SCHIIT LOKIUS-6 Band Balanced Tone Control Owner’s Manual
- June 6, 2024
- SCHIIT
Table of Contents
LOKIUS
BALANCED EQUALIZER
OWNER’S MANUAL
IN NORSE MYTHOLOGY, LOKI IS THE TRICKSTER GOD.
LOKI IS FROM A ROMAN CONFLATION—LOKIUS MAXIMUS.
HEY, NOBODY SAID WE HAD TO MAKE SENSE ALL THE TIME.
IN ANY CASE, THIS IS A BIGGER, BETTER LOKI MINI+—
SIMPLE AS THAT!
INTRODUCTION
What is bigger than Loki Mini+? Loki. Short for Lokius Maximus (yeah, we know, that’s a Roman thing, got it, we’re mixing cultures, boo, bad Americans). In any case, Lokius gives you two more bands, balanced input and output, and our super-buffer and current-feedback discrete gain stage. So, yeah. Even trickier. Yeah, and we’re back to Norse. Relax and don’t be so pedantic.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
(1) Lokius
(1) Wall-Wart
The following is required by the roughly 9,542 government agencies and
regulations we have to comply with. If you have some common sense, they should
seem pretty straightforward. In any case, read these instructions before
proceeding further, follow all instructions, and heed all warnings. Or else!
- If you don’t know how to install audio devices, get a qualified professional to help.
- Never use this device near water, and clean only with a dry cloth.
- Assure adequate ventilation, do not block any ventilation openings or place near heat sources.
- Use only the supplied power cord or a suitable replacement. Route cords away from traffic areas and protect them from being pinched. Unplug the cord from the outlet if the apparatus is unused for a long period of time.
- To prevent electric shock, do not use the plug with an extension cord, receptacle, or outlet unless blades can be fully inserted.
- Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Service is required when the device has been damaged, including cord or plug damage, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the device, the device has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
WARNING : TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS DEVICE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
-
Locate Lokius away from other components that have transformers in them.
As in, Lokius is an LC (inductor-capacitor) equalizer. The inductors may pick up hum from other components. Stacking Lokius on top of a Vidar (for example) may cause an audible hum through your speakers or headphones. If you hear him, move Lokius away from other components. That’s why they make these things called “shelves” and “racks.” -
Connect Lokius to your system, either before or after your preamp.
If you have multiple sources, you can connect Lokius after your preamp, so you can control the frequency response of all sources. This is our recommended connection for most systems; Lokius has a very low noise floor that should be below the level of most ramps.
If you have a single source, you can connect Lokius before your preamp—Lokius has the headroom for standard 2V/4V RMS single-ended/balanced line outputs.
Connect Lokius via balanced or single-ended using high-quality XLR or RCA cables.
Finally, connect the supplied wall-wart to Lokius and turn it on.
Note: Both balanced and single-ended outputs are on all the time and are completely independent—you can connect balanced to one amp and single-ended to another (or a subwoofer). -
Adjust Lokius to your preference.
That’s really it! Adjust Lokius to compensate for imperfect systems or recordings. You can’t really hurt anything, so go wild!
Note: If you are using sources with more than 2V or 4V RMS output direct into Lokius before your preamp, you may experience distortion with Lokius controls turned up to maximum. Loki is designed for standard 2V/4V RMS single- ended/balanced line levels (or lower).
GETTING CONNECTED
- Balanced Input. Connect your preamp out (or single source) with high-quality XLR cables. Or you can use crappy cables (but why)?
- Single-Ended Input. Connect your preamp out (or single source) with high-quality RCA cables. Again, you could use crappy cables, but why? You don’t have to spend a ton to get good cables.
- Balanced Output. Connect to your amp (or headphone amp) with high-quality XLR cables. Or, you can connect to your preamp or passive volume control in a simple system.
- Single-Ended Output. Connect to your amp (or headphone amp) with high-quality RCA cables. Or, you can connect to your preamp or passive volume control in a simple system.
- Power Switch. Turn on the switch. The protection relay keeps the EQ disengaged for 10-20 seconds, then it will engage with a click.
- Power Input. Connect the supplied wall-wart cable to the jack labeled “AC IN.” Do not use any other wall-wart, or bad things might happen.
(Well, technically, any 14-16VAC, 1-2A adapter is fine, but note the “VAC,” not “VDC.”)
OPERATION
- Input Select. Up for balanced input (XLR), down for single-ended (RCA). Simple as that.
- Process/Bypass. Up = equalization active, down = completely bypassed (only a relay and resistor in the signal path).
- 20Hz Knob. AKA very low frequencies. Turning the knob clockwise increases output, counterclockwise decreases. Simple as that.
- 120Hz Knob. Similar to a standard “bass control.” Works just like the above. Clockwise for moar bass, counterclockwise for less.
- 400Hz Knob. AKA lower mids. You have the directions good on this now, right?
- 2kHz Knob. AKA presence. Clockwise for more, counterclockwise for less. ABC12300000 XXVAC/XA AC IN
- 6kHz Knob. Similar to a standard “treble control.” You know the drill.
- 16kHz Knob. AKA air or extremely high frequencies. Works like all the other knobs.
- Power LED. When this lights up, Lokius is on.
FAQ
I hear him through the speakers or headphones, what do I do to fix it?
As noted in the Getting Started section, Lokius is an inductor-capacitor
equalizer and may pick up hum from other components that have transformers in
them. “Stacking” is one for wall-wart powered devices, but components that
plug into the wall may have transformers and may cause hum. Move the Lokius
away from those components to eliminate the hum.
Loki doesn’t equalize anything for a while after I turn it on.
That’s perfectly normal. Loki delays the output for 10-20 seconds after you
turn it on so the output stages can stabilize.
The sound is distorted.
If you have a “hot” source, with over 2V RMS single-ended or 4V RMS balanced
running directly into Lokius (not after your preamp) you may have distortion
with Lokius’ knobs turned all the way up. All Schiit devices output 2V/4V RMS
or less and are compatible with Loki.
No, I mean I have Lokius off and it’s still distorted—shouldn’t this be a
bypass mode?
Please turn Lokius on and switch it to Bypass mode in order to have a
straight-through connection. When Loki is off, the input stage is unpowered
and may load some sources.
Can I use both balanced and single-ended outputs at the same time?
Yes. They are completely independent.
Connecting to one does not influence the other.
Can I use both balanced and single-ended inputs at the same time?
Yes, there is a front panel switch to select between them.
Loki doesn’t turn on, what do I do?
Plug it into a different AC socket. Ensure you are not currently in a
blackout. Then email us if it still doesn’t work.
2-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
Schiit Audio warrants to the original purchaser that this product shall be
free from defects in material and workmanship for two (2) years from the date
of purchase. If a defect covered by this warranty occurs during this period,
Schiit Audio will repair the defective product, free of charge. The date of
purchase will be based on customer receipts, otherwise, the date of
manufacturing will be used.
If you believe you need warranty service, contact us first. Schiit Audio
products sent back to us without a Return Authorization (RA) will be returned
to the sender without repair. To contact us and obtain an RA, email
info@schiit.com.
Warranty Limitations. This warranty shall not apply if a product: (a) is
modified or tampered with; (b) is damaged by negligence, accident,
unreasonable use, or other causes unrelated to defective materials or
workmanship, or (c) has had the serial number altered or removed.
Any implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability and fitness
for a particular purpose, are hereby limited in duration to the warranty
period of 2 years. In no event shall Schiit Audio be liable for consequential
or incidental damages resulting from the breach of any implied or expressed
warranties. Some states do not allow these limitations, so they may not apply
to you. You may also have other rights which vary from state to state or
province to province.
Application for Council Directives 72/23/EEC
Conformity declared for EN60065, EN50082-1
