Article: WiMP / Tidal Headquarters - Oslo, Norway

[The Computer Audiophile]

You can view the page at http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content.php?r=600-WiMP-Tidal-Headquarters-Oslo-Norway

[Kelly]

Sweet! That is awesome that you got to visit headquarters. I am awaiting Tidal anxiously. Given that NAD/Bluesound and Auralic are both onboard with WiMP, perhaps my computer-free-multiroom-lossless-online-streaming fantasy will finally see fruition!

[Account Closed]

With the much publicized difficulties Qobuz has had of late in securing additional financing, it is good to see a well capitalized public company coming to the lossless streaming market. We really need to break the mentality that music is free and only a fool pays and the way to do it is with a clearly superior product. This means not just the lossless streaming but also the whole backend such as robust player software, support, marketing , R&D and management with vision and a plan. The music industry will fade to a shadow of its former glory without this type of innovation. And without a vibrant software side (the music and the recording process) the high end hardware side we all love to play with so much will disappear as well. I wish them well and hope to be one of the first to subscribe here in the USA.

[Elberoth]

IMO it is a great idea and the future of digital audio. The downloads, NAS, constant drive upgrades/replacements will be the past.

 

We still have to keep them to store our HD files, but a Wimp emploeee I have talked to last week told me, that HD streaming is also coming. And we are talking about the near future, certainly more like 12-months than 24.

 

I recently got their VIP 6-months trial, but didn't have the time to install it yet.

 

BTW - do you know why Wimp is called Tidal in the US ?

[maxicek]

WiMP / Tidal is already available on the Electrocompaniet ECM 2 streamer, as you can see in the photos. Content is excellent.

[RealAudio]

With the much publicized difficulties Qobuz has had of late in securing additional financing, it is good to see a well capitalized public company coming to the lossless streaming market. We really need to break the mentality that music is free and only a fool pays and the way to do it is with a clearly superior product. This means not just the lossless streaming but also the whole backend such as robust player software, support, marketing , R&D and management with vision and a plan. The music industry will fade to a shadow of its former glory without this type of innovation. And without a vibrant software side (the music and the recording process) the high end hardware side we all love to play with so much will disappear as well. I wish them well and hope to be one of the first to subscribe here in the USA.

 

What makes you believe they are well capitalized? Their latest balance sheet shows cash of 49,000,000 NOK or about $7,350,000. 2013 losses were almost 100,000,000 NOK.

 

Just remember, if spotify or pandora want lossless redbook, all they have to do is turn a switch if they think the market is there.

[esimms86]

I don't think I'd want to publicly circulate a picture of me under a sign that says "Wimp." But maybe that's just me. ; ]

 

Esau

[rossb]

On an unrelated note, I will be interested on your comparison of the AK240 and Calyx M. I have both and found the AK240 to be very disappointing for its price. The Calyx M, on the other hand, I find to be a stunning player, despite some UI quirks (and irritations).

[Fridolin]

WIMP:

You will be disappointed when you realize that many of the albums you want to listen to are not lossless as advertised.

 

If your musical taste is a bit out of mainstream, there are many missing albums.

Don't give away your precious CDs - you will regret it.

[Lowreslife!]

What's a VER? That second row, picture on the left.

[AvilleAudio]

I attended AXPONA 2014 "Meet the Editors" panel and asked them their thoughts on streaming. All were very negative except Ed Momkus from Dagogo (a friend) who threw me a bone by volunteering that Linn's streaming was interesting and sounded okay. I'm wondering if Tidal's streaming product (and marketing campaign/charm offensive) will change any minds.

 

BTW, I thought MOG sounded okay through a Sonos Connect outputting to a decent DAC. I was usually able to distinguish MOG from a CD when I A-B'd it, but just barely. When I was just enjoying the music it didn't much matter.

[bobbmd]

AvilleAudio/Fridolin/others above: MOG is dead/BeatsMusic is ok,soundquality is the same and they transferred my hundreds of playlists but someone elsewhere on this forum said BM is dead or will be soon will be/nothing beats 24bit-44.1 lossless FLAC like Qobuz delivers(and you can get it in USA), so if TIDAL/Wiamp has same number of songs/albums and Qobuz dies also who cares if some obscure artists or albums or songs are not available-Qobuz has stuff i never knew existed that will probably go for TIDAL and it's less expensive- all i care about is soundquality ie lossless FLAC AND a desktop app itunes and BM offer neither-thanks for the TIDAL info JIM, I will buy it as soon as it comes out-bobbmd

[theoctopus]

Yesterday I set up an account for myself with WiMP using a VPN, and today I've just done a comparative listening test, comparing WiMP against AIFF files played back through my iTunes library via Amarra. WiMP doesn't sound the same or as good as the raw AIFF files. It does sound pretty good (and is a big step up from Spotify and Beatsmusic), but it is not the same thing as the raw AIFF. I'm not a codec expert in the least, so I couldn't say what is or isn't happening, but to my ears the top end via WiMP is slightly shinier and grainer, and the music isn't as dynamic. WiMP will bring a higher quality portable service for sure, but I'm going to have to keep buying CDs, sadly. Having said that, anybody know of a resource for accurate album credits? Allmusic.com is getting worse and worse in that department...

[yetis]

Not sure if people saw this, but Tidal is about to launch with several manufacturers here in the future. Tidal Announces Integration With 16 Brands' | Hifi Pig