I got ARC2 installed.   It certainly sounds different with ARC2 ON.   I'm not convinced it sounds BETTER though, than with it OFF.
 
What is the logical way forward to test it?   I make a simple piece with ARC2 ON.  I turn ARC2 OFF, and Export.   The exported file should, in theory, sound on other systems like it does from my monitors with ARC2 ON?  
 
How can I use headphones in the test process?  If I play back a piece through Sonar with ARC2 ON, then I listen with my headphones, I should of course turn ARC2 OFF then?   If its translating well, it should sound on my headphones (with ARC2 OFF), like it does through my monitors with ARC2 ON?
 
If I am finding that the piece played with ARC2 OFF translates to other systems better than it does with ARC2 ON, what is that telling me?!     

find all your buddies with studios, monitor setups, home stereos, etc....
 
that's really the only way to test it in such a way as to convince yourself.
 
 
the arc2 is ONLY for listening thru while you are mixing.
headphones basically remove the room from the equation.
 
but i find headphones to be very misleading, especially with LOW END ISSUES>
 
you can take the CRAPPIEST mix, with low end issues, and listen thru many headphones and it will still sound pretty decent..
 
throw it on your buddie's surround sound, and it will blow the woofers up!
LOL
 

The way I use ARC2 is I keep it on all the time on the Main Out bus which goes to the monitors. I added a send from my master bus labeled Headphones which is sent to a different out on my interface. Thus my monitors have ARC2 while Headphones don't at all times.

batsbrew
find all your buddies with studios, monitor setups, home stereos, etc....
 
that's really the only way to test it in such a way as to convince yourself.
 
 
the arc2 is ONLY for listening thru while you are mixing.
headphones basically remove the room from the equation.
 
but i find headphones to be very misleading, especially with LOW END ISSUES>
 
you can take the CRAPPIEST mix, with low end issues, and listen thru many headphones and it will still sound pretty decent..
 
throw it on your buddie's surround sound, and it will blow the woofers up!
LOL
 

Pretty spot on. ARC 2 will not instantly make your mixes sound better. It will help you HEAR what is happening in your mix. This helps you mix quicker and more accurately than without.