Sonarworks SoundID Reference monitor correction software: features and spec-based rating

Sonarworks’ SoundID Reference is software that corrects both speakers and headphones so that you can listen to an accurate reference sound. Speakers are measured in the room and corrected, and for headphones it can use correction data for more than 500 models. It can be used as a plug-in in your DAW (the software you make music in), or as an app that corrects the sound of the whole computer.

Monitor correction software corrects the quirks of speakers and headphones and the ring of the room so that you can hear sound accurately.

In this article we compare SoundID Reference with 8 monitor correction programs and rate how well it serves its purpose on three criteria. The basis is official manufacturer information.

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Image: from the Sonarworks resource kit (materials for press and sales)

Summary

Among the 8 monitor correction programs, SoundID Reference is rank A. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and A is second from the top. Averaging the scores for the three criteria (out of 5) gives 4.0.

Strengths

• What it can correct (5 points): it can correct both speakers and headphones.
• Correction controls (4 points): you can adjust the correction method and strength in detail.

Who it suits: people who want to tune both speakers and headphones with one program.

Main features of SoundID Reference

Corrects both speakers and headphones

Monitor correction software corrects sound that is skewed by the ring of a room or the quirks of headphones so that you hear it accurately. SoundID Reference can correct speakers by measuring the room, and headphones with correction data for each model. Of the 4 products we compared, this is the only one that can correct both speakers and headphones.

Target curve and correction method

You can adjust the target curve of the correction on the spot. You can also choose the correction method (mode) and decide by hand the range of frequencies to correct.

How it sounds in other environments

Translation Check lets you reproduce and check how a mix sounds in many environments, from car audio to high-end audio. Besides the DAW plug-in, there is a standalone app that corrects the sound of the whole computer.

Where it is useful

• Correcting sound skewed by the ring of the room so mixing decisions are easier
• Correcting the quirks of headphones to mix on headphones at night
• Checking how a mix sounds in a car or on a phone

Rating by criterion

What it can correct: 5 / 5

We look at whether it can correct speakers, headphones or both.

It can correct speakers by measuring the room, and headphones with correction data for more than 500 models.

Correction controls: 4 / 5

We look at whether you can choose or adjust the correction method and its strength.

You can choose the correction method (zero latency, mixed and linear phase) and the target curve (flat or one you make yourself).

Checking how it sounds elsewhere: 3 / 5

We look at whether it can reproduce how a mix sounds on other speakers, phones and other devices.

It can reproduce how a mix sounds in many environments, from car audio to high-end audio.

How we score (Monitor correction software)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
What it can correct	Whether it can correct speakers, headphones or both	Both speakers and headphones	—	Either one	—	—
Correction controls	Which of the correction method (phase and so on), the target curve and the amount of correction you can choose or adjust	All three	Two of the three	One of the three	None	—
Checking how it sounds elsewhere	Whether it can reproduce how the mix sounds on other speakers and everyday devices	40 or more devices and environments	20 or more devices and environments	Can reproduce them, but the number is not stated	—	Cannot reproduce them

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: hearing a correctly balanced sound in a home-studio room or on headphones. Scores follow the conditions in the table above. So that speaker products and headphone products can be compared by the same standard, there are three criteria: "What it can correct", "Correction controls" and "Checking how it sounds elsewhere". The number of supported headphones is shown in the table for reference. The basis is official manufacturer information. How well the correction works has not been measured, so it is not scored, and neither are the price or any supplied measurement microphone. Features that cannot be confirmed from the manufacturer's or a retailer's description are scored as if absent.

SoundID Reference screens and images

Image: from the Sonarworks resource kit (materials for press and sales)

Image: from the Sonarworks resource kit (materials for press and sales)

SoundID Reference system requirements and getting started

Operating system	Windows / Mac
Standalone	Yes (it can correct the sound of the whole computer)
Other	A measurement microphone is needed to correct speakers
Trial	7-day trial available

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on September 27, 2026.

Compared with other monitor correction programs

Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.

Read next

• ARC X: features and rating (rank A)
• Realphones 2: features and rating (rank A)
• Morphit: features and rating (rank B)
• Nx Virtual Mix Room: features and rating (rank B)