Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
The perfect headphone doesn’t exist — not even the ones you hide from your partner and only bring out when the house is quiet. But the IK Multimedia ARC ON•EAR might just come close.
In this video, I take a deep dive into the three main problems with headphone listening: frequency response, stereo perspective, and amplifier compatibility. I look at why no headphone can ever truly have a flat response, why listening on headphones feels so unnatural compared to speakers, and how headphone amps can completely change what you actually hear.
Then I explore how the ARC ON•EAR tries to fix all of this — using clever processing to correct the sound of over 200 headphone models and even recreate the feeling of listening in a real studio. I go through the hardware, the software setup, and give my own impressions of how it performs in everyday listening.
So, is this little box a genuine revolution for headphone listening, or just another expensive gadget? Let’s find out.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Web - ikmultimedia.com/arconear
Video - ikmultimedia.com/arconear/video
NOTE
I used software version 0.4.8 in the video. Version 1.0.0 is now available.
EXPENSIVE HEADPHONES (Affiliate links to support my channel. Or just click then buy some toothpaste.)
Audeze LCD-X - amzn.to/4hdLfWC
Focal Clear MG Professional - amzn.to/48tORkV
HiFiMan HE1000se - amzn.to/4n6QxEt
AKG K-812 - amzn.to/4q54END
Fostex TH1000RP - amzn.to/4h71If4
CHEAP HEADPHONE
OneOdio headphones - amzn.to/42E0hyT
LINKS
IK Multimedia ARC Studio speaker and room correction - youtu.be/E6mw_lGH0_0
Minimum phase vs. Linear phase - youtube.com/watch?v=UFrbKqRuKxI
MUSIC
'You can't recycle wasted time' by David Mellor, available on streaming and Bandcamp davidmellor.bandcamp.com/track/you-cant-recycle-wasted-time
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
2:18 The perfect speaker
3:21 Enter IK Multimedia ARC ON•EAR
4:37 Hardware
6:27 Software
12:02 Would I buy it?
13:28 Unboxing
EQUIPMENT USED TO MAKE AUDIO MASTERCLASS VIDEOS
CAMERA - Sony Alpha A6600 amzn.to/3uj7Dtq
COMPUTER - Apple Mac Mini M2 Pro amzn.to/47tW6Wg
MICROPHONE - Sennheiser MKH 416 amzn.to/3QWWvuO
ALTERNATIVE MICROPHONE - AKG C414 amzn.to/3SLqCad
BUDGET MICROPHONE CHOICE - Rode shotgun amzn.to/3G0ni36
MICROPHONE PREAMPLIFIER - Comica LinkFlex AD2 amzn.to/40SMHFT
TELEPROMPTER - Padcaster Parrot alternatives amzn.to/40A55TJ
TELEPROMPTER SOFTWARE - PromptSmart Pro promptsmart.com
AUDIO INTERFACE - Behringer UMC202HD amzn.to/3ugj6db
HEADPHONES - Sony wired amzn.to/3sEjlht
SPEAKER CABLE - KabelDirekt amzn.to/3ucgQ6T
POWER AMPLIFIER - Fosi V3 amzn.to/3vRumNH
KEYLIGHT- Amaran 100d amzn.to/40A5Gor
FILL LIGHTS - Switti RGB amzn.to/3ufhOPu
SOFTBOX Phot-R alternatives amzn.to/3QGoTjJ
LIGHTING STANDS Phot-R alternatives amzn.to/3QWXOKe
MONITOR - Samsung UJ59 amzn.to/3MEoBsk
MONITOR ARM - Invision alternatives amzn.to/40SLqi5
MIC ARM - Yellowtech M!ka (10% discount) - shop.yellowtec.com/discount/AUDIO-DAVID
TRIPOD - Velbon alternatives amzn.to/46gu2oa
GREEN SCREEN - Elgato alternatives amzn.to/3SG2F3L
DESK - FlexiSpot E7 Pro amzn.to/3QVIWvS
ERGONOMIC CHAIR - FlexiSpot C7 Air Pro flexispot.com/flexispot-best-ergonomic-office-chair-c7
VIDEO EDITING - Apple Final Cut Pro apple.com/final-cut-pro
IMAGE EDITING - Adobe Photoshop amzn.to/3FZ7Ww0
AUDIO EDITING - Avid Pro Tools amzn.to/3QA5Wz7
NOTEBOOK - Leuchturm 1917 hardback amzn.to/47zonKX
PEN - Sakura Pigma archival pen Sakura Pigma archival pen amzn.to/47zz3cP
OSCILLOSCOPE - Hameg HM 203 alternatives amzn.to/47tWN1O
GROOMING - Philips 3000 nose hair trimmer amzn.to/40BdLJo
GROOMING - Nose plier amzn.to/41IOZaR
HAIR COLOUR - Just For Men amzn.to/475OgS1
HAIR CONDITIONER - TRESemmé Silky & Smooth amzn.to/41AdWFd
OPTICAL AID - tigerspecs.co.uk/item/jelli-multi-coloured-reading-glasses
Disclaimer: Videos on this channel may include affiliate links and may feature software that has been received free of charge with an NFR (not for resale) licence, equipment that has been loaned or donated by a manufacturer or distributer, or equipment that has been bought for less than full retail price.
The perfect headphone doesn’t exist — not even the ones you hide from your partner and only bring out when the house is quiet. But the IK Multimedia ARC ON•EAR might just come close.
In this video, I take a deep dive into the three main problems with headphone listening: frequency response, stereo perspective, and amplifier compatibility. I look at why no headphone can ever truly have a flat response, why listening on headphones feels so unnatural compared to speakers, and how headphone amps can completely change what you actually hear.
Then I explore how the ARC ON•EAR tries to fix all of this — using clever processing to correct the sound of over 200 headphone models and even recreate the feeling of listening in a real studio. I go through the hardware, the software setup, and give my own impressions of how it performs in everyday listening.
So, is this little box a genuine revolution for headphone listening, or just another expensive gadget? Let’s find out.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Web - ikmultimedia.com/arconear
Video - ikmultimedia.com/arconear/video
NOTE
I used software version 0.4.8 in the video. Version 1.0.0 is now available.
EXPENSIVE HEADPHONES (Affiliate links to support my channel. Or just click then buy some toothpaste.)
Audeze LCD-X - amzn.to/4hdLfWC
Focal Clear MG Professional - amzn.to/48tORkV
HiFiMan HE1000se - amzn.to/4n6QxEt
AKG K-812 - amzn.to/4q54END
Fostex TH1000RP - amzn.to/4h71If4
CHEAP HEADPHONE
OneOdio headphones - amzn.to/42E0hyT
LINKS
IK Multimedia ARC Studio speaker and room correction - youtu.be/E6mw_lGH0_0
Minimum phase vs. Linear phase - youtube.com/watch?v=UFrbKqRuKxI
MUSIC
'You can't recycle wasted time' by David Mellor, available on streaming and Bandcamp davidmellor.bandcamp.com/track/you-cant-recycle-wasted-time
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
2:18 The perfect speaker
3:21 Enter IK Multimedia ARC ON•EAR
4:37 Hardware
6:27 Software
12:02 Would I buy it?
13:28 Unboxing
EQUIPMENT USED TO MAKE AUDIO MASTERCLASS VIDEOS
CAMERA - Sony Alpha A6600 amzn.to/3uj7Dtq
COMPUTER - Apple Mac Mini M2 Pro amzn.to/47tW6Wg
MICROPHONE - Sennheiser MKH 416 amzn.to/3QWWvuO
ALTERNATIVE MICROPHONE - AKG C414 amzn.to/3SLqCad
BUDGET MICROPHONE CHOICE - Rode shotgun amzn.to/3G0ni36
MICROPHONE PREAMPLIFIER - Comica LinkFlex AD2 amzn.to/40SMHFT
TELEPROMPTER - Padcaster Parrot alternatives amzn.to/40A55TJ
TELEPROMPTER SOFTWARE - PromptSmart Pro promptsmart.com
AUDIO INTERFACE - Behringer UMC202HD amzn.to/3ugj6db
HEADPHONES - Sony wired amzn.to/3sEjlht
SPEAKER CABLE - KabelDirekt amzn.to/3ucgQ6T
POWER AMPLIFIER - Fosi V3 amzn.to/3vRumNH
KEYLIGHT- Amaran 100d amzn.to/40A5Gor
FILL LIGHTS - Switti RGB amzn.to/3ufhOPu
SOFTBOX Phot-R alternatives amzn.to/3QGoTjJ
LIGHTING STANDS Phot-R alternatives amzn.to/3QWXOKe
MONITOR - Samsung UJ59 amzn.to/3MEoBsk
MONITOR ARM - Invision alternatives amzn.to/40SLqi5
MIC ARM - Yellowtech M!ka (10% discount) - shop.yellowtec.com/discount/AUDIO-DAVID
TRIPOD - Velbon alternatives amzn.to/46gu2oa
GREEN SCREEN - Elgato alternatives amzn.to/3SG2F3L
DESK - FlexiSpot E7 Pro amzn.to/3QVIWvS
ERGONOMIC CHAIR - FlexiSpot C7 Air Pro flexispot.com/flexispot-best-ergonomic-office-chair-c7
VIDEO EDITING - Apple Final Cut Pro apple.com/final-cut-pro
IMAGE EDITING - Adobe Photoshop amzn.to/3FZ7Ww0
AUDIO EDITING - Avid Pro Tools amzn.to/3QA5Wz7
NOTEBOOK - Leuchturm 1917 hardback amzn.to/47zonKX
PEN - Sakura Pigma archival pen Sakura Pigma archival pen amzn.to/47zz3cP
OSCILLOSCOPE - Hameg HM 203 alternatives amzn.to/47tWN1O
GROOMING - Philips 3000 nose hair trimmer amzn.to/40BdLJo
GROOMING - Nose plier amzn.to/41IOZaR
HAIR COLOUR - Just For Men amzn.to/475OgS1
HAIR CONDITIONER - TRESemmé Silky & Smooth amzn.to/41AdWFd
OPTICAL AID - tigerspecs.co.uk/item/jelli-multi-coloured-reading-glasses
Disclaimer: Videos on this channel may include affiliate links and may feature software that has been received free of charge with an NFR (not for resale) licence, equipment that has been loaned or donated by a manufacturer or distributer, or equipment that has been bought for less than full retail price.
