Genesis ONE at CanJam SoCal 2025
CanJam SoCal 2025 was an unforgettable milestone for us — the very first time Genesis One was placed in the hands (and on the heads) of so many passionate listeners. We’re deeply grateful to everyone who stopped by, shared impressions, and helped us shape the future of Lily Audio.
We brought three pairs of Genesis One with slightly different tunings:
Lambskin pads – elevated bass
Foam pads – mid-forward presentation
Velour pads – elevated treble
In addition, we showcased an earlier prototype using the same CrystalCore™ driver. This version offered higher sensitivity and faster transients, but with less bass presence.
For something truly eye-catching, we also displayed the world’s lightest (and possibly thinnest) headphones. At only 25 grams—lighter than their own cable—they didn’t sound great, but they were loud, functional, and designed to let attendees see and touch the CrystalCore™ driver technology firsthand.
We packed up our pickup truck in Santa Clara at 7 AM on September 11th, arrived by mid-afternoon, and had our booth ready within an hour. Over the two demo days, traffic was steady, with strong interest from those seeking new technology. Many were intrigued by the “world’s lightest headphones,” often describing them with a smile as “weird but interesting.” Among the three tunings, the mid-forward version emerged as the favorite, with listeners calling it more balanced — so that’s the tuning we’ll carry forward.
What You Loved
To summarize the positive feedback, listeners were especially impressed with the clarity of Genesis One. Many described it as:
“Crystal clear.”
“Reminds me of a speaker system.”
“Sounds better than $5K headphones.”
“Like electrostatics — but more well-rounded across the whole range.”
“Instruments and vocals sound more emotional. Definitely high-end.”
“When listening to music with many instruments, I can hear the strings pop out. I’ve never heard music partitioned like this before.”
Comfort was another highlight:
“So lightweight and comfortable, it feels like I’m not even wearing headphones.”
“As a sound editor, clarity is crucial, but I also wear headphones for 6 hours a day. The light weight is a big plus.”
Design feedback was equally positive, with many noting the premium feel and craftsmanship, despite the surprisingly low weight.
Where We Can Improve
We also received valuable constructive feedback, and we’re already taking action:
Amplification – Pairing Genesis One with more suitable, higher-powered amps to fully unlock its potential. Our biggest oversight was not accounting for the high ambient noise on the show floor. In quiet environments, our setup performs well, but at CanJam some listeners found it too quiet due to the open-back design. When we tested Genesis One with high-powered amps at the show (such as Woo Audio’s tube amps), the results were excellent — much louder and more dynamic.
Fit & Ergonomics – We observed that Genesis One fit the largest head sizes comfortably but was slightly oversized for smaller heads. To improve ergonomics, we’re shortening the headrest by 15 mm and increasing the curvature of the baffle for a more natural fit around the head, ensuring better comfort and seal across a wider range of listeners.
Materials – Several attendees requested a vegan option. We’ll be offering vegan leather headrests and earpads alongside our premium leather options.
Cables – We’re upgrading to a more premium cable system (e.g., 22 AWG silver-plated copper) to enhance both performance and aesthetics.
Sensitivity – We’re optimizing the diaphragm by reducing its mass to improve sensitivity, making Genesis One easier to drive across a broader range of amplifiers.
Looking Ahead
In the next week or two, we’ll build one more iteration to implement the design improvements and finalize tuning — setting the stage for our Kickstarter launch in October 2025.
CanJam SoCal 2025 was just the beginning. The response confirmed what we’ve believed all along: CrystalCore™ technology brings something genuinely new to audiophiles — speaker-like clarity, natural transparency, and effortless long-wear comfort.
Your feedback is shaping Genesis ONE every step of the way, and we’re committed to refining every detail. Thank you for being part of this journey — we can’t wait to share the next chapter with you.
Just 25 grams — headphones created solely to let you experience CrystalCore™ technology