YOUR Studio on YOUR Headphones. Anywhere.

NEW Virtual Monitoring PRO

Create the Most Realistic Room Simulation Ever - On Your Headphones With New Virtual Monitoring PRO version.

Watch the Virtual Monitoring PRO Video →

Awards

MusicTech Silver Award Highly Commanded Best Of CES 2019 Award Headphone Review Gold Medal CanJam Europe 2017 Best Accessories SOS Awards Winner CES 2021 Innovation Award TEC Awards 2021 Nominee Twice Picks Awards Winner iF Design Award 2023 NAMM TEC MusicTech Choice Award CES 2022 Innovation Award Sos Awards 2019 Winner Gamma 2025 Wipo Global Awards
Modern recording studio monitor setup featuring large white wall-mounted speakers, a black nearfield monitor, and a small white reference speaker above a professional mixing console in a minimalist acoustic environment.

Virtual Monitoring

Best if you want instant mix translation across common listening spaces.

Get for €129
Professional studio setup with large black monitor speakers, in-ear reference headphones, and mixing console positioned against a vibrant purple acoustic wall, showcasing modern sound engineering aesthetics.

Virtual Monitoring PRO

Best if you need professional-grade ultra realistic accuracy of your own trusted room

Get PRO for €299

Produce Superior Mixes on Headphones That Translate Everywhere with Realistic Studio and Device Simulations

Realistic simulations - from near, mid, and far-field speakers calibrated to a reliable flat reference sound, to spatial simulations of cars, laptops, TVs, and smartphones

Measure Your Studio with a Precise Binaural Microphone - Create an Ultra-Realistic Copy of Its Sound on Your Headphones

Carry your trusted studio sound anywhere you go. Create personalized translation check spaces, or measure your unique acoustic environments like your car or room.

Benefits by product version

Switch between tabs to compare features

Sound engineer at a mixing console in a professional recording studio, working on a digital audio workstation with large monitor speakers.

Recreate your trusted studio sound on your over-ear headphones wherever you go.

Black over-ear studio headphones with padded headband and closed-back design displayed on a vibrant purple background.

Create multiple profiles that mirror any studio or monitoring environment on your headphones.

SoundID Reference Virtual Monitoring PRO interface displayed on a computer screen, showing setup process with user wearing binaural in-ear measurement microphone in a minimalist studio environment.

Includes binaural in-ear microphone and guided measurement process - fifteen minutes, lifetime value

Modern Electric Car Interior Dashboard

Simulate other monitoring environments like cars or living rooms for confident mix translation anywhere.

How does Virtual Monitoring PRO work?

Ultra-precise simulations of high-quality near-, mid-, and far-field setups.

SoundID Reference Virtual Monitoring PRO package featuring a black binaural microphone and USB-C audio interface on a white geometric-patterned box.

Step 1

Get Virtual Monitoring PRO

→ Buy Virtual Monitoring PRO or upgrade from any existing SoundID Reference version

→ Get a license key and the binaural in-ear measurement microphone

Black over-ear studio headphones with cushioned ear pads and headband, isolated on a dark black background with soft lighting.

Step 2

Prepare all gear

→ Prepare over-ear headphones

→ Be present in the room to capture

→ Connect the SoundID USB binaural in-ear measurement microphone.

SoundID Reference VM PRO software over a professional audio mixing studio with large console, studio monitors, meters, and control room setup visible.

Step 3

Capture Your Personalized Profile

Follow the easy, intuitive 10-minute step-by-step process to capture your personal room profile in minutes.

SoundID Reference software interface displaying studio calibration graphs with frequency response curves, target profiles, and active audio output monitoring.

Step 4

Apply Your Profile

→ Save your room profile

→ Load it in SoundID Reference app or a DAW plugin

→ Take your speaker sound everywhere

What you'll need to create Virtual Monitoring PRO profile:

→ Access the stereo system you wish to capture for measurement

→ SoundID USB binaural in-ear microphone

→ Soundcard with separate speaker and headphone outputs

Please check this article for full system requirements.

SoundID Reference setup diagram showing connection between computer, audio interface, speakers, headphones, and SoundID binaural microphone for studio calibration.

Compare functionality

Both versions include a permanent SoundID Reference for Headphones license

White studio monitor speakers and mixing console arranged in a professional control room setup, minimalistic design on black background.
Black binaural in-ear measurement microphone positioned in front of professional studio monitors and mixing console, representing SoundID Reference Virtual Monitoring PRO concept.

New

Virtual Monitoring

Virtual Monitoring PRO

Spatial Room Simulation on Your Headphones

3 speaker simulations: near, mid, and far-field

7 consumer device simulations: Phone, Laptop, TV, and more.

3 car simulation presets

Ultra-realistic, personalized simulation of your room

Ultra-realistic, personalized simulation of other acoustic environments you visit

Required gear

Any over-ear headphones
(headphone calibration not needed)

Sonarworks binaural in-ear measurement microphone (included)

Access to the room for measurement

Supported environments

Stereo

Stereo

Application of the simulation

Plugin & system-wide

Plugin & system-wide

Trial version

Not available (hardware required)

Pricing

SoundID Reference Virtual Monitoring view showing calibrated headphone preset, nearfield speaker simulation, flat and Dolby target modes, and active output meters for immersive monitoring workflow.

Virtual Monitoring

Average profile simulations

€129.00

21-day free trial available

 Includes SoundID Reference for Headphones

 Works in DAW as a plugin + systemwide

 Includes custom target curves

*Virtual Monitoring doesn’t include a binaural in-ear measurement microphone.

Screenshot of SoundID Reference software over a professional audio mixing studio with large console, studio monitors, meters, and control room setup visible.

Virtual Monitoring PRO With Binaural Microphone

Ultra-precise and realistic copy of your room

€299.00

 Includes SoundID Reference for Headphones

 Works in DAW as a plugin + systemwide

 Includes custom target curves

 Includes binaural in-ear microphone

 Works on any over-ear headphones

Upgrade from Virtual Monitoring Add-on to Virtual Monitoring PRO with Binaural Microphone

Includes Virtual Monitoring PRO features and USB binaural in-ear measurement microphone (hardware component)

€199
Upgrade from SoundID Reference to Virtual Monitoring PRO with Binaural Microphone

Includes Virtual Monitoring PRO features and USB binaural in-ear measurement microphone (hardware component)

€229

★★★★★

“This is really fun! Its cool, I feel like I can teleport to any of my favorite places.”

‒ review.io

★★★★★

“After the first measurement, I started listening to music with headphones. After a while, I switched the sound source switch on the studio monitor control and couldn't understand why nothing was happening. Of course! I slapped my forehead, because I was listening to music through Virtual Monitoring PRO. I completely forgot that I was wearing headphones.”

‒ review.io

★★★★★

“PRO is much better because it was measured in my space and translates much better to headphones for a better overall binaural experience. I’m glad they had the option to calibrate to the room with existing SoundID profiles as well, I was worried that might not be a feature but I was very pleased to find it had already been thought of. I haven’t had a chance to use PRO on any projects yet but I’m excited to put it to use.”

‒ review.io

★★★★★

“It works really well and I highly recommend it to all professionals.”

‒ review.io

★★★★★

“Solid Purchase. I love Sonarworks products because they simply work.”

‒ review.io

★★★★★

“Now, besides that, I can only say that I'm ABSOLUTELY mindblown. I'm a huge sound audiophile and I always seek these technologies. I'm an owner of VSX, and when reading about Virtual Monitoring, I was seeing mixed reviews. So when I read about the PRO, and that it would be easier to see if it actually works because you're extracting the sound of a system you know very well, I went for it.”

‒ review.io

★★★★★

“All I can say is that I'm simply mindblown. Like with the sonarworks reference for speakers I remember spending some good 20-30 minutes doing it. With this one? It's literally 2 quick frequency sweeps and that's it.”

‒ review.io

★★★★★

“I was not sure how to get up and running as I also had Apollo Correction Software. Once I got through the technical hoops (in part due to customer support), I was navigating with confidence. The measurement process was almost surreal. Once you hear the results, it truly is unbelievable. I literally cannot hear the difference. I am stoked to bring my home studio with me everywhere I go.”

‒ review.io

★★★★★

“I love how the ear pieces fit and it is so cool to be able to record spaces that I know in real life!”

‒ review.io

★★★★★

“Let me clone a space, really made the diffirence in trusting my mixes.”

‒ review.io

★★★★★

“This is an excellent, innovative and a high quality solution for those, who need to virtualise their listening environments. I'm also curious (and still to find out) if the hardware can also be used for other HRTF-related activities, something akin to a dummy head, but with yours truly own :)”

‒ review.io

★★★★★

“Sonarworks Virtual Monitoring has been a genuinely useful addition to my mixing workflow. It gives me a clearer sense of how my mixes translate across different listening environments without needing multiple physical setups. The interface is straightforward, the presets are practical, and it helps reduce guesswork during critical decisions. A very effective tool for improving mix confidence and translation.”

‒ review.io

Virtual Monitoring PRO in Action: How-To Guides & Influencer Reviews

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between VM and VM PRO?

Virtual Monitoring is an extension to the SoundID Reference software, available in two versions:

Virtual Monitoring (Add-on): Apply pre-made spatial simulation presets of speakers & consumer devices on headphones. Works with SoundID Reference headphone calibration (requires Sonarworks-supported headphones).
→ Virtual Monitoring PRO: Ultra-realistic simulation of your own room or any other environment (stereo) on headphones. Requires any over-ear headphones (no headphone calibration needed) and the SoundID Reference In-ear Binaural Microphone. Also includes the Virtual Monitoring Add-on features.

What are the system requirements?

Virtual Monitoring (Add-on):

→ Supported operating system:
         macOS 11 Big Sur (or higher).
         Windows 10 (or higher).
→ Stable internet connection (offline use not supported).
→ SoundID Reference + Virtual Monitoring Add-on product licenses.
Sonarworks-supported headphones.

Virtual Monitoring PRO:

→ Supported operating system:
         macOS 11 Big Sur (or higher).
         Windows 10 (or higher).
→ Stable internet connection (offline use not supported).
→ SoundID Reference + Virtual Monitoring PRO product licenses.
→ A dedicated USB-C port to connect the SoundID Binaural in-ear measurement microphone.
Any over-ear headphones (no headphone calibration needed).
→ An audio interface with separate speaker and headphone outputs.
→ 44.1 KHz sample rate for the Virtual Monitoring PRO measurement process.

Do I need the binaural mic for VM PRO if I already own a Sonarworks measurement mic?

Yes, the SoundID Binauraul In-ear Microphone is required, as it is specifically designed for the Virtual Monitoring PRO measurements. Sonarworks speaker measurement microphones (XREF and MREF) are incompatible with VM PRO. Learn more here.

The binaural microphone is included in all VM PRO purchases (not available separately).

Can I create the VM PRO profile with speaker calibration applied? 

Yes, if you're already using SoundID Reference speaker calibration, you have two options:

→ Capture the raw sound of your room & speakers - no calibration applied.
→ Capture the room & speakers with calibration applied - load your existing .swproj speaker calibration profile during the VM PRO measurement process.

Can I upgrade to VM from an existing license?

Yes,there are two upgrade paths available for existing license owners (see the pricing section above):

→ For existing SoundID Reference license owners (any version): Upgrade from SoundID Reference to Virtual Monitoring PRO.
→ For existing Virtual Monitoring Add-on license owners: Upgrade from Virtual Monitoring Add-on to Virtual Monitoring PRO.

Is there a free trial available?

→ Virtual Monitoring Add-on: A free trial for SoundID Reference with all Add-ons is available in your Sonarworks Account.
Virtual Monitoring PRO: A free trial is not available, as it requires hardware (the SoundID Binaural In-ear Microphone).

Can I use VM with my SoundID Reference EDU license?

Yes, if you own an existing SoundID Reference EDU base license, both Virtual Monitoring Add-on and Virtual Monitoring PRO can be used with it.

Can I use the EREF binaural microphone to create headphone calibration profiles, or for other needs?

The SoundID binaural in-ear microphone has been designed specifically for the measurement process with Virtual Monitoring PRO. It is not possible to create headphone calibration profiles with it, and we do not recommend using this microphone for other purposes.

However, it is a USB-C class-compliant audio device, and it will be available as an input option in the I/O settings of various applications - feel free to experiment!