From an idea to mass production: how Whooshi amps went global

In April 2019, Infomir released its new product — the Whooshi portable Hi-Fi amp. This device can increase the output volume by 30% and adapt to the hearing of each user. Presented in 2019, the amp is currently entering serial production.

The story of Whooshi began in 2017 when Infomir employees got the idea to make an amp that would be Bluetooth enabled, enhance and amplify audio, as well as adapt to the user's specific hearing. There was no product of this kind in the market at the time.

THE CROWDFUNDING TAKEOFF

Whooshi was developed over the course of a year by the joint efforts of professional musicians, sound engineers, an audiologist, and an expert in psychoacoustics. In November 2018, Infomir launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.

Under the platform's terms, backers have 35 days to support a project they like with monetary donations. If the project fails to hit its funding target over this period, the money is returned to the backers.

Infomir decided on a minimum target of $10,000. And the project did not just hit the target — it was exceeded threefold, enabling the company even to set up production of the amp. 

WHAT MAKES WHOOSHI AMPS SO CONVENIENT?

Easily connected to any device

Some devices (tablets, smartphones) have no 3.5 mm jack. Hence, they are incompatible with headsets having this kind of connector.

Whooshi, however, uses Bluetooth to communicate with other devices, like PCs, laptops or smartphones. Also, the amp outputs Hi-Fi sound, which very few Bluetooth headsets are capable of. Leveraging the AAC codec for Bluetooth, Whooshi makes sure that what you hear in your headset sounds exactly as it was recorded in the studio.

Wearable

Whooshi comes equipped with a metallic clip for easy portability. It won't get in the way whether you’re exercising, running, or doing chores.

Music on the road

Whooshi can be connected to an in-car entertainment system to enjoy Hi-Fi sound in the vehicle.

Custom-tailored sound

This is where Infomir's Whooshi mobile app comes into play. The user needs to install it on their smartphone to create a personalized audio profile and undergo a hearing test. It takes only a few minutes.

The app then stores the user's data and uses it to adjust the sound, taking into account the type of the headset used, all the while doubling as a music player.

Built-in audio filters

Experts at Infomir took the idea of enhancing visual images and translated it into its equivalent in audio, coming up with a set of musical effects for the amp. They operate much like the filters in photo editors. The only difference is that instead of exposure and color, sound frequencies are adjusted.

These filters can enhance the way musical instruments sound and highlight the character and depth of different musical genres. For instance, bass is important for rock music, therefore enhancing lows for this genre greatly improves the user’s experience. With the Whooshi player app, you don't need to adjust your equalizer manually—it has 10 readily available sound “masks”.

Denys Popov, Whooshi Product Manager:

“Ears are a unique organ. We all hear sounds differently. If we select glasses or contacts individually, why not apply the same approach to sound? Whooshi is like glasses for your ears.”

WHO THIS PRODUCT IS FOR

Whooshi amps are multifunctional. They will be a perfect fit for:

• Audiophiles
• Those working with sound (musicians and sound engineers)
• Owners of jack-less smartphones
• Athletes
• Drivers
• People with damaged hearing
• Regular headset users (office workers, gamers, cinephiles).

WHOOSHI AT CES-2019

In early 2019, Infomir presented a Whooshi prototype to the wide public at the world's largest consumer electronics expo—CES—in Las Vegas. Every year, this event brings together investors, producers, developers, suppliers, and media representatives from 150 countries. CES is a great platform for unveiling products and finding partners.

Infomir representatives gave CES participants the opportunity to check out Whooshi along with different headsets and discover the amp's performance for themselves. Experts, bloggers, the press, distributors, and producers alike were really intrigued by the new device. It drew particular attention of Apple representatives: Whooshi was even reviewed as a part of the CES 2019 report on appleinsider.com. 

In 2019, Infomir presented its new product globally—the Whooshi portable amp, which turns a regular headset into a wireless one and enables music playback in Hi-Fi quality. The project was crowdfunded on Kickstarter. Infomir presented Whooshi at CES 2019, garnering a lot of attention from experts, press, and other producers.