Amplification Guide

Like traditional dynamic headphones, the Genesis One's impedance is not fixed — but the way it varies is fundamentally different. Because the CrystalCore™ driver behaves as a capacitor rather than a resistor, its impedance shifts dramatically across the frequency range — by a full order of magnitude from bass to treble, far more than a dynamic driver's comparatively gentle variation.

With a driver capacitance of approximately 170 nF, impedance can be estimated using:

Z = 1 / (2πfC)

For example:

At 100 Hz, Z ≈ 9.4 kΩ

At 1 kHz, Z ≈ 940 Ω

At 10 kHz, Z ≈ 94 Ω

This is a fundamentally different load profile than a dynamic driver's relatively stable impedance curve — which is exactly why amplifier voltage swing, not just power output, matters so much for driving the Genesis One properly.

• High Impedance: Typically well above 600 Ω and frequency-dependent.

• Voltage-Driven: Unlike traditional drivers that thrive on current, the CrystalCore™ requires a high voltage swing to reach its full potential.

• Efficiency: It is remarkably efficient, consuming very little current or total power, provided the voltage overhead is available.

For the best listening experience, we recommend pairing the Genesis One with amplifiers capable of delivering a clean, high voltage swing—ideally 20 Vrms (with a minimum of 10 Vrms).

• Recommended Topologies: Class A, Class AB, Tube, and OTL designs are excellent matches.

• Speaker Amplifiers: High-quality speaker amps (Class A/AB) often provide superior performance due to their significant voltage headroom. If your amp features speaker taps, these are often the preferred connection point.

• Balanced Output: We strongly recommend using balanced mode whenever available, as it typically provides double the voltage swing of single-ended connections.

• Class D Note: Some Class D amplifiers may encounter compatibility issues due to their specific output filtering and voltage delivery characteristics when meeting a capacitive load.