IK Multimedia ARC On-Ear Headphone Amplifier

Ronkonkoma, NY, United States

About this listing

Work with confidence. Anywhere. Traditional headphones - even "reference" models - don't tell the whole truth. Their frequency response is never perfectly flat, and their exaggerated stereo image alters your perception of balance, timbre, and space. The result? Endless revisions, ear fatigue, and mixes that don't translate. ARC ON•EAR is a revolutionary standalone headphone DAC and amplifier that instantly corrects your headphone's response and recreates the experience of mixing on professional studio monitors. For the first time, you can mix, master, and produce with total confidence - anywhere. Unlike conventional correction plug-ins or virtual control room systems, ARC ON•EAR doesn't sound artificial or over-processed. Instead, it delivers the precision, depth, and trust of a real control room - inside your headphones. More headphones. Faster workflow. Even better realism. Version 1.3 makes ARC ON•EAR more powerful and easier to use than ever. We've expanded the headphone profile database with 12 new models - including Apple AirPods Max, Audeze S20 and HEDDphone D1 - giving even more users access to precision correction and trusted translation.Browsing and switching models is now faster with smart search, visible headphone names, and quick navigation arrows to move between headphone and speaker models instantly. We've also refined the ambience algorithm for an even more natural sense of space, plus enhanced preset management and frequency response tools for greater control. No guesswork, no compromise. Mixing on headphones has always meant compromise. Even "reference" headphones color your sound, while exaggerated stereo width makes spatial judgment nearly impossible. ARC ON•EAR solves both problems - restoring a neutral frequency response and a natural stereo image - so you can trust what you hear every time. 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, you'll experience your mix exactly as it should sound - clear, balanced, and true.Unlike plug-ins or impulse-based "virtual rooms," ARC ON•EAR uses advanced physical modeling to recreate how real studio monitors behave in an ideal acoustic space. No artificial reverbs. No timbral coloration. Just the natural depth, width, and clarity of a real control room - right in your headphones. ARC ON•EAR's amplifier has the lowest distortion across the entire audio spectrum compared to leading high-end interfaces and laptops. When pushed to their limits, typical headphone amplifiers reveal their weaknesses. The plot shown here compares the total harmonic distortion of leading audio interfaces and high-end laptop headphone outputs with ARC ON•EAR, measured at high volume on a low-impedance (32 Ω) headphone. The behavior of a headphone amplifier directly affects what you hear. Even high-end audio interfaces and mixers can alter 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. IK Multimedia ARC ON•EAR Headphone System Features: Headphone correction/virtual monitoring system. Audiophile DAC and headphone amplifier with built-in correction. Removes the guesswork from mixing on headphones. Recreates the experience of monitors in a studio. Virtually audition your mix on other top playback systems. Control software to customize and load up to 5 profiles. Support for hundreds of popular headphone models. Rechargeable battery provides up to 4 hours of playback. Digital and Analog audio inputs support all audio sources. True-to-life monitoring - Experience the natural perspective of high-end studio monitors in a properly tuned room. Pristine sound - Advanced acoustic modeling, not flawed convolution, ensures clarity and transparency. No guesswork - Get reliable, "first-shot" mixes that translate across every playback system. Consistency - Built-in amplification guarantees stable frequency response, free from amp-induced coloration. Compact, durable aluminum chassis. Elegant design, suitable for any environment. Analog input (3.5 mm) & digital USB-C inputs. Standard 6.3 mm headphone out. Includes protective carrying case. Each ARC ON•EAR Retail Box Includes: (1) IK Multimedia ARC ON•EAR Headphone Correction/Virtual Monitoring System(1) Carrying case(1) USB C-Type to USB C-Type cable (0.6 m / 23.6")(1) 3.5 to 3.5 mm thread-on Stereo TRS cable (0.6 m / 23.6")(1) 3.5 to 6.3 mm thread-on TRS adapter

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$299.99

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