IK Multimedia ARC On-Ear Review: The Portable Studio Solution I've Been Waiting For?

In this video, I review the IK Multimedia ARC On-Ear, a portable studio simulation device that I was hoping would solve my biggest frustration with the Qudelix 5K. While the Qudelix 5K is my favorite dongle DAC for applying headphone frequency correction, it's not user-friendly when switching between different headphones. The ARC On-Ear promises to be the solution—it's a compact, battery-powered device that allows on-device headphone correction, studio simulation with binaural rendering, and multiple speaker simulations. It's incredibly easy to use with hardware buttons for switching between presets and toggling features, and the software interface provides plenty of control over calibration, EQ adjustments, and various functions. In principle, it's exactly what I was looking for in terms of convenience and portability.

However, I'm quite conflicted about this device. While I love its ease of use and functionality, the frequency correction for my Sony MDR-MV1s isn't entirely accurate—particularly around the 3 kHz range where I'm most sensitive due to my tinnitus. More broadly, the ARC system has what I consider a slightly harsh sound signature that doesn't quite work for my personal taste, though I acknowledge this is subjective and others may not experience it the same way. If you already use and enjoy other ARC products, you'll likely love this device. For me, despite its superior convenience, it unfortunately doesn't replace the Qudelix 5K.