Schiit LOKIUS 6-Band Balanced EQ

#schiitlokius #headphoneeq #audiophilesetup2021 #balancedequalizer
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You can find more information on the Schiit Lokius 6-Band Equalizer here:
www.schiit.com/products/lokius
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Testing equipment used (fully balanced):
- Schiit Jotunheim 2
- Schiit Bifrost 2
- Hifiman Ananda
- Focal Clear
- Hifiman Arya
- Audeze LCD-XC
Here's a list of some of my other hifi audio equipment I've reviewed:
AMPS:
iFi Pro iDSD:
• iFi Pro iDSD (Stand-Al...
RME ADI-2 DAC FS vs Monolith THX-AAA 788:
• RME ADI-2 DAC FS vs MO...
Hifiman ARYA vs ANANDA:
• Hifiman ARYA vs Hifima...
Hifiman LCD-XC vs Ananda:
• Audeze LCD-XC vs Hifim...
Hifiman Ananda vs Sundara:
• HIFIMAN Ananda vs HIFI...
Corsair Virtuoso SE:
• Corsair Virtuoso SE Re...
Audio-Technica MSR7-B:
• EXCLUSIVE Audio-Techni...
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Here's a list of my favourite gear:
Desktop audio setup:
- Vanatoo Transparent One Encore's
- SVS SB-1000
Lenses
- Sigma 35mm 1.4 art
- Sigma 70mm 2.8 art macro
- Sigma 16mm 1.4 Contemporary
- Sigma 30mm 1.4 Contemporary
- Sigma 56mm 1.4 Contemporary
- Samyang 85mm 1.4
- Sony 20mm 1.8 G
- Sony 10-18mm f4
Lighting used to shoot this video
- Aputure 120d MKII (with light dome II)
- Aputure Amaran HR672-W
- Aputure Amaran F1
- Aputure MC
- Godox SL60W (with light dome mini II)
Camera Motion Control Equipment:
- Edelkrone SliderONE V2
-Edelkrone JibONE
-Edelkrone SliderPLUS PRO Long V5 with Slide Module V3
- Edelkrone HeadONE with Tilt Kit
- Edelkrone Controller
- Edelkrone FlexTILT Head 2
-Edelkrone PanPRO
Audio Equipment for Video:
- Rode NTG5
- Shure SM7B
- Rode Videomic NTG
- Mixpre 3
- Zoom H4N Pro
Monitoring Headphones:
- Audiotechnical MSR7-B
Gimbals
- Ronin S
- Ronin SC
Field Monitors
- Atomos SHINOBI
- Desview R7
- Desview S7
Intro: (0:00)
Build, Features & Functionality: (1:53)
Sound & Sound Settings: (7:44)
Final Thoughts & Recommendations: (17:03)

[@Life.Art.Knowledge2001]

Adam's notification is like Christmas, you know that it's coming but don;t know what you'll get, much love

[@AdamDuffArt]

Back at you Gabriel :)

[@rykieart3213]

I love your art videos. Just came across them 2days ago. I've been binge watching! I've already learnt so much! I appreciate your vids so much. Just thought I'd put it out there!

[@tholt946]

Nice seeing EQs coming back. No black coffee here! Building a Schiit stack so thanks for this awesome comparison video.

[@higurashinerd]

I love that analogy of equalization and nutrition. I feel for it completely! Give me my doubly loud sub bass!

[@AdamDuffArt]

Hehe!! I’m happy to have a supporter on this battlefield :)

[@davidsagarra9841]

Excellent, and I mean EXCELLENT, review. Not biased, I’m seriously considering buying a Lokius, your review has been very informative. Thanks!

[@ericharrelson2045]

Nice work on this review, I really liked it. Thanks

[@carrion_man3700]

I love my Loki+. Great review. Appreciate it! May level up some day.

[@r00s.]

Excellent review, sir. RESPECT! Subbed.

[@johnsonadekunle7675]

Awesome content. Just subscribed!

[@darthdurkelthewise320]

A very useful and well put together video overview of these very interesting products. Honestly, I think a lot of people are sleeping on these… Yeah the Focals will distort with too much voltage gain for sure so this makes sense. I plan on picking the Lokius up just for some fun on my Auteurs, Anandas, and DT 1990s. Well done here 👍🏻

[@Dunwicc]

I'm a poor student and can't afford any of the tech you review, so I only watch these videos for the opening scenes... The turquoise light reflection on the knobs at the beginning was actually insane, really beautiful! I love the quality of your videos.

[@AdamDuffArt]

Well I truly appreciate you noticing those subtle details - those sharp eyes would serve you quite well in a production situation.

[@samza9622]

You could afford it start saving bit by bit it all adds up quickly.

[@gage4375]

@Fisher Man the wife and the kids are worth the sacrifice 😎

[@Andrew-cp7mc]

Really appreciate your approach to factoring in the different headphones into the signal chain as I have the Focal Clears and just paid for a pre-owned LCD-X. So thinking to upgrade my Schiit Vali 2+/Modi 3+ stack; this review is very helpful in thinking about the stack that will work for both the Clears and LCD-X. I think what I get next will be end-game for me so your setup sounds like the one I should go for.

[@MarcelNL]

For your LCD-X you should try a Decware Taboo tube amp! I used to have that combination and it was amazing! With completely different tubes than stock though.

[@riccardodesantis765]

If i didn't know your channel, i could say that you are an advertising agent. You have such an ability to speak and to present a product, with the good and the bad aspects, that is difficult to find in other persons. You always have the capability to give me passion about some products that probably i never listened the name before. Shiit, if you're good. (Ba dum/tsss)

[@AdamDuffArt]

You just had to didn’t you. Lol Thank you :)

[@southeastgasservices]

All very well for the people who can hear above 16Khz, or at least that's what they would have us believe. I can't hear above 10Khz myself, or a least not without some sort of EQ. I need to listen to my music, I need an EQ no question. lookin' forward to getting the Lokius. I'm using the loki at the present, but you're correct in what you say, a few more controls would work wonders. People need to face the facts regarding hearing loss , as you get older you loose out on high frequencies, using high quality gear and an EQ is the only way the get them back. A very honest and no crap review.

[@erik9108]

Well said. Aging sucks but thankfully we have EQs to fix what we want to hear.

[@JTB--]

The Lokius is awesome. I have the Bifrost 2 DAC to the Lokius to the LYR 3 and the results are amazing. Nice with the HD 800s and HD 600 and 6XX. But my new favorite headphone pairing/synergy is the Arya Stealth Magnet to the LYR 3 with some Lokius tweaking. I never cared about EQ... especially on a EQ software program. But the Lokius has totally changed my mind. It's defintltey nice to fiddle with some physical knobs until you find a sweet spot that's pleasing to your ears. Don't care about graphs or Harman targets. Let the Lokius take you where you want to go. Add some Bass... smooth out the treble. Lokius just might make headphones you already have do things you never thought they could do. Very cool piece of gear. And being balanced is just an added bonus, as I also have it going balanced XLR to a Burson Soloist 3XP besides going to the LYR 3 via RCA. End game setup

[@Mother_of_Pigeons]

Oh hey the Hifiman Ananda and I have a similar name haha. Mine is pronounced a bit differently though, more like (Awh-naun-dah). But a lot of people initially pronounce my name similar to the way the Hifiman Ananda is pronounced, so I kept looking over while listening to your video while painting haha

[@richardcarmichael8915]

Good review.

[@valleyguy633]

I have the Jotunheim/Bifrost combo myself which I've only had for about three weeks, so it's really still in the burn-in phase. I wrote a comment in your review of those products, which I deleted shortly after posting as it may have read like I was endorsing equipment that I wasn't 100% sure of yet. My primary concern was noise in the usb lineage which was always Mike Moffat's issue with usb. That was supposed to be corrected by their patented Unison USB. However, I still had lots of hiss between tracks of some albums, which also seemed to leaked into the song itself, and sometimes a buzzing noise at the end of tracks. Kind of unnerving stuff. Well, yesterday morning I got up and wondered what my system was going to sound like today. It's gone through very significant improvement since I've had it. So I turned it on, and the noise was gone. All of it GONE. Nothing but sweet silence between tracks and heading into the next track. And I tried many. Thanks to Jason and Mike for a product that performs the way they said it would. Was wondering if you had tried out the Loki Max yet. Sounds like they've really put some emphasis on the very lowest frequencies, the hardest and most expensive to regulate I'm guessing. I've heard you mention low-end growl before, so it seems like you may have an affinity to that sonic region. With the insane amount of gain available in the Max, it seems like something that would be nice to have on reserve. And with remote control, you could stay absolutely in the zone, and make adjustments. I have the original Loki, so I know exactly what you mean about neutering when you disengage it. Btw, you're videos are a pleasure to watch, and kudos if you made it down this far. Lotta words,I know.

[@S.A.S.H.]

First tiome watching one of your reviews. Impressive, analysis, easy to watch delivery, and the data is shared nicely. I will be watching more or your work for sure. Any chance you could do a comparison of the Lokius versus the Loki Max, since that's the decision I am facing.

[@jeffh8177]

"if you don't want EQ to color your sound, click away" the point of EQ is to de-color your sound, from the room, from your microphone/speakers, etc... t. a real-life audio engineer also balanced connections are designed to isolate the signal from environmental noise every wire is an antenna, picking up EM noise from your house and stuff, and balanced connections help to eliminate that noise

[@AdamDuffArt]

Sure that too!

[@amb3cog]

No the point of an EQ is to make a nice smiley face with the pretty lights. Everyone knows that dude! Everyone. Even my Mom knows that. WTF have you been at? Living under a rock? Sheesh! Some people?!?!?!🤦🏻

[@amb3cog]

Whoops sorry didn’t mean to refer to you as a dude, Karen. My apologies. Should have realized that before. My bad.

[@naircat]

I've never been able to hear the difference between audiophile DACs and amps and standard headphones plugged into a PC. Beyerdyamic DT990s used to be my go to but now the sibilance shears my ears and makes them ring. A $40 pair of Seinnheiser in-ear headphones get the job done for me now, I love them. Amazing bass and clear sound across all frequencies. I wish I could find something like the DT990s that have the same detail and bass punch without the shearing treble.

[@KingdomKey57]

AKG K712 PRO. Way more analytical sounding, but like the DT990's, very open and has plenty of bass. If that is out of your price range let me know and I can suggest more. The AKG K712 needs an external AMP too.

[@samza9622]

Hifiman Sundaras your welcome.

[@Audfile]

Just installed mine and you're right, once its tuned (improved your system ;) to your taste there is no going back to flat.

[@deankim6687]

I hope the larger version is the standard width of audio equipment.

[@manuelambriz4563]

Great Video! Loved the comparissons and how can it work with the different types of headphones technologies. Thank you!

[@pokidev027]

Since when do you do audio related vide- you know what. I don't care, it's a vibe.

[@AdamDuffArt]

lol - look up my playlist "product reviews" - been doing this for a while :)

[@MrSojek]

There are people who hear the difference and those who wish they could, it's called musical placebo. It's good to be honest with yourself about it, it will save you a lot of money unless having highly expensive equipment gives you an impression of being in a "prestigious" group of minority with extreme sensitive hearing (how cool it sounds, huh? ;) Btw. my CD rips are in 320kbs CBR, with DT770 + Ifi Zen.

[@ChironZore]

This guy is great....

[@AshT8524]

Oh schiit! Sorry I can't 🤭🤦‍♂️🤣

[@tomdavis6371]

Just ordered mine yesterday, it's on it's way.

[@TriAmpHiFi]

So how's the Lokius?

[@tomdavis6371]

Love it. I used to have a ten band EQ in my home system so I adjusted to my tastes with the sliders. The Lokius gives just six knobs which adjust frequencies in much the same fashion. I wish there were 7-10 but the 6 is ample enough and I think must be much better than the four band Loki. It's a pretty slick way to add some tone control.

[@TriAmpHiFi]

@@tomdavis6371 . After a year, wow, I really wouldn't have bet on a reply lol. Thanks. The Lokius is on my shopping list & I'm glad to hear yours is still performing satisfactorily. To nit-pic, I would have preferred DC power so as to replace the AC wall wart with an external toroid DC LPS. Better yet would be a shielded internal copper doughnut but hey. It's wicked pissah, lol. Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊

[@tomdavis6371]

Yeah I know, it has been a year! But to my defense, I only got this notification yesterday, first thing in the morning. I was kind of shocked myself when I saw it! Oh, and I'm no fan of the wall wart, either! Currently considering a new DAC as the one I'm using has got to be approaching 10 years old and is in reality not a desktop size DAC but rather full size which I had connected to an Emotiva XPA-2 power amplifier in my main rig.

[@BillyKueekSG]

I have different sounding headphones for variety. However, there are a couple which are excellent at something but bad at something, to my ears. Being a Mac user makes it worse with little to no software EQ to play with. I am thinking of the Lokius but we do not have a local distributor and I am 9,500+ miles away from Schitt. Therefore, I have to depend on reviews so I appreciate this video very much. Thank you!

[@kurt120032002]

Now that the bigger version is here and it is still a 6 bans EQ at 5 times the price, I hope you will manage tot test it and give us your impression.

[@s.daniel9224]

My lokius literally was the biggest improvement I’ve made. I was shocked at how much better the lokius was versus the Loki. Music is fun again. Great purchase for my system.

[@sarahX..]

How is the lokius better than the loki mini+ ?

[@order6676]

Would you recommend pairing a Lokius with a magni 3+ or heresy? Just getting into the audiophile world and don't want to spend too much but I think I would be in the group where I cannot hear a lot of the higher frequencies and like to mess with the low end with different songs. My thinking is having more "smaller" ranges of eq would be better.

[@samza9622]

You should be fine but that lokius is 1000 plus not counting the cost of your dac and amp you better off buying loki mini+ and a better dac and amp.

[@jamestartaglia7686]

Yep ... He has it right!!!

[@RonRivet]

Very well explained, thank you for posting! I just bought new speakers and a new integrated amp. The vinyl sound is really nice. The music played through my cd player is a little bright but still nice sounding. I was thinking of buying the Loki just to tone down the high end brightness a little. Would the Loki do what I need or should I go for the Lokius in your opinion?

[@theHeartlessNooB]

I have both and either will do what you need.

[@ippothedestroyer]

I like some French vanilla in my coffee, should go nicely with my jot 2 and bifrost 2.

[@southeastgasservices]

Just waiting for a Lokius to arrive all the way from the states now. not available around here at the moment.. Ireland....

[@pulsarchmusic]

Me being a music producer (btw I love your channel, 95% of your messages are applicable to me and my art world), I've always wondered why you never ran your audio through Ableton Live or another other DAW to do audio processing? Do you prefer the enjoyment of hardware rather than software?

[@AdamDuffArt]

Well firstly, thank you for the kind words! As for Ableton live, isn’t that a music production software for recording and editing? I’m not sure where that would apply to simply eq’ing music listening That aside however, the reason I prefer a hardware eq in this case is because I have 2 listening stations, and this one in particular isn’t connected to my computer

[@pulsarchmusic]

@@AdamDuffArt Oops I sort of ghosted you, I'm sorry lol! Yes you are totally right! It's def just for recording and editing, sorry I thought this video was more for processing your own audio for your videos (like recording your voice for example)! Disregard

[@ChironZore]

I am a purist I never use EQ, but 14:23 makes a nice point, touche'. Think I'm gonna get the Lokius....

[@Locrum]

After my Schiit DAC (modi 2 I think?) died under a year in, I stopped using my Asgard (also a 2 I think). Just collecting dust. I wasn’t willing to throw more money at it, just to listen to my headphones.

[@amb3cog]

All Schiit gear comes with a really good warranty you know? My Schiit Saga, for instance, has a 5 year warranty. If it was less then a year old. Why didn’t you send it back to them for repairs? It’s not a big deal. I think you just have to pay for shipping to them. They pay return shipping back to you. I think that’s how it goes anyway. Either way all the info is available on their very thorough website. Good luck. ✌️

[@ohnonate]

Great review. Where does the Lokius sit in the chain? Streamer -> Dac -> Lokius-> Amp ?

[@samza9622]

Yes you got it.

[@Ahzahail]

I have the Jotunheim 1, I also have the Focal Clear headphones. Can't you just switch to lower gain with the switch in the front and prevent the over powered driver? Maybe there is more power in the gain function on the Jotunheim 2? I hope not lol

[@croakintoads]

I'm torn between the 4-band and 6-band EQ from Schiit Audio. Since my system isn't too expensive I am not sure if I would hear the difference in my vinyl between the LOKI MINI+ or the LOKIUS. I like the idea of 6 but would I really hear the difference for $150 more. What would Adam buy? This is my system: Sony STRDH190 2-ch Home Stereo Receiver. Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speakers. Sony SACS9 10-Inch Active Subwoofer. Sony PS-LX310BT Turntable. I up

[@TriAmpHiFi]

Loki Mini for 2-way speakers, Lokius for 3-way's.

[@leninreddy]

Can you do a Bifrost review please and maybe compare it with the dac of Monolith, rme.

[@AdamDuffArt]

I definitely could, thanks for the suggestion :)

[@leninreddy]

@@AdamDuffArt I have Monolith and I'm thinking to buy bifrost hoping that would improve layering and depth to sound. Is that what you found on bifrost? Or what did u like about bifrost. Any quick impressions please

[@zounds13]

Okay, I'm confused. You (and Schiit) say that placing a Lokius near a transformer can introduce hum, but then at 7:38 you show your Lokius right underneath a Jutunheim (which has a transformer inside). Did you actually run it that way? If so, how much of a hum was there? Thanks.

[@JustinMKN]

"I dont listen to music for healthy reasons, I listen because I get off on it" Nailed it sir.

[@nathanschad8048]

Man I want the other two bands but that price tag right now

[@samza9622]

100 percent not worth it you could get an insane dac and amp and headphones for that price or even loki mini+ and be all set.

[@Jamie-666]

No GUI on the unit or an app?

[@ratspam7655]

11:50 Schiit says NOT to place the Lokius near any of their products with internal transformers, like the Jotunheim because the inductors in the LC circuits will be adversely affected.

[@southeastgasservices]

don't do it then, simple answer. this is actuall in the user manual. we have things like shelves etc.

[@ratspam7655]

@@southeastgasservices Exactly. It’s a fine product but it should never be tested and reviewed in the stacked configuration.

[@baronofgreymatter14]

How about this and the Loki max

[@farrenmason5572]

I keep seeing people make comments that you shouldn't buy an eq for listening to headphones on pc. Do you feel that buying an eq is better than using the software? I use a Sundara paired with a Modius and an Asgard if that helps. They are my first audiophile headphones.

[@samza9622]

Heard a few vids saying it was better then digital eq.

[@yoshistrings]

Aw, Schiit

[@PKAPE004]

Can you recommend eq settings for LCD-X 2021 using Lokius.

[@TriAmpHiFi]

Whatever sounds good to you is quite acceptable. Permission granted. Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊

[@MemeScreen]

Why EQ from after the DAC when you can do it digitally?

[@amb3cog]

Not every system has that ability you know? In fact anyone that really cares about proper sound would never use a computer for their audio. They would use a streamer, or transport. Like my ProJect Streambox S2 Ultra for instance. Which does not have EQ. Try one, and I assure you. You’ll never use a computer for audio again. Also some people still do only analog, and some of us old folks just prefer to turn a knob like we did back in the day. Because it’s more comfortable for us, we enjoy the tactile feel of it, and it’s much simpler too. Digital is great for so many things, but it definitely lacks the personality of analog gear. Think of it like talking to your girlfriend/boyfriend on the phone vs seeing them in person, and being able to hug, touch, kiss, and feel them. There’s quite a big difference no? Either way, have a great weekend. ✌️

[@s.daniel9224]

Those app eq’s are thin, to be kind. Get a eq, you’ll see.

[@fcamiola]

Can this be used for loudspeakers?

[@TriAmpHiFi]

Why would a device to maintain a regulated temperature of pizza ovens have anything to do with loudspeakers?

[@Leo-yn5fx]

this does eq have mid eq too?

[@samza9622]

Yes even loki mini+ has that as well but this is a step up.

[@Originalimoc]

Can this fix HD650's response curve 🌝

[@AdamDuffArt]

not sure, never tried the HD650’s

[@samgilliland3423]

No you need a 32 band to correct headphone curves

[@samza9622]

Yes but probably not 100 percent perfect.

[@ZeroofAgrathalm]

To be honest I don't get the need for a product like this when you can use equalizer apo and literally dail in your eq settings to the most marginal degree, using precise Q angles to completely control the eq'd sound. I'm not sure if I'm missing something here, but it seems like it's only viable purpose would be for more analog mediums that don't use digital, which I think for most people is kind of limited at this point, especially among the audiophile headphone community.

[@erik9108]

Some don't want to have to be in front of a screen to add some sugar and cream to the sound. Plus, the source isn't always from a PC.

[@s.daniel9224]

Get a equalizer. You’ll see why.

[@liamporter1137]

EQ is necessary for compensating song, room speaker etc. There are people who find acoustic treated room ugly and therefore EQ is useful. Why audiophiles mislead people?

[@marvelous_jack5228]

Why did they name it the "Shiit"? Maybe cause it is the shit lmao

[@AdamDuffArt]

Oh they know that it gets people's attention... Look up any Schiit review and they're always playing on that joke - even Schiit themselves (they came up with the term "Stack of Schiit")

[@Rob-Davidson]

Focal Clears just do that. I hate it. I'm actually looking at this review because I'm considering a purchase just so that I can remove bass.

[@faithhopelove6945]

I need clear Numbers , Labels especially on an EQ... This Hieroglyps makes no Sence and are not practical.

[@mikylenaidoo1779]

the mechanical clipping has nothing to do with the amps................ Focal is just trash and they ALL clip no matter the amp...Ive owned the utopia, stellia, and radiance..... They all were returned because of this mechanical clipping 'feature' (yeah focal say its a feature)..... Trash.... Beats by Focal............. Some of us listen to our music louder than around 78 db

[@isiahbethel5956]

Don't want it