The Lily Audio Genesis 1 is a very special headphone. It utilizes the “CrystalCore” driver, a piezoelectric driver built with a special crystal material. The driver has no moving parts, except that the crystal strip itself bends and expands when voltage is applied.
The CrystalCore driver must be used with a powerful headphone amplifier (or speaker amp) that can output very high voltages, because of its remarkably high impedance. Several standard headphone amplifiers can do the job, but not all of them. I recommend doing some research before purchase; there is a list of compatible amps on Lily Audio’s website.
The Sennheiser HD 800 is also a very special headphone, and it became an instant reference when launched in 2009. However, many found it fatiguing because of several treble peaks, myself included. The online DIY community came up with a multitude of solutions. Finally, Sennheiser “modded” the HD 800 themselves by adding a simplified Helmholtz resonator to the empty center space of the HD 800 driver. They also changed the color, and the HD 800S was born. It launched in 2015.
The DIY community replicated Sennheiser’s little tweak and designed a small module called the SDR (Super Dupont Resonator), which you could insert into the empty center of the ring driver, just like the HD 800S. The SDR basically made the HD 800 sound as good as identical to the HD 800S. I know because I used to own them both.
However, some listeners, including myself, still found the HD 800S to be a bit fatiguing, and I ended up letting it go and modifying my HD 800 completely to my liking instead. I did several small adjustments: installed the SDR module, changed the pads, removed the tightly woven fabric covering the driver, and instead partly covered the driver with tuning foam – but kept the front of the driver free.
Even though the overall sound was very similar to the HD 800S, I ended up with a headphone that didn’t fatigue me at all and, to my ears, sounded even a little bit better, both with regard to tuning and technicalities.
Despite the fact that my HD 800 is modified in many ways, it still sounds very similar to an HD 800S, and when I compare it directly to the Genesis One, my comments and remarks about the differences in sound would not be any different if I used the HD 800S. The difference between my modded HD 800 and the Genesis 1 is large; the difference between my modded HD 800 and the HD 800S is very small. I will refer to my HD800 as the “HD800/S”.
LILY AUDIO GENESIS 1 SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: Open back
- Driver technology: CrystalCore™
- Diaphragm-disc: 75 mm in diameter.
- Impedance: 50 Ohms – 10’000 Ohms (gradually higher with lower frequencies)
- Frequency range: 20–55 kHz
- Sensitivity: 75 dB/V (at 1 kHz)
- Recommended amplifier >10 V output
- Cable: Detachable, 3.5 mm connectors on the headphones – optional jack on the amp end 3.5mm , 6.35mm, 4.4mm or 4-pin XLR
- Carrying case
- Weight: 300 grams
Current price and availability:
SENNHEISER HD800S SPECIFICATIONS
- Transducer type: 56mm ring radiator dynamic driver
- Sensitivity: 102 dB (SPL @ 1 V)
- Impedance: 300 Ω
- Frequency response: 4 Hz – 51,000 Hz
- Total harmonic distortion (THD): < 0.02 % (1 kHz 1 Vrms)
- Cables: 3m cable with 6.35 mm plug and 3m cable with balanced 4.4mm Pentaconn plug
- Cable connectors on cups: proprietary
- Weight 330 g
- Made in Germany.
Current price and availability:
- Amazon: HD800S
BUILD AND DESIGN
When I first saw the Genesis 1 I immediately thought of the HD 800S. However, when I see them side by side, they’re clearly very different.
The Genesis 1 is larger, with circular cups and a headband with a wide strap. The HD 800/S has a headband with padding and smaller cups with special ” ear-shaped” pads that use a proprietary attachment mechanism. The Genesis 1 uses the standard lip-and-groove system for the pads. It also uses standard 3.5 mm connectors for the cables, while the HD 800/S uses proprietary connectors.
Anyway, both are very comfortable and well designed.
GENESIS 1 – SIMPLE FOAM MOD
I have done a simple, reversible modification to the Genesis 1. To tame treble brightness, reflections and resonances, I put a 5 mm tuning foam disc inside the cups in front of the driver. Without it, the headphones are too bright for me. I don’t find that the foam negatively affects the technical sound quality (like detail, imaging etc), rather the opposite.
However, even with 5 mm of tuning foam, the Genesis 1 is still bright. Another solution is, of course, to use EQ. You can also buy Lily Audio’s purpose made Treble Control Box (link) – or combine any of the measures in the way you might prefer.
My HD800 is modified as described before. I’ll refer to it as the HD 800/S.
LISTENING COMPARISONS
Associated equipment
- Amp for Genesis 1: Bryston BHA-1
- Amp for HD800/S: Sendy KYLIN
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
TRACK BY TRACK IMPRESSIONS
In the Mountains by Espen Eriksen Trio
They sound rather different. With the HD 800/S, the bass is polite, the piano is smooth and the percussion relaxed.
The Genesis has more bass, the percussion is tighter and more focused. The piano is crisper and clearer.
The Saint by Berke Özcan
Again, they are quite different. The saxophone is much brighter and crisper with the Genesis 1. It sounds darker and smoother with the HD 800/S but also more diffuse in terms of imaging. The bass is also much stronger on Genesis 1 and the percussion sounds sharper.
Re-Melt by Tord Gustavsen Trio
Also here, the Genesis 1 has more bass and a sharper, more upfront delivery. There’s also more space between instruments. With the HD 800/S they’re more smeared out, not in a bad way, just different. The Genesis 1 is more pinpointed.
Eye of The Day by Marta del Grandi
Again, the Genesis 1 has more bass, crisper, brighter, and more focused vocals, and better, more pinpointed imaging. The HD 800/S is smoother and more relaxed in its delivery.
Dancing in the Dark by Jørgen Dahl Moe
The vocals are a bit sharp and edgy with the Genesis 1; they’re much smoother and more pleasant with the HD 800/S, and without sibilance.
Teardrop by Massive Attack
The bass is pretty tame on the HD 800/S, but the overall presentation is very pleasant. The Genesis 1 has fantastic bass, plentiful and tight.
Vocals are smooth with the HD 800/S, they’re much crisper and sharper with the Genesis 1 – but without sibilance here.
The Hidden Camera by Photek
The difference here is massive. The Genesis 1 has a great bass delivery; the HD 800/S feels tame and lacking in comparison. The percussion is sharper and crisper with the Genesis 1, but maybe a bit too dry. The HD 800/S on the other hand is smooth and relaxed – maybe too much so.
Vicarious by Tool
The HD 800/S is as usual more midrange-centered and smoother. The Genesis 1 has great bass and better instrument definition, but can also feel a bit too crisp, and the vocals are a bit sibilant.
Like Suicide by Soundgarden
Again, the Genesis 1 has fantastic bass; the percussion is clear and snappy. The vocals stand out nicely in the mix, but there’s some sibilance. The HD 800/S has less bass and more mids, along with smoother highs.
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
The Genesis 1 is brighter and sharper, but in a nice way. It sounds more aggressive and precise; the HD 800/S is smoother and more relaxed.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo.
The Genesis 1 is sharper and crisper, but in a nice way. The HD 800/S is smoother, darker, and more midrange-focused.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The HD 800/S and the Genesis 1 have very different sound signatures. The Genesis 1 has significantly more bass and treble; the HD 800/S is more midrange-focused. They’re so different that it takes a bit of time to adapt when switching between them.
Again, even though I have modified my HD 800, it sounds very similar to the production HD 800S, and any differences are minuscule compared to the difference between my modded HD 800/S and the Genesis 1.
Treble
The treble of the Genesis 1 is crisp, clear, and sometimes sharp. It’s very pronounced. The HD 800/S is smoother and more relaxed, not as sharp and articulate. It’s more diffuse, but in a pleasant way.
Midrange
The HD 800/S has a darker, richer midrange. The Genesis 1 is crisper and brighter, more articulate and energetic.
Bass
The bass is significantly better in every way with the Genesis 1. It’s tighter, fuller, richer, with better texture, control, and extension. The HD 800/S is certainly not bad, but it feels lacking in direct comparison.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage size is comparable, but they are still very different. The Genesis 1 is more articulate and pinpointed, better at positioning the instruments. The HD 800/S is still excellent but in its “wide and diffuse” way that somehow still feels great and is unique to the HD800/S
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
Both are equally detailed in the midrange and treble, but they deliver detail in very different ways. The Genesis 1 is much more articulate, crisp, and textured, while the HD 800/S is smoother and more relaxed. In the bass department, there’s no contest; the Genesis 1 is superior in every way.
The Genesis 1 also feels much more dynamic, with better articulation and punch. The bass contributes a lot here.
Timbre is very different between the two headphones. The bass timbre is great on the Genesis 1, very lifelike and tactile, it’s not as realistic on the HD 800/S. The mids are more natural and smoother with the HD 800/S; the Genesis 1 makes everything crisp and sharp, though often in an engaging way. The treble is also crisp and often sharp with the Genesis 1, while smoother and softer with the HD 800/S. Which one feels more natural depends on the track and instruments used, but if I were going to choose one of them for mixing, it’d be the HD 800/S because its tonality is more balanced.
CONCLUSION
The Genesis 1 has terrific, rather pronounced bass, upfront mids, and energetic treble. It sounds fun, fast, and detailed, but on some tracks, it can sound overly crisp, sharp, or even dry. It benefits from EQ or other tweaks to make the sound smoother and more natural. The Genesis 1 also requires an amp that can handle its exceptionally high impedance levels.
The HD 800/S is also a high-impedance headphone and needs a good amp, but it’s nothing near the impedance levels of the Genesis 1 and is much more flexible with regard to amplifiers.
In general, the HD 800S sounds more balanced and midrange-focused, with a smoother, more well-rounded presentation that still retains a high level of detail. It’s the safer, more neutral-sounding choice, although some listeners can still find it a bit too bright and want to use EQ or other measures to bring the treble down a tad.
In other words, both headphones need some EQ to sound neutral, but the Genesis 1 needs considerably more adjustment than the HD 800/S. However, the bass quality delivered by the Genesis 1 is something the HD 800/S simply cannot match. Another thing to consider is that the HD 800/S is significantly more expensive.
All in all, they’re both great headphones with their pros and cons. The HD 800S is the safer choice; the Genesis 1 brings more character and fun factor, at a lower cost.
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- Amazon: HD800S
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