Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 9 stores. Prices updated .

Amazon
4.5 (66)
$249.99
Reverb
$39.00 New
$58.43 Used
B&H
5.0 (8)
$299.00
Thomann
4.6 (191)
$185.00 $169.00 $16.00 · All time low
Gear4Music
£252.50

Price History

Based on price data from 6 merchants for "Sonarworks SoundID Reference Plug-in for Speakers & Headphones with Measurement Microphone". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

The Sonarworks SoundID Reference Plug-in for Speakers & Headphones with Measurement Microphone is your ticket to achieving impeccable audio fidelity in any studio environment. Tailored for both professional and amateur audio engineers, this software and mic bundle ensures that your monitoring setup delivers a precise, flat frequency response, eliminating tonal coloration and allowing for accurate mix decisions.

Experience the power of custom audio calibration with over 280 ready-to-use headphone profiles and the ability to save unlimited calibration profiles for various setups. This flexibility makes it a breeze to switch between different speakers, headphones, and rooms. The included measurement microphone is expertly designed to capture the unique acoustic characteristics of your environment, ensuring your mixes translate perfectly across different playback devices.

The software's user-friendly interface allows for quick setup, typically taking less than 20 minutes to calibrate your speakers. With Translation Check, you can simulate your mixes on over 20 different devices, ensuring your audio sounds flawless everywhere. The plug-in features three filter modes—Zero Latency, Mixed, and Linear Phase—allowing you to optimize the filter quality and latency based on your monitoring needs. Additional DSP controls, such as Mono, Dry/Wet, and Safe Headroom, offer further refinement.

Key Features:

  • Speaker and headphone calibration software with measurement microphone
  • Over 280 headphone calibration profiles
  • Unlimited profile saving for speakers and headphones
  • Translation Check for simulating mixes on 20+ devices
  • Three filter modes: Zero Latency, Mixed, and Linear Phase
  • Additional DSP controls: Mono, Dry/Wet, Safe Headroom
  • Custom target curve adjustments in real-time
  • Includes DAW plug-in and standalone application components
  • Pre-polarized electret-condenser capsule microphone with omnidirectional polar pattern

Product specs

Software Type Sound Calibration Software
Platform Mac, PC
Upgrade/Full Full
Download/Boxed Boxed with Sonarworks Measurement Microphone
Bit Depth 64-bit
Format AAX, VST, AU
Hardware Requirements - Mac Intel Core 2 Duo or higher, 4GB RAM minimum
Hardware Requirements - PC Intel Core 2 Duo / AMD Athlon 64 X2 or higher, 4GB RAM minimum
OS Requirements - Mac macOS 10.14 or later
OS Requirements - PC Windows 10 or later

FAQs

What is the primary purpose of the Sonarworks SoundID Reference Plug-in?

The Sonarworks SoundID Reference Plug-in is designed to calibrate speakers and headphones to provide a flat and accurate sound profile, enabling more precise audio mixing and mastering.

Does the Sonarworks SoundID Reference include a measurement microphone?

Yes, the Sonarworks SoundID Reference comes with a measurement microphone specifically designed to accurately capture room acoustics for speaker calibration.

Is the Sonarworks SoundID Reference Plug-in compatible with both Mac and PC?

Yes, the Sonarworks SoundID Reference Plug-in is compatible with both Mac and PC, supporting macOS 10.14 or later and Windows 10 or later.

What plugin formats does the Sonarworks SoundID Reference support?

The Sonarworks SoundID Reference supports AAX, VST, and AU plugin formats, making it versatile for use with various digital audio workstations.

Can the Sonarworks SoundID Reference Plug-in be used with any headphones?

The Sonarworks SoundID Reference Plug-in is compatible with a wide range of headphones, allowing users to achieve a flat frequency response for accurate monitoring.

What are the system requirements for running the Sonarworks SoundID Reference on a Mac?

To run the Sonarworks SoundID Reference on a Mac, you need an Intel Core 2 Duo processor or higher, at least 4GB of RAM, and macOS 10.14 or later.

Reviews

PROS

  • Transforms untreated rooms into precise listening environments effortlessly

  • Intuitive setup with user-friendly software guides for easy calibration

  • Significant improvement in sound clarity and balance across different playback systems

  • Tailored profiles for both studio monitors and headphones

  • Accurate measurement microphone enhances calibration precision

  • Solves bass issues and clears mid/high-mid frequency peaks

  • Calibration customization according to personal listening preferences

  • Ensures mixes translate well across different environments

  • Compatible with various devices, including phones and laptops

  • Reliable and consistent stereo sound correction

CONS

  • Cannot replace the need for acoustic treatment entirely

  • Calibration can introduce latency in certain setups

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Sonarworks SoundID Reference Plug-in for Speakers & Headphones with Measurement Microphone.

Features and functionality

  • Sonarworks allows toggling between linear phase and mixed phase modes to address phase shift concerns, with linear phase potentially introducing pre-ringing on transient materials.

    Source
  • Sonarworks includes a wet/dry control in the interface, which users adjust to around 85% wet for a natural sound while maintaining mix translation.

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  • Sonarworks offers the ability to simulate various listening environments, such as car stereos and smartphone speakers, enhancing mix translation checks.

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  • The Systemwide app ensures all system audio, not just DAW output, is calibrated, providing consistent listening across all platforms like Spotify and YouTube.

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  • The plugin automatically disables itself during rendering to prevent calibration from being printed, streamlining the process for users.

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Use cases and applications

  • In small or untreated spaces, Sonarworks significantly improves monitor sound quality, reducing the need to check mixes in alternate locations like cars.

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  • Users appreciate the ability to tilt the frequency response in Sonarworks, allowing for bass or treble emphasis while maintaining a flat response for accurate mix checks.

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Comparisons

  • Owners report Sonarworks provides better results than manual EQ adjustments using REW, due to its multi-location averaging feature for room measurements.

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  • Owners using third-party measurement mics find significant differences when switching to the Sonarworks mic, which aligns more closely with high-end systems like Trinnov ST2.

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Software and compatibility

  • When used at the system level on macOS, Sonarworks adjusts all audio outputs, not just DAW outputs, preventing export issues.

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  • Some users report that SoundID Reference can override and uninstall audio interface drivers, requiring reinstallation, unlike Reference 4 which they find more reliable.

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  • The software guides users through room measurement steps, which can be alternatively done with a USB mic and Room EQ Wizard, but with more complexity.

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User experience

  • Owners of Beyerdynamic DT990s note suboptimal headphone compensation with Sonarworks due to mismatched factory profiles, highlighting a need for personalized calibration options.

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Setup and maintenance

  • Custom headphone profiles can be created by sending in headphones for personalized measurement, enhancing accuracy over database averages.

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Critic Reviews

Sonarworks SoundID Reference

soundonsound.com

Sonarworks' SoundID Reference Plug-in ambitiously targets both music creators and consumers, enhancing mix translation with its innovative features like the Translation Check and Custom Target EQ. While it offers a polished user experience and impressive calibration capabilities, some users may find the upgrade less compelling if they don't need these new features. Additionally, the SoundID component is still in its early stages, with limitations like the absence of iOS support. Overall, this software is a game-changer for mixing environments, although its full potential relies on user adoption.

positive

Review: Sonarworks SoundID Reference

musictech.com

Sonarworks' SoundID Reference Plug-in offers a refined approach to audio calibration, boasting a sleeker interface and enhanced features like Translation Check for various listening environments. However, while the new Custom Target EQ adds flexibility, some users may find the editing sluggish and miss previous functionalities. The core calibration remains strong, ensuring accurate mixes, but if you're satisfied with Reference 4, the upgrade may not be essential. For newcomers or those seeking improved performance, it's a valuable tool, but existing users might hesitate.

SoundID Reference Review by Soundworks - gearnews.com

gearnews.com

Sonarworks SoundID Reference Plug-in excels in room correction, boasting impressive multi-channel support and an intuitive interface that makes setup and calibration a breeze. It effectively optimizes sound for both speakers and headphones, enhancing accuracy in mixes. However, users may encounter compatibility issues with certain audio interfaces, and the initial setup can feel tedious. Despite these hiccups, the software's simplicity and efficiency shine through, making it a top contender in its category. For those serious about audio production, a trial is highly recommended to experience its benefits firsthand.

positive

Review: Sonarworks SoundID Reference — AudioTechnology

audiotechnology.com

Sonarworks SoundID Reference is a game-changer for audio calibration, boasting an impressive suite of tools to fine-tune both speakers and headphones. The meticulous measurement process, though time-consuming, yields remarkable sonic improvements, transforming the listening experience into something akin to unboxing new gear. However, the frequency response graph could benefit from more interactive features for easier navigation. Despite this minor drawback, the software excels in versatility, offering users extensive customization and a valuable translation check for common playback systems. For pros and enthusiasts alike, this tool strikes a solid balance between accurate sound reproduction and creative flexibility.

positive

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating

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stormdrive

Great for monitoring.

Using Sonarworks SoundID Reference, I could monitor or listen the music in flat sound, especially Sonarworks SoundID Reference correct the level imbalance of left and right speakers, that normally hard to correct with human ears. So now I guess that can hear perfect stereo sound. :)

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