Is there any difference between ifi’s xbass + and using a Loki for EQ?

Headphones Headphone Discussion / Help
1

I’m very new to EQ, but absolutely love the xbass on ifi. Paired with their brown burr Dac it adds a body and depth to the midrange that my Beyers are lacking in.

Is this DAC + xbass anything special, or could something like a Loki easily recreate the sound difference I’m getting on my 990s when I use them on my ifi vs my Schiit hel?

2

big difference. the Loki can EQ the sub-bass, mid-bass, mid-range and treble while the iFi feature is just a pure bass boost. manual is always better…just not quite as convenient. :wink:

3

This post has been edited.

4

XBass of any generation only effects bass, there is no further correction whatsoever. It does nothing to correct any other frequencies at all. There are the later generations where there is the “presence” boost, which boosts the ear gain region and if you have that on, plus the XBass, then the XBass boost isn’t as drastic, but it’s still like +7db with the presence boost engaged and about 10-12db of bass boost without it, depending on which generation of XBass/XBass+/True Bass.

5

Whatever man.

6

graph (3)
graph (3)2400×1038 269 KB

7

That’s probably some kind of distortion more than anything. The measurements for the XBass effects are out there already and it’s perfect flat. Wouldn’t surprise me whatsoever if when the XBass circuit is engaged, that it just adds distortion in other places, but I don’t think it’s a frequency response change as much as it is a byproduct of a shitty circuit. I’m not trying to argue, it’s just not as deep as people are making it out to be. It’s a pure lazy bass shelf function and that’s it.
image

image
image768×732 36.4 KB

image
image896×617 25.3 KB

image
image800×618 18.2 KB

image

8

These graphs on squigs only measures the FR.

9

Fully understood. I’m saying that whatever is being caused is something to do with how the XBass stage is effecting how the driver reacts, and because the one you linked is a planar, assuming it isn’t being tuned by any kind of impedance shelf like a DCA planar bass shelf, is going to just be down to something in the amp distorting and causing the change in FR. When you have dummy loads on a test bench measuring flawlessly flat with no driver in the mix, there’s something other than frequency response happening. It has to be some kind of distortion or it wouldn’t change at all, because the dummy loads are ruler flat.

10

Yes, there is a difference between iFi’s XBass+ and using a Loki for EQ, as they serve different purposes and work in slightly different ways:

  1. iFi XBass+: This is a bass enhancement feature built into certain iFi devices, particularly in portable DACs and amps. It primarily focuses on adding low-end boost, making the bass frequencies more prominent. The XBass+ is tailored for enhancing the bass without affecting other parts of the frequency spectrum too much. It’s a more targeted bass boost that’s designed to give a fuller sound, especially for music genres that benefit from enhanced low-end, like electronic or bass-heavy music.
  2. Loki (by Schiit): The Loki is a full-band parametric equalizer with multiple bands, typically offering a more customizable approach to EQ. It has controls for bass, mid-bass, mids, treble, and sometimes even higher frequencies. With a Loki, you can tweak specific frequency bands to your preference across a broader range of sound, not just the bass. It provides more control and precision over the overall tone of your music.