Accurate Monitoring In Any Room - IK Multimedia ARC STUDIO+ Room Correction Processor.

The IK Multimedia ARC ON-EAR is a compact headphone DAC and amplifier that applies calibration to your headphones and recreates the experience of listening on studio monitors. It uses precision calibration profiles for more than 200 headphone models, an ESS SABRE 32-bit converter and a high-damping-factor output stage, and it connects over USB-C or a 3.5 mm analogue input. You configure it with dedicated control software, store up to 5 presets on the unit, and run it from a built-in rechargeable battery for up to 4 hours.

Headphone Correction

Each calibration profile is measured on reference rigs, and is designed to remove the coloration of your headphones so that you hear your mix more accurately. Profiles are available for hundreds of popular headphone models, with more than 200 supported at launch, so you can work with the headphones you already own. The result is a response designed to help your mixes translate to other systems.

Studio Monitors In Your Headphones

Virtual monitoring uses physical modelling of real studio monitors in an ideal acoustic space, rather than plug-ins or impulse-based virtual rooms. IK Multimedia says this avoids artificial reverb and timbral coloration, giving the width, depth and clarity of a control room. The virtual monitoring function is switched on and off from the front panel.

Check Your Mix On Other Systems

The control software lets you audition your mix on studio monitors, smartphones, smart speakers and TV sets, all through your headphones. A frequency response display, environment controls, and headphone, IEM and speaker browsers give you detailed control over the setup.

Pristine Conversion And Amplification

An ESS SABRE 32-bit converter and a high-damping-factor amplifier stage are designed for very low THD+N. Dynamic range is 107.9 dB at 32 ohms, 112.7 dB at 150 ohms and 116.9 dB at 300 ohms, with a maximum output level of +19 dBu, so it can drive a wide range of headphones. The USB-C input supports sample rates up to 192 kHz.

Presets, Battery And Controls

Up to 5 presets can be loaded onto the unit, so you can switch between calibrated profiles quickly. The front panel has a preset and battery indicator, buttons for calibration on/off and virtual monitoring on/off, a mute/dim button, a digitally controlled analogue volume control and a power button. The integrated lithium battery gives up to 4 hours of use, and the unit can also run from USB.

Connections

Audio comes in over USB-C, which also handles control and charging, or through the 3.5 mm analogue input for any other source. Headphones connect to the 6.3 mm output. Latency is 1.35 ms with Phase Align off, and around 21 ms with it on, depending on the headphone model selected.

Build And Compatibility

The compact aluminium chassis measures 79 x 77 x 35 mm and weighs 170 g, and a carrying case is included. The control software needs a 64-bit Mac (Apple M1 or Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, macOS 10.15 or newer, with macOS 11 or newer for Apple Silicon) or a 64-bit Windows PC (Intel Core i5 or equivalent, 4 GB RAM, Windows 10 or newer).

KEY FEATURES: IK Multimedia ARC