  
with the technical or safety regulations applicable in the country  
where the product is used.  
= damages/defects caused by force majeure or any other condition  
that is beyond the control of BEHRINGER.  
5. Any repair or opening of the unit carried out by unauthorized personnel  
(user included) will void the warranty.  
6. If an inspection of the product by BEHRINGER shows that the defect  
in question is not covered by the warranty, the inspection costs are  
payable by the customer.  
2. If the warranty claim proves to be justified, the product will be returned  
to the user freight prepaid.  
7. Products which do not meet the terms of this warranty will be repaired  
exclusively at the buyer’s expense. BEHRINGER will inform the buyer of  
any such circumstance. If the buyer fails to submit a written repair order  
within 6 weeks after notification, BEHRINGER will return the unit C.O.D.  
with a separate invoice for freight and packing. Such costs will also be  
invoiced separately when the buyer has sent in a written repair order.  
3. Warranty claims other than those indicated above are expressly  
excluded.  
§ 4 Return authorization number  
1. To obtain warranty service, the buyer (or his authorized dealer) must  
call BEHRINGER (see enclosed list) during normal business hours  
BEFORE returning the product. All inquiries must be accompanied  
by a description of the problem. BEHRINGER will then issue a return  
authorization number.  
§ 6 Warranty transferability  
This warranty is extended exclusively to the original buyer (customer of retail  
dealer) and is not transferable to anyone who may subsequently purchase  
this product. No other person (retail dealer, etc.) shall be entitled to give  
any warranty promise on behalf of BEHRINGER.  
2. Subsequently, the product must be returned in its original shipping  
carton, together with the return authorization number to the address  
indicated by BEHRINGER.  
§ 7 Claim for damages  
3. Shipments without freight prepaid will not be accepted.  
Failure of BEHRINGER to provide proper warranty service shall not entitle  
the buyer to claim (consequential) damages. In no event shall the liability  
of BEHRINGER exceed the invoiced value of the product.  
§ 5 Warranty regulations  
1. Warranty services will be furnished only if the product is accompanied  
by a copy of the original retail dealer’s invoice. Any product deemed  
eligible for repair or replacement under the terms of this warranty will  
be repaired or replaced.  
* Customers in the European Union please contact BEHRINGER Germany Support  
for further details.  
Technical specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice. The information contained herein is correct at the time of printing. BEHRINGER accepts no liability  
for any loss which may be suffered by any person who relies either wholly or in part upon any description, photograph or statement contained herein. Colors and specifications  
may vary slightly from product. Our Products are sold through authorized dealers only. Distributors and dealers are not agents of BEHRINGER and have absolutely no authority  
to bind BEHRINGER by any express or implied undertaking or representation. This manual is copyrighted. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or  
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording of any kind, for any purpose, without the express written permission of BEHRINGER International  
GmbH.  
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  
© 2008 BEHRINGER International GmbH, Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Str. 36-38, 47877 Willich-Muenchheide II, Germany,  
Tel. +49 2154 9206 0, Fax +49 2154 9206 4903  
8
Warranty  
 
 

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