Dr. Cube
100+ Head-Fier
Frequency-dependent phase shift is, in general, inherent to real-time filtering and analog LC filters like those in Schiit EQs will introduce it just the same as digital. If you absolutely must use filters and absolutely must avoid any phase shift, then the most practical way to do that is with digital FIR filters. The price you must pay for FIR is in overall latency; this probably doesn't matter for music listening, but could be a small inconvenience for video synchronization, or deadly for applications like rhythm games.Separately, digital EQ, it seems, can create undesirable phase shifts? Do the analog EQs like Loki cause phase shifts?
I feel that I am sensitive to phase shifts (science be darned!) so maybe I should use a Loki instead of Roon's EQ?
Something to keep in mind is that frequency response anomalies in physical transducers are also introducing a phase shift because they themselves act as minimum phase filters, and an equalizer configured to reverse transducer FR anomalies will often be likewise undoing the phase shift from the transducer. Of course, reversing transducer FR anomalies is far from the only thing you might ask from an equalizer.