ARC ON·EAR is a hybrid headphone amp/DAC with built-in EQ correction for popular professional headphones. Like most audio workers, I do a ton of work while wearing headphones. Spending hours a day critically listening in headphones is a big part of my job. Whether I’m using the old Apple EarPods or my favorite pair of open-backs, I’ve learned the hard way that headphones are only as good as the amp (and DAC) that feeds them. ARC ON·EAR steps things up considerably by including built-in EQ curves for all the over-ear headphones I use. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how useful I’d find headphone EQ correction, but now I can’t imagine leaving home without my new favorite headphone amp.
I have a favorite pair of headphones. I’m obsessed with them. I even bought a special carrying case so I can tote them around with me wherever I’m working. However, they’re open-back, which means they’re just not the best choice for when I work from a noisy environment. I really enjoy working on the train, whether it’s composing scores, doing sound design, or editing. But my ears have become so tuned to the sound of my Sony MDR-MV1 [Tape Op #160] open-backs that I get confused when I have to wear closed-back headphones like my Audio-Technica ATH-M50Xs. The ARC’s built-in EQ compensation can’t make the M50s as lightweight as the Sonys, but it does make switching between them easier on my ears. It’s also really interesting that the biggest difference I hear when I switch headphones now is just the sound of the ear cup’s resonance.
I’ve gotten into the habit of wearing headphones while I dial in stereo signals with outboard gear, like drum overheads or piano. Like in most recording studios, my outboard gear lives several feet away from the ideal monitoring position, but I’m still determined to get the left and right perfectly balanced when I’m getting sounds. Switching between my speakers – which use the ARC Studio room correction [Tape Op #163] – I immediately noticed how much less contrast there was between the color of my headphones thanks to the corrective EQ. Even better, last week I forgot my favorite cans, but since the ARC ON·EAR allows me to store profiles for up to five different headphones, I could switch to a profile setup for the cheaper sets we keep for clients in the live room. ARC ON·EAR also offers a Studio Simulation mode that makes your headphones behave more like studio monitors in a treated room rather than a more inside-your-head headphone sound.
The software is super easy to set up and use, but after you’ve assigned profiles for your headphones, you won’t need to use the software again until you buy a new pair. You can use the DAC with your laptop or phone over USB, or you can use the analog input. The tiny travel case has room for the DAC and both the USB-C cable and the 1/8-inch cable that are included in the box. Thankfully, it’s small enough to fit in any bag, because I absolutely have to bring this with me everywhere I go now!