Schiit Loki Mini+ Equalizer Review

[Count Dacula]

View attachment 452143
It's kind of nice that the range of adjustment per band is rather limited (claimed +/- 6 dB) -- one of these should do way less harm in the hands of a standard-issue knuckle-dragger audiophile than the behemoth graphic EQs of the 1970s and 80s.
Instead of the dreaded EQ smile, the best something like this could do is probably an enigmatic little Mona Lisa smirk.

I'll bet its performance is abysmal, though, in terms of noise & distortion. I wonder what the actual EQ envelopes look like, too.

It claims .001% THD

 

[Ralf Stocker]

I would advise against using equalizers. They have a multitude of built-in sound stages that create ugly distortion and noise. The more, the worse. That has nothing to do with good audio.

 

[hiker1]

I would advise against using equalizers. They have a multitude of built-in sound stages that create ugly distortion and noise. The more, the worse. That has nothing to do with good audio.

Do you have any personal experience with the Schiit Loki Mini? Which equalizers have you tried?

 

[solderdude]

Do you have any personal experience with the Schiit Loki Mini? Which equalizers have you tried?

The Loki mini is a tone control. Not an equalizer.

 

[mhardy6647]

It claims .001% THD

independent confirmation or it didn't happen!

The Loki mini is a tone control. Not an equalizer.

ummm... is there a defined difference between the two? I'm thinking this is semantics, but I am happy, and eager, to be proved wrong!

EDIT: FWIW, the Boyz From Schiit themselves seem to be confused as to the difference -- although I grant you that this might not be the strongest evidence extant.

source:

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

www.schiit.com

 

[Count Dacula]

I would advise against using equalizers. They have a multitude of built-in sound stages that create ugly distortion and noise. The more, the worse. That has nothing to do with good audio.

Ok, I'll just sit on my hands with low bass levels then.... based on principle.

 

[Count Dacula]

It's kind of nice that the range of adjustment per band is rather limited (claimed +/- 6 dB) -- one of these should do way less harm in the hands of a standard-issue knuckle-dragger audiophile than the behemoth graphic EQs of the 1970s and 80s.

I use the selectable eq range like a loudness switch, +12db for low levels, switch to the +6db range for louder music. pic soon.

 

[Mean & Green]

I would advise against using equalizers. They have a multitude of built-in sound stages that create ugly distortion and noise. The more, the worse. That has nothing to do with good audio.

While that may be true with some EQs of old, that line of thought doesn’t apply to this product.

 

[Count Dacula]

Here we go. Mind you, this is just the living room TV system, with the objective of playing music videos.

The EQ is a necessary evil until I find that power supply.

I refuse to have a subwoofer in the living room, but the wife would be cool with it. I have two in the BR a few steps away, with the "good" system"

 

[Count Dacula]

Also got a PS 100 for the HDMI input. I have another TV system where the TV doesn't have optical output. I use a HDMI sniffer for it now, but this is overly complex and unreliable. Sort of a remote location (excuse the pun) I want this to work from whatever source I conjure up. I think I had to go to Amazon to get one....?

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805729669228.html

 

[Count Dacula]

Yeah, no....mine is not functioning. I have the correct 16VAC power supply and all it does is pass the signal. A power light would have been a help, instead of searching across multiple counties in PA looking for a "good" PS. Of course I could have tested the PS I had, but my equip wasn't around this location anyway.

What a pos. I owned it a good 5 years, but the thing barely got any use! It got 100-200 hrs use, now it's dead....I don't even know if I should try to ship it back to Schiit for repair. It would be worth the $15 to include a note to them, thanking them for their quality and US service....does that even exist?

I changed my vote as well.

Luckily I ordered a new Fosi P4, much better specs and price.

 

[Strumbringer]

Bumping this thread, because I'm researching this unit. I realize there's been a lot of back and forth on this thread about the initial review, but for my purposes, I'm looking for a unit to add some treble and bass frequencies to my LP set up. From what I can tell, this unit could do this quite simply, correct? The Loki is a tone control, right? If it's helpful, my set up is Kenwood KD770D, SoTA Pyxi phono pre, Woo Audio WA22 headphone amp.

Other suggestions from this thread also look good: Bellari EQ570, Behringer Mini FRQ, Nobsound 9-band (only a mere $59). Thoughts?

 

[Jimster480]

There is also a Geshelli Archel 3 Pro which also has tone controls. However it is a HPA rather than a pass through box like this.

Archel 3S Pro – Geshelli Labs LLC.

geshelli.com

I personally have a Geshelli and I use it quite frequently.

 

[Mean & Green]

Bumping this thread, because I'm researching this unit. I realize there's been a lot of back and forth on this thread about the initial review, but for my purposes, I'm looking for a unit to add some treble and bass frequencies to my LP set up. From what I can tell, this unit could do this quite simply, correct? The Loki is a tone control, right? If it's helpful, my set up is Kenwood KD770D, SoTA Pyxi phono pre, Woo Audio WA22 headphone amp.

Other suggestions from this thread also look good: Bellari EQ570, Behringer Mini FRQ, Nobsound 9-band (only a mere $59). Thoughts?

The Shiit Loki Mini + is exactly what you are looking for.

I personally find the review here way off base. Forum members have provided better measured response graphs. Other online sources have also measured the device and as a tone control with minimal noise and distortion in a small wallet friendly package yet still being solidly made it is really going to be difficult to beat.

I love the Loki in my system.

 

[Rick63]

I love my Lokius. It does exactly what I need it to do, simply and easily!!

 

[Chanur]

There is also a Geshelli Archel 3 Pro which also has tone controls. However it is a HPA rather than a pass through box like this.

Archel 3S Pro – Geshelli Labs LLC.

geshelli.com

I personally have a Geshelli and I use it quite frequently.

I was just looking at this earlier and love that i can get it in walnut to match my speakers. Worth the cost as a headphone amp?

 

[Platypus20]

A couple of people I deal with, set up and do the sound for some of the bands and venues in our area, at times I get cdr of raw soundboard recordings of the performances. I use a Schiit Lokius to tame the recordings to the point where the recording are listenable. For that it works perfectly, wired in between my Benchmark LA4 preamp and the AHB2 amps, bypassed when not needed.