GENESIS ONE

The Genesis One is a specialized instrument designed for a specific, high-fidelity experience. To help you decide if it fits your listening style, consider the following:

The Genesis One IS for you if:

• You crave a "Loudspeaker" Experience: It is tuned with a V-shaped sound signature designed to mimic the physical impact, scale, and "air" of a high-end 2.1 speaker system.

• You are a Sub-Bass Enthusiast: It delivers a sub-bass extension and "rumble" similar to a dedicated subwoofer, reaching depths that traditional drivers often struggle to resolve.

• You value Technicality and Separation: It offers an exceptionally open, natural soundstage with world-class instrument separation and resolution.

• You prioritize Comfort for Long Sessions: Unlike many high-end flagship headphones that are heavy and fatiguing, the Genesis One is super lightweight and engineered for maximum comfort, allowing for hours of immersive listening without strain.

The Genesis One IS NOT for you if:

• You prefer "Mid-Forward" or "Intimate" Vocals: If your priority is a warm, lush, or "front-and-center" vocal presentation, the Genesis One’s V-shaped tuning may feel too recessed in the midrange for your tastes.

• You want an "Easy-to-Drive" Headphone: With a sensitivity of 75 dB/V, the Genesis One is significantly harder to drive than standard headphones. It requires a high-voltage source (ideally 10–20 Vrms) to perform at its potential.

A Note on Treble & Ear Anatomy (HRTF)

The Genesis One features an intentionally large ear cup design to maximize soundstage. Because of this large acoustic volume, the high-frequency response is highly dependent on your individual ear anatomy (Pinna).

Just as every person hears a room differently, listeners may have different experiences with the treble. What sounds perfectly smooth to one listener may pick up a specific resonance for another based on how the sound waves interact with their unique ear shape.

The Bottom Line: The Genesis One is a "Grand Tourer", built for scale, massive dynamics, and deep cinematic immersion, all in a lightweight chassis. If you want the feeling of a high-end listening room on your head without the weight, this is your headphone.

Amplification Guide: Powering the CrystalCore™ Driver

The CrystalCore™ driver in the Genesis One is a departure from traditional dynamic or planar magnetic designs. Architecturally, it behaves more like a capacitor than a resistor.

Technical Characteristics

• 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.

Amplifier Synergy

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.

Recommended Pairings

ModelsPortable / Transportable

iFi iDSD Diablo, FiiO M17

Desktop Solid State

Violectric HPA (V222, V281, V550), Schiit Jotunheim 3, Lake People G111 Mk2, Cayin iHA-8, Aune S17 Pro EVO, Aune S9C Pro

Tube / OTL

Feliks Audio Euforia EVO, DarkVoice 336SE, Woo Audio WA5-LE, Woo Audio WA22, Cayin HA-1A Mk2

Speaker Amps & Specialized

Schiit Vidar 2F, Emotiva BasX A2L+ / A2+, BIA Glass FX10H

We’ll keep updating this list as we find more amps that work well with Genesis One.

The Genesis One does not have a fixed impedance like traditional dynamic headphones.
Because its crystal driver behaves as a capacitor rather than a resistor, its impedance depends on frequency.

The driver’s capacitance is about 200 nF, so the impedance ZZZ can be estimated using:

Z=1/(2πfC) ​

For example:

• At 1 kHz, Z≈800Ω

• At 10 kHz, Z≈80Ω

• At 100 Hz, Z≈8kΩZ

So the impedance decreases as frequency increases — unlike most dynamic drivers.

While it may seem counterintuitive to connect a headphone to a high-power loudspeaker amplifier, it is completely safe for the Genesis One.

The Engineering Behind the Safety

The CrystalCore™ driver is designed with a very high impedance profile (typically >600 Ω). Because of this high resistance, the driver draws very little current, even from high-wattage amplifiers.

• High Voltage Tolerance: The Genesis One can safely handle up to 80V of output.

• The Speaker Amp Comparison: Most high-end loudspeaker amplifiers operate in the 40V range. This means the Genesis One has a massive safety buffer—it is built to handle nearly double the voltage that a typical home speaker amplifier will ever output.

Performance Benefits

In our testing, we have paired the Genesis One with a wide variety of powerful Class A and Class AB loudspeaker amplifiers. Because these amplifiers have immense voltage headroom, they often provide the most effortless and dynamic presentation the Genesis One is capable of achieving.

Best Practices for Connection

While the driver is safe, we recommend the following "Safety First" protocol for your ears:

1. Zero the Volume: Always ensure your amplifier volume is at zero before connecting the headphones or starting playback.

2. Use Quality Adapters: Ensure you are using a high-quality 3.5mm to 4-banana plug cable or a dedicated interface box.

3. Check for "Thumps": Some vintage speaker amps have a "power-on thump." We recommend turning the amplifier on before plugging in the headphones to protect the driver from initial DC offset spikes.

The Genesis One has high sensitivity because its crystal driver consumes very little power to produce sound. However, it can still be difficult to drive since it requires a relatively high voltage swing to reach full performance.

It’s also important to note that the sensitivity of Genesis One isn’t directly comparable to that of traditional dynamic headphones, as the two technologies operate on very different electrical principles.

The Science of Break-In: Maximizing Your Drivers

Because the CrystalCore™ driver in the Genesis One is engineered with high-excursion rubber surrounds, similar to a high-end loudspeaker, it requires a mechanical "settling" period to reach its intended performance.

What Happens Physically?

When your headphones are brand new, the rubber surrounds and internal suspension are at their maximum stiffness. As you play music, these materials undergo controlled mechanical stress, causing the polymer chains in the rubber to "relax."

This results in two key acoustic improvements:

1. Deeper, More Effortless Bass: As the rubber becomes more compliant (flexible), the driver can move more freely. This allows the Genesis One to reach its full sub-bass potential, delivering that "subwoofer-like" rumble with less resistance.

2. Smoother Frequency Response: A more compliant suspension reduces mechanical tension, which helps "iron out" minor peaks in the frequency response. This leads to a more refined, natural, and fatigue-free sound signature.

Our Recommendation

We suggest a break-in period of 50–100 hours of actual playback.

• Volume: Use a slightly higher than average (but still safe) volume.

• Content: Music with a wide dynamic range and strong bass content (e.g., Orchestral, Electronic, or Jazz) is most effective for "exercising" the surrounds.

Note: You don't need to do this all at once. Simply enjoying your music will naturally bring the Genesis One to its "peak" state over the first few weeks of ownership.

Yes, the pads are fully replaceable. We offer leather, velour, and suede options, all available for direct order. Thanks to the design of Genesis One, changing earpads will not significantly alter the sound signature.

Yes! In addition to our premium leather finishes, we also offer a vegan-friendly option made with high-quality synthetic materials. This alternative provides the same comfort and durability without the use of animal products. If you’d like the vegan version, simply send us a note after you back our project so we can make sure you receive it.

Warranty & Service Policy

At Lily Audio, we stand behind the engineering and craftsmanship of every unit we produce. The Genesis One is designed for longevity, and we are committed to keeping your headphones in peak performing condition.

Two-Year Limited Warranty

The Genesis One includes a two-year limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship from the original date of purchase. If any component fails under normal use during this period—including driver issues, structural defects, or mechanical failures—we will repair or replace the affected part at no cost to you.

Our "Hassle-Free" Repair Process

If your unit requires a warranty repair, we make the process as seamless as possible:

• Free Parts & Labor: All technical repairs are covered 100%.

• Complimentary Return Shipping: Once the repair is complete, we will cover the cost of shipping the unit back to you.

• Personal Support: You will deal directly with our team to ensure your unit is calibrated back to our original factory standards.

What is Not Covered:

To maintain this level of service for all our backers, please note the warranty does not cover:

• Accidental Damage: Issues resulting from misuse, abuse, or accidents (e.g., drops, liquid exposure).

• Unauthorized Service: Modifications or repairs performed by anyone other than Lily Audio.

• Consumables & Wear: Normal wear and tear of ear pads, cables, or minor cosmetic scratches from daily use.

How to Start a Claim:

To initiate a service request, please contact our support team with your proof of purchase, SN and a brief description of the issue (including photos if possible). We will provide you with shipping instructions and guide you through the next steps to get your Genesis One back on your desk.