The ARC Studio was a significant release for IK Multimedia, and was praised for offering a cost-effective entry point into the world of hardware-based room-correction. The company have now announced the launch of the ARC Studio+, which expands on the concept by introducing standalone calibration and automatic subwoofer management along with digital I/O. 

The new arrival introduces a Standalone Calibration mode that allows users to carry out their calibration by connecting the an ARC measurement microphone directly to the ARC Studio+. One- and three-point quick calibration processes can be triggered at the press of a button, with the unit measuring the room’s acoustic response and applying the correction curve instantly using the system’s onboard DSP. For setups that demand a more precise approach, users can instead employ the included ARC X software, which will create a custom calibration profile based on multi-point 3D spatial analysis.

Bass management is taken care of automatically, with the ARC Studio+ automatically taking care of the crossover, level matching and phase alignment between the main speakers and subwoofer, and offering a dedicated bass-managed output in addition to its main stereo outputs. As well as providing line-level connectivity, the new unit also offers digital I/O via USB-C and S/PDIF, allowing users to avoid introducing another A-D/D-A stage into their signal chain if it’s not required. 

Because the processing takes place on the device’s onboard DSP, it’s capable of delivering near zero-latency  and places no load on the user’s computer. A set of front-panel buttons make it possible to switch between up to three profiles instantly, and a power-safe, relay-based hard bypass guarantees transparency when comparing corrected and uncorrected signals, as well as protecting speakers as the system is powered up and down.

IK Multimedia say that the original ARC Studio will remain available as an entry-level option. 

The ARC Studio+ is available now, and for a limited time, IK Multimedia are running the following introductory pricing offers:

• ARC Studio+ — $€399.99 (usually $€449.99)

  • Includes the ARC Studio+ hardware processor, ARC X software, power supply and precision ARC measurement microphone.
• ARC Studio+ Upgrade for ARC Microphone Owners — $€349.99 (usually $€399.99)
  • Includes the ARC Studio+ hardware processor, ARC X software and power supply. Available to users who already own an ARC measurement microphone.
• ARC Studio+ Upgrade for ARC Studio Owners — $€299.99 (usually $€349.99)
  • Includes the ARC Studio+ hardware processor, ARC X software and power supply. Available to existing ARC Studio owners.

www.ikmultimedia.com/arcstudioplus