IK Releases ARC ON•EAR The first standalone headphone correction and virtual monitoring system

[MusicMan]

IK Releases ARC ON EAR
The first standalone headphone correction and virtual monitoring system

IK Multimedia introduces ARC ON•EAR. This revolutionary portable hardware device instantly corrects a headphone’s response and replicates the soundstage of professional studio monitors in an ideal studio setting without compromise.

For the first time, users can now mix, master, and produce with total confidence anywhere.

Headphone Correction/Virtual Monitoring System

• Removes the guesswork of mixing on headphones
• Recreates the experience of real monitors in a studio
• Virtually audition mixes on other top playback systems
• Standalone audiophile DAC and headphone amplifier
• Control software to customize and load up to 5 profiles
• Support for hundreds of popular headphone models
• Rechargeable battery for mobile mixing and listening
• USB-C and analog audio inputs support all audio sources

Mix with Confidence, Not Guesswork

• Mixing with headphones is challenging. Even “reference” headphones color the sound, and exaggerated stereo width makes spatial judgment nearly impossible. ARC ON•EAR solves both problems — providing a neutral frequency response and a natural stereo image — so users can trust what they hear every time.

A Reliable Reference

• Every pair of headphones has its own sonic fingerprint. ARC ON•EAR uses precision calibration profiles, measured with state-of-the-art reference rigs, to ensure accurate, transparent, and reliable sound. With support for hundreds of popular headphone models, users will experience the mix exactly as it should sound — clear, balanced, and true to life.

Real Studio Monitors

• Unlike plug-ins or impulse-based “virtual rooms,” ARC ON•EAR utilizes advanced physical modeling to recreate the behavior of real studio monitors in an ideal acoustic space. There are no artificial reverbs or timbral coloration, just the natural depth, width, and clarity of a real control room — right in the user’s headphones.

Accuracy Begins with the Amplifier

• The behavior of a headphone amplifier directly influences what is heard. Even high-end audio interfaces and mixers can modify a headphone’s frequency response — sometimes subtly, sometimes significantly — depending on the model and its output impedance.
• ARC ON•EAR eliminates this variable. All calibration profiles are created using the exact same amplifier circuit found in the product, ensuring precise, reliable, and repeatable correction across all headphones and listening sessions.

Uncompromising Audio Quality

• Powered by a 32-bit ESS SABRE® converter, a high-damping-factor, ultra-low-distortion power amplifier, and a digitally controlled analog volume stage, ARC ON·EAR delivers a truly audiophile-grade listening experience — with no compromises.

Virtual Monitoring that Goes Beyond

• Instantly test mixes on a wide range of playback systems. With over 20 virtual studio monitors and more than 15 multimedia playback systems available at release, ARC ON•EAR enables users to precisely understand how a mix translates without ever taking off their headphones.

Effortless Control

The included and dedicated ARC ON•EAR control software lets users easily set up and fine-tune their listening experience. Once configured, the device operates completely standalone for up to 4 hours on a charge.

• Quick and easy device setup
• Fine-tune tonal balance to taste
• Save and load up to 5 presets
• Customizable Function button
• Manage firmware/software updates

The ARC of Confidence

With continuous firmware updates, an expanding headphone database, and a growing collection of virtual monitors, ARC ON•EAR is a future-proof investment in mixing and enjoying sound. Whether producing on the go, mixing at night, or traveling the world, ARC ON•EAR offers the accuracy and confidence of a professional studio — everywhere.

Pricing and Availability

ARC ON·EAR has now started shipping and will be fully available in all regions by mid-November.

IK Multimedia online store: www.ikmultimedia.com/shop/arconear
IK authorized dealers worldwide: www.ikmultimedia.com/dealers

ARC ON•EAR $/€249.99* intro price (reg. $/€299.99) – Includes ARC ON•EAR processor, carrying pouch, USB-C cable, stereo TRS cable (3.5 mm to 3.5 mm thread-on), TRS adapter (3.5 mm to 6.3 mm thread-on), ARC ON•EAR control software.

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/news/?id=IKReleasesArcOnEar

Edited Thursday at 03:09 PM by MusicMan

[Zo]

Finally  !!! been lobbying for this to Sonarworks since day one , IK finally done it !!

 

@Peter - IK Multimedia  can we  charge via usb (from a power brick) while using it stand alone (not connected to a computer) ?

 

Jame points working guyz !!! but my adress is in the us and i want to order to send in EU (from EU)  is this possible @Peter - IK Multimedia ?

Edited Thursday at 08:30 PM by Zo

[bluzdog]

This reminds me of the Focusrite VRM box edit: but with way more features. It looks pretty reasonably priced,especially with Jam points.

Edited 21 hours ago by bluzdog
more info

[bluzdog]

16 hours ago, Zo said:

Jame points working guyz !!!

Yes, that brings the price to $179.99 US plus tax.

[Carl Ewing]

Having mixed a ton of stuff on headphones over the years, I don't think tools like this help much. Flat doesn't mean better in headphones. And I think trying to emulate room acoustics, cross talk / speakers on headphones is just asking for trouble.

Andrew Scheps has famously mixed very successful albums on completely unaltered $100 Sony MDR 7506s. I have personally mixed for some very big projects on HD600s without issue - and often without an a speaker reference while on the road.  It's about learning your headphones, not trying to make them sound like something they aren't. And if you can't create a great mix on HD600s, no amount of hardware / software is going to help. And HD600s are the same cost as this IK product.

My 0.02 cents anyway.

Also - I've tried using Sonarwork frequency "correction" for 6 sets of different headphones. Mixes always translated terribly - for worse than without the "correction". I think these products are mostly selling people the idea of "solving a problem" that doesn't actually exist, and is more down to people using headphones they either don't know, or for people using headphones that don't match the kind of music they're making.

Edited 20 hours ago by Carl Ewing

[MusicMan]

3 minutes ago, Carl Ewing said:

Having mixed a ton of stuff on headphones over the years, I don't think tools like this help much. Flat doesn't mean better in headphones. And I think trying to emulate room acoustics, cross talk / speakers on headphones is just asking for trouble.

Andrew Scheps has famously mixed very successful albums on completely unaltered $100 Sony MDR 7506s. I have personally mixed for some very big projects on HD600s without issue - and often without an a speaker reference while on the road.  It's about learning your headphones, not trying to make them sound like something they aren't. And if you can't create a great mix on HD600s, no amount of hardware / software is going to help. And HD600s are the same cost as this IK product.

I agree with a lot of that Carl and Scheps is famously known for using those cans. Like you said if you know whatever you have really well, then you potentially don't need it. The same could be said in some ways for room acoustics and as long as you know your room well you don't need them either, but I still think there's merit to having treatment. Speakers+Rooms can have challenges that are harder to solve though.

As for room emulation, depending on how it's done, I personally don't mind some of them. I use Realphones and some of the rooms / devices help to highlight issues and balancing them you can find a happy medium when you're flicking between them. It's more likely the car test goes better afterwards.

That solution isn't perfect either, but still another handy option to have for mobile, or when you're not in a properly treated room. I do tend to think some of these are just stepping stones to get you to more closely recognise what things should sound like. With the last few sets of headphones, they're more than capable, but I'm still OK with a few crutches here and there while I'm still learning!

[Nitrate Audio]

35 minutes ago, Carl Ewing said:

Having mixed a ton of stuff on headphones over the years, I don't think tools like this help much. Flat doesn't mean better in headphones. And I think trying to emulate room acoustics, cross talk / speakers on headphones is just asking for trouble.

Andrew Scheps has famously mixed very successful albums on completely unaltered $100 Sony MDR 7506s. I have personally mixed for some very big projects on HD600s without issue - and often without an a speaker reference while on the road.  It's about learning your headphones, not trying to make them sound like something they aren't. And if you can't create a great mix on HD600s, no amount of hardware / software is going to help. And HD600s are the same cost as this IK product.

My 0.02 cents anyway.

Also - I've tried using Sonarwork frequency "correction" for 6 sets of different headphones. Mixes always translated terribly - for worse than without the "correction". I think these products are mostly selling people the idea of "solving a problem" that doesn't actually exist, and is more down to people using headphones they either don't know, or for people using headphones that don't match the kind of music they're making.

i have found i can't mix on headphones. i need speakers. i do like recording and tracking on headphones. 

[Zo]

4 hours ago, Carl Ewing said:

Having mixed a ton of stuff on headphones over the years, I don't think tools like this help much. Flat doesn't mean better in headphones. And I think trying to emulate room acoustics, cross talk / speakers on headphones is just asking for trouble.

Andrew Scheps has famously mixed very successful albums on completely unaltered $100 Sony MDR 7506s. I have personally mixed for some very big projects on HD600s without issue - and often without an a speaker reference while on the road.  It's about learning your headphones, not trying to make them sound like something they aren't. And if you can't create a great mix on HD600s, no amount of hardware / software is going to help. And HD600s are the same cost as this IK product.

My 0.02 cents anyway.

Also - I've tried using Sonarwork frequency "correction" for 6 sets of different headphones. Mixes always translated terribly - for worse than without the "correction". I think these products are mostly selling people the idea of "solving a problem" that doesn't actually exist, and is more down to people using headphones they either don't know, or for people using headphones that don't match the kind of music they're making.

I have exactly the opposit , at the end if you learn your monitoring , you good (hp or Monitors) , the big diff , is the brain compensation , and for me calibrayted is night and day in that exercice !!! translation is always spot on !!

[Zo]

3 hours ago, Nitrate Audio said:

i have found i can't mix on headphones. i need speakers. i do like recording and tracking on headphones. 

We control usually on headphones , crossfeed is needed (i have the 2 control from spl for that ) but guess what , IK ARC on ear has it built in !! called studio simu (before the speaker simu ) where you can define widness .... (crossfeed means like in real life , when you pan some left , the right ear actually also has some signals )

[PhonoBrainer]

Good monitors usually make it sound too good, so mixes don't translate perfectly. But damn things sure sound good in the studio!!!

That's why meh monitors like NS-10 get the love. They are so average sounding.

Pretty sure the best way for us to go, moving forward, would be just to sell our quality monitors and fancy headphone correction systems, and just mix into earbuds because that's 80% of the listenership.