IK Multimedia ARC On-Ear Headphone Amplifier

About: IK Multimedia ARC On-Ear Headphone Amplifier

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.

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

ARC ON•EAR changes the game

• 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.

A reference you can trust
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.

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.

• Ultra-low output distortion
• No loss of resolution, even at low volumes
• Powers even the most demanding headphones

Accuracy begins with the amplifier
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.

ARC ON•EAR - THD+N versus frequency
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.

Built for practical everyday use

• 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

ARC ON•EAR Specifications
Audio

• Supported sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kHz
• Frequency Response: 10Hz - 80kHz (-1dB)
• Maximum output level +19dBu
• Maximum input level (analog): +10dBu
• High damping factor output stage design
• Dynamic Range (32Ω, 1kHz): 107.9dB
• Dynamic Range (150Ω, 1kHz): 112.7dB
• Dynamic Range (300Ω, 1kHz): 116.9dB

Latency

• Latency (Phase Align OFF): 1.35ms
• Latency (Phase Align ON): ~ 21.0ms (depends on the selected headphone model)
• Power
• Integrated lithium rechargeable battery (up to 4 hours of use) / USB

Connections

• Analog input on 3.5 mm jack
• Headphone out on 6.3 mm jack
• Digital audio input on USB-C

Dimensions

• Size: 7.9 cm / 3.11" x 7.7 cm / 3.03" x 3.5 cm / 1.38"
• Weight: 170 g / 5.99 oz

Package includes

• ARC ON•EAR processor
• Carrying case
• USB C-Type to USB C-Type cable (0.6 m / 23.6")
• 3.5 to 3.5 mm thread-on Stereo TRS cable (0.6 m / 23.6")
• 3.5 to 6.3 mm thread-on TRS adapter

System Requirements

• Mac® (64-bits)
  • Minimal: Apple M1 or Intel® Core i5 Processor, 4 GB of RAM, macOS® 10.15 or newer (macOS 11 or newer required for Apple Silicon Processors).
  • One free USB port required.
• Windows® (64-bits)
  • Minimal: Intel® Core i5 Processor or equivalent, 4 GB of RAM, Windows 10 (64 bit) or newer.
  • One free USB port required.