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Schiit Loki

I acquired the Loki several months ago. I hated to use it though, fearing I was compromising the “purity” of the system. Although, theoretically, I thought ( and commented on it here) that it was a fine addition,  I didn’t have the courage of my convictions and seldom (if ever) used it. I finally talked myself into actually inserting it. Now, I discover what a fool I’ve been.
It doesn’t compromise the sound, but indeed enhances it. Soundstaging is just fine, and performances  that I thought we’re unlistenable are now really enjoyable. Why sacrifice enjoyment in the quest for “purity?) We spend fortunes on tweaks to accomplish what this little device can do with the twist of a knob.
  I wonder if others have had this revelation.
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10 responses Add your response
erik_squires
16,130 posts
 
Glad you are happy with it. :)

The quality of tone controls is very device dependent.

We spend fortunes on tweaks to accomplish what this little device can do with the twist of a knob.

Yep.  Listening to music recorded over decades, with different mastering engineers, mastering speakers, and audio fads, it makes no sense to me to attempt audio purity without some way to season the experience to taste.

rvpiano's avatar
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rvpiano OP
2,666 posts
 
All sources are not of the same quality.  And, although recording engineers attempt to adhere to a certain standard,  for whatever reasons, the final product sometimes falls short. The Loki equalizer simply makes slight adjustments to fine tune an already well-balanced audio system.
jay73's avatar
jay73
219 posts
 
Good to see this post.

I have been thinking about getting one myself to use for my TT.

To give it that little extra juice it needs on certain recordings.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
rvpiano
I finally talked myself into actually inserting it. Now, I discover what a fool I’ve been.
It doesn’t compromise the sound, but indeed enhances it.

Yes if your system needs it, it’s definitely the way to go to fine tune (EQ) your sound.
And doing it in the analog domain means your not corrupting the sound of your prized expensive dac with something cheap, like you would if you did EQ in the digital domain.

Here is the adjustment ranges of the 4 x control knobs at their frequencies for those who want to know it.
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/schiit-loki-eq-measurements.5153/

Cheers George
cavscout19d's avatar
cavscout19d
31 posts
 
"season to taste" Fabulous answer -
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,821 posts
 

I really miss not only the tone controls (a fair percentage of my favorite music was recorded in less-than-audiophile quality sound), but also the mode (stereo/mono/left/right) and balance controls all pre-amps used to have on their front panels, including the Dynaco PAS 2, McIntosh C26, and Audio Research SP-3 I have owned. It was the first Levinson pre-amp (designed by John Curl) that made tone controls on a pre-amp render said pre "unworthy" of being considered high end, and started the trend towards minimalism.

I have an ARC LS-1 in my rack solely for it’s mode switch, and have considered replacing it with an older Mac just for it’s tone controls. Now I don’t have to! Mike Moffat understands ;-) .

lak's avatar
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lak
4,646 posts
 
There is a good reason the Loki was recommended by many.
Glad you are enjoying yours.
giantsalami's avatar
giantsalami
227 posts
 
Still one of the best components I have bought. Between the adjustable subs and the Loki, I can make most recordings highly enjoyable. : )
leemaze
330 posts
 
I recently moved to a new home and put my Rega RS1s in the kitchen. They sounded good but thin. After a few months I whipped out the Loki, played some loud pink noise, tuned my knobs with an iPhone spectrometer, and voila: home made room correction! Sounds great! And very subtle when flipped on/off. I love this thing.  
kclone's avatar
kclone
680 posts
 

Bringing up an old thread because I have a question. If my system is music server into an integrated amp with a DAC, where in the chain would it go?

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