RECORDING WEEK 2025: No matter how expensive the cans, it’s a truism of mixing that listening to a project in headphones just doesn’t compare to a well-treated studio environment - and a solid pair of professional monitors.
But, many of us - especially those of us who tend to work on the move - don’t always have that luxury.
A chief complaint about headphone-based mixing, is that ‘phones inaccurately colour your perception of the mix - and the hard stereo of the extreme left/right of the physical pair of on-ear headphones presents an wildly different version of the overall sound stage.
This can be good for zoning in on the small details, but for those without access to a well-treated studio, fully headphone-based mixers have always had to be conscious of these fundamental discrepancies between how a mix sounds inside the cans, and out.
But finally, IK Multimedia has a technically inventive solution, enabling music-makers and producers the ability to mix - as if in a professional studio - wherever they are.
The new ARC ON·EAR system is a small portable hardware device that serves to immediately correct any set of headphones’ natural frequency response and build a totally exacting recreation of the sound stage of a set of pro-level monitors.
You can then hear your mix as if you were correctly sat within a well-treated studio. Acoustically balanced and treated to minimise any distortion or reverberation - and presented with a truthful widescreen, exacting recreation of your mix.
So, how have IK Multimedia managed this extraordinary feat?
Using the team's proprietary DSP and well-regarded acumen for physical modelling, IK Multimedia's small ARC ON·EAR is a minor miracle, bottling a range of carefully-measured frequency responses to create over over 20 studio monitor profiles, as well as 15 multimedia playback systems.
So, you can trust that your mix will perform across the board. No longer do you have to contend with unbalanced response and an extreme stereo image.
This means that those track-shaping mix decisions can now be made without having to further compensate for having a pair of headphones clamped to your head, what you hear is how your mix will sound in the best possible listening space.
That’s not all, ARC ON·EAR's Virtual Speaker function grants the ability to test your mix on a variety of real-world reference systems, too. Beyond pro-studio monitors, you can try out how your developing track might sound in a car audio system, out of a smartphone's speakers, on various TV set speakers and/or through a soundbar. This provides, as any producer will tell you, an incredibly useful insight, and makes A/Bing in numerous environments far easier and quicker.
Making this miracle a reality is some serious hardware under the (tiny) bonnet.
Inside is a powerful 32-bit ESS Sabre convertor, a high-damping-factor, ultra-low distortion power amplifier and a digitally-controlled analog volume stage. The ARC ON·EAR also serves as a premium DAC, which results in a sound with ultra-low distortion, a phenomenal amount of headroom as well as bit-perfect sound regardless of your playback volume.
This hardware is perfectly served by the ARC ON·EAR control software. This enables users to perfectly tailor their personal listening preferences.
Using this software, users can select their own particular headphone model from IK’s expanding headphone database (over 250 at launch, with more to come). Selecting any one of these models will automatically adjust the frequency response to the particular quirks and characteristics of the ‘phones you're wearing, in tandem with your selected monitor (or playback system) model.
Though software control is thorough, ARC ON·EAR can function as an entirely standalone hardware unit - requiring no additional software, drivers or plug-ins to perform right out of the box. Three buttons and a volume knob allow for instantaneous access.
In terms of connectivity, both USB-C and 3.5mm audio inputs are provided, and the device is compatible with any OS, app or playback system. 5 presets can be stored for instant recall and a four-hour battery means no additional power supply is needed, aiding portability. Being a physical unit, the ARC ON·EAR is DAW-agnostic.
Its rugged design has been built to withstand all manner of travel and on-the-move peril. With a durable aluminium chassis, you can rely on the ARC ON·EAR to be ready for action whenever you need to jump back into your project, wherever you are.
It’s the sound of a pro-level studio within a tiny, portable shell.
The IK ARC ON·EAR is available now for €249.99/$249.99 (£220) + VAT.
Find out more and order over at IK Multimedia's website