Schiit Loki Max Impressions

[nwavesailor]

I saw some replacement knobs over on the Lokius thread that looked interesting.
After checking with Schiit, the Max knobs are not the same diameter or shaft length as those used on the Lokius.

 

[belgiangenius]

Seems like my Loki Max bit the dust last night.

I heard a "thump" while listening and the right channel went out. Works fine in bypass mode now, but no right channel in process mode. I have an email into Schiit for RMA. This is no fun considering it's barely a month old. Will let y'all know how it works out...

 

[ST33L]

^^^ Interesting. Keep us informed…

 

[chesebert]

I am confused by all the “likes” people are sending to the poor soul with his broken schiit. /s

 

[Lvivske]

I am confused by all the “likes” people are sending to the poor soul with his broken schiit.

Likes & prayers

 

[jonathan c]

I am confused by all the “likes” people are sending to the poor soul with his broken schiit. /s

An expression of sympathy. Maybe the Head-Fi administrators could expand the prompts to like, dislike, sympathy…

 

[rkindel]

I commented here earlier about the differences I heard between active and bypass modes. I did some comparisons between them using single ended input because, unlike balance, single ended volume levels match in my system. I discovered that the null points on both the 20hz and 150hz are way off. Adjusting by ear to what sounds flat I ended up at the 830 position at 20hz and 9 o’clock position at 150hz. That’s not even close. My unit is on it’s way back for, hopefully, repair. It’s amazing how quickly I acclimated to having the ability to “tune” my music. I certainly miss it.

 

[chesebert]

Looks like Schiit may have some quality control issues.

@dcguy73 Did you take out the Loki and assess the sonic difference, if any?

At the end of the day, if EQ helps more than it hurts your sound, you should use it. I still think digital EQ is preferable for playback system.

 

[dcguy73]

Looks like Schiit may have some quality control issues.

@dcguy73 Did you take out the Loki and assess the sonic difference, if any?

At the end of the day, if EQ helps more than it hurts your sound, you should use it. I still think digital EQ is preferable for playback system.

Since I last posted here, I took my system apart and spread it out across two racks. I decided not to do the Loki comparison until everything was settled in and I was done making adjustments.

I have done a lot of listening now with the Loki Max in the chain, with the EQ engaged and dis-engaged, so I am very familiar with its impact on the sound of my system. This weekend, I'll take the Loki out of the chain and do some critical listening. Unfortunately, it's not easy to get behind my audio racks and switch cables, so I can't swap the Loki Max in and out easily.

 

[chesebert]

Honestly I wouldn’t bother with taking Loki out unless you are already doing something. If the problems cured by Loki is sonically more important than a bit of distortion and veil from Loki then you should use the Loki.

 

[dcguy73]

Honestly I wouldn’t bother with taking Loki out unless you are already doing something. If the problems cured by Loki is sonically more important than a bit of distortion and veil from Loki then you should use the Loki.

Chese-man, you have a way with words for someone that doesn't own the product in question.

"Do you have sonic problems in your system? Are they more important to fix than adding a bit of distortion and veil? Use the Loki Max!"

I'll bet Schiit would like to use that in their marketing.

Thanks for your input, but I want to do a comparison based on actual experience and my own ears.

 

[chesebert]

Chese-man, you have a way with words for someone that doesn't own the product in question.

"Do you have sonic problems in your system? Are they more important to fix than adding a bit of distortion and veil? Use the Loki Max!"

I'll bet Schiit would like to use that in their marketing.

Thanks for your input, but I want to do a comparison based on actual experience and my own ears.

You sort of can figure things out once you have been in this game for a couple of decades and know a thing or two about electronics.

I don’t know how you define distortion but I think phase shifts (this is all EQs are) add some level of distortion to the signal. Analog EQ makes matter a bit worse because they are adding additional active stages in the signal chain before reaching amp.

I have no problem with EQ in general and I use digital EQ on all my front end. Analog EQs are great for certain use cases just not in playback if digital EQ is an option.

Just my 2c. You do you.

 

[belgiangenius]

Seems like my Loki Max bit the dust last night.

I heard a "thump" while listening and the right channel went out. Works fine in bypass mode now, but no right channel in process mode. I have an email into Schiit for RMA. This is no fun considering it's barely a month old. Will let y'all know how it works out...

Schiit told me they wanted to see my My Loki Max and issued an RMA number. So, it is on the slow truck ride back from Toronto to California.

FedEx perplexes me. When you order from Schiit, you get it delivered by air within 24 hours for $80. When I try to send it back with FedEx, they want to charge me $350 for the same speed service. Go figure...

 

[chesebert]

Schiit told me they wanted to see my My Loki Max and issued an RMA number. So, it is on the slow truck ride back from Toronto to California.

FedEx perplexes me. When you order from Schiit, you get it delivered by air within 24 hours for $80. When I try to send it back with FedEx, they want to charge me $350 for the same speed service. Go figure...

You sure the truck is still moving? Doesn’t it have to go through the Ambassador bridge?

 

[belgiangenius]

You sure the truck is still moving? Doesn’t it have to go through the Ambassador bridge?

That problem was cleared up about a week ago. All extremists either left voluntarily or got arrested.

Ontario Police spent this weekend cleaning up Ottawa. It's embarrassing how long it took the government to deal with the problem, IMO.