Better sound from your headphones with the IK Multimedia ARC ON•EAR

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 - https://www.ikmultimedia.com/arconear Video - https://www.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 - https://amzn.to/4hdLfWC Focal Clear MG Professional - https://amzn.to/48tORkV HiFiMan HE1000se - https://amzn.to/4n6QxEt AKG K-812 - https://amzn.to/4q54END Fostex TH1000RP - https://amzn.to/4h71If4 CHEAP HEADPHONE OneOdio headphones - https://amzn.to/42E0hyT LINKS IK Multimedia ARC Studio speaker and room correction - https://youtu.be/E6mw_lGH0_0 Minimum phase vs. Linear phase - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFrbKqRuKxI MUSIC 'You can't recycle wasted time' by David Mellor, available on streaming and Bandcamp https://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 https://amzn.to/3uj7Dtq COMPUTER - Apple Mac Mini M2 Pro https://amzn.to/47tW6Wg MICROPHONE - Sennheiser MKH 416 https://amzn.to/3QWWvuO ALTERNATIVE MICROPHONE - AKG C414 https://amzn.to/3SLqCad BUDGET MICROPHONE CHOICE - Rode shotgun https://amzn.to/3G0ni36 MICROPHONE PREAMPLIFIER - Comica LinkFlex AD2 https://amzn.to/40SMHFT TELEPROMPTER - Padcaster Parrot alternatives https://amzn.to/40A55TJ TELEPROMPTER SOFTWARE - PromptSmart Pro https://promptsmart.com/ AUDIO INTERFACE - Behringer UMC202HD https://amzn.to/3ugj6db HEADPHONES - Sony wired https://amzn.to/3sEjlht SPEAKER CABLE - KabelDirekt https://amzn.to/3ucgQ6T POWER AMPLIFIER - Fosi V3 https://amzn.to/3vRumNH KEYLIGHT- Amaran 100d https://amzn.to/40A5Gor FILL LIGHTS - Switti RGB https://amzn.to/3ufhOPu SOFTBOX Phot-R alternatives https://amzn.to/3QGoTjJ LIGHTING STANDS Phot-R alternatives https://amzn.to/3QWXOKe MONITOR - Samsung UJ59 https://amzn.to/3MEoBsk MONITOR ARM - Invision alternatives https://amzn.to/40SLqi5 MIC ARM - Yellowtech M!ka (10% discount) - https://shop.yellowtec.com/discount/AUDIO-DAVID TRIPOD - Velbon alternatives https://amzn.to/46gu2oa GREEN SCREEN - Elgato alternatives https://amzn.to/3SG2F3L DESK - FlexiSpot E7 Pro https://amzn.to/3QVIWvS ERGONOMIC CHAIR - FlexiSpot C7 Air Pro https://www.flexispot.com/flexispot-best-ergonomic-office-chair-c7 VIDEO EDITING - Apple Final Cut Pro https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/ IMAGE EDITING - Adobe Photoshop https://amzn.to/3FZ7Ww0 AUDIO EDITING - Avid Pro Tools https://amzn.to/3QA5Wz7 NOTEBOOK - Leuchturm 1917 hardback https://amzn.to/47zonKX PEN - Sakura Pigma archival pen Sakura Pigma archival pen https://amzn.to/47zz3cP OSCILLOSCOPE - Hameg HM 203 alternatives https://amzn.to/47tWN1O GROOMING - Philips 3000 nose hair trimmer https://amzn.to/40BdLJo GROOMING - Nose plier https://amzn.to/41IOZaR HAIR COLOUR - Just For Men https://amzn.to/475OgS1 HAIR CONDITIONER - TRESemmé Silky & Smooth https://amzn.to/41AdWFd OPTICAL AID - https://www.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.