If you’ve ever pulled up a graphic EQ on your Behringer WING or X32, you might have noticed there are two different versions available: Graphic Equalizer with True Curve on or off on the WING, or GEQ and TruEQ on the X32/M32.
They look almost identical. Same 31 bands. Same sliders. So what’s the difference?
The short answer: what you see is not always what you get—at least not with the standard Graphic EQ. Let me show you exactly what I mean.
What’s the Difference? GEQ vs TruEQ (True Curve)
Both the Graphic Equalizer (with True Curve off) and True Curve are 31-band, 1/3-octave graphic EQs. But, the difference is in how they calculate the boost and cut you’re applying.
The Graphic Equalizer (or GEQ on the X32) behaves like a traditional hardware graphic EQ. Each slider has a fixed Q, or bandwidth, which means boosting one frequency also affects the frequencies around it. When you boost multiple adjacent sliders, those overlapping curves stack on top of each other—and the result can be significantly more boost than what your sliders show.
The True Curve (or TruEQ on the X32) uses a different algorithm. It calculates the interaction between bands and compensates for it, so the actual EQ curve applied to your audio closely matches what you see on the sliders.
In other words: True Curve shows you what you’re actually getting. Graphic EQ doesn’t.
Seeing the Difference: Single Band Boost
Let’s start simple. I boosted the 1 kHz slider by +15 dB on both EQ types and measured the result with Smaart.
Graphic EQ: +15 dB boost at 1 kHz
True Curve: +15 dB boost at 1 kHz
With a single band, the difference is subtle but visible. The True Curve boost is a bit narrower and shows some minor ripples on either side. The Graphic EQ curve is smoother but wider—it’s affecting more of the surrounding frequencies than you might expect.
This difference becomes much more dramatic when you start boosting multiple bands.
The “Crowning Effect”: Multiple Band Boost
Here’s where things get interesting. I set up a mid-range boost across several bands: +6 dB at 500 Hz and 2 kHz, and +9 dB on the bands in between (630 Hz, 800 Hz, 1 kHz, 1.25 kHz, and 1.6 kHz).
If you looked at the sliders, you’d expect a fairly flat shelf in the mids, maybe topping out around 9 dB.
Here’s what actually happened:
Graphic EQ: Mid boost showing the “crowning effect”
True Curve: Mid boost with accurate curve
See that wavy pattern on the Graphic EQ? That’s what I call the “crowning effect.” Each slider’s bandwidth overlaps with its neighbors, and when you boost multiple adjacent bands, those curves stack. The result is a series of peaks and valleys—with the actual boost at 1 kHz hitting closer to 15 dB instead of the 9 dB shown on the slider.
Now look at the True Curve measurement. It’s a smooth, flat-topped curve that looks almost exactly like what the sliders suggest. The algorithm compensates for the band interaction and delivers what you’d expect: around 9 dB of boost across that range.
Low Cut and High Shelf: Another Example
To show this isn’t just a mid-range issue, I set up another test simulating a low cut with a high-frequency shelf:
- 20 Hz–63 Hz: -15 dB
- 80 Hz: -6 dB
- 6 kHz–20 kHz: +5 dB
Slider positions for the low cut + HF shelf test
Graphic EQ: Low cut and HF shelf
True Curve: Low cut and HF shelf
Look at the high-frequency shelf on the Graphic EQ—you can see the crowning effect again, with those ripples across the top. The True Curve version is smooth and clean, delivering the gentle shelf you’d expect from a +5 dB boost.
The low-frequency cut shows a similar story. The Graphic EQ curve is bumpier through the transition, while True Curve gives you a cleaner rolloff.
Which One Should You Use?
Both have their place, and neither is “wrong”—they’re just different tools.
Use True Curve when:
- You want precise, predictable results
- You’re making broad adjustments and want the curve to match your sliders
- You’re new to graphic EQ and want what-you-see-is-what-you-get behavior
Use Graphic Equalizer when:
- You want the character of a traditional hardware graphic EQ
- You’re experienced with how graphic EQs interact and prefer that workflow
- You’re going for a specific sound that benefits from the natural band interaction
Personally, I lean toward True Curve for most applications because I like knowing that my adjustments are doing exactly what I expect. But there’s nothing wrong with the traditional Graphic EQ if that’s what you’re used to—just be aware that your actual curve may be more aggressive than it appears.
One More Thing
Whenever you’re tuning a system with any graphic EQ, I always recommend using measurement software like Rational Acoustics Smaart or Open Sound Meter to see what’s actually happening. Trust your ears, but verify with your eyes. The visual feedback helps you understand how your EQ changes are affecting the system—and as you’ve seen here, what’s on the sliders isn’t always the full story.