The new Kaleidescape Blu-ray quality movie player costs half, but it has a big catch in 4K, and that might not be a problem.
This new streaming service significantly reduces the cost of benchmark-quality videos, although it only offers content in 2K.
Kaleidescape has unveiled its new movie player for home, commercial, and marine cinemas, the Strato M, which is priced at $1,995. While it is an enticing option, the device has a notable limitation: it operates solely in HD resolution, which means it does not support 4K, a standard that has become common even in more affordable streaming devices.
The Strato M stands out as a high-quality 2K player, surpassing what a Blu-Ray offers without the need for discs. This makes it an attractive option for those with a premium quality HD or 2K projector who do not plan to upgrade to 4K. In comparison, the company also offers the Strato V 4K, which has been well received but comes at a higher cost.
According to the company, the Strato M is ideal for rooms where the viewing distance is at least 1.5 times the size of the screen in inches. For those who prefer to sit closer to the screen, the Strato V may be the more suitable option.
The Strato M can operate on its own or connect to Terra Prime movie servers, allowing for extensive local storage. This player supports lossless immersive and spatial audio, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. In terms of video, it delivers 2K reference quality with greater bit depth than Blu-Ray and is compatible with Dolby Vision, HDR10, BT.2020, and 4:2:2 chroma.
As a standalone system, the Strato M provides a unique playback zone and can store up to six movies on its internal SSD, with downloads taking approximately 10 minutes through a gigabit ethernet connection. Its interface has been optimized for smaller movie libraries, and it can automatically free up space 48 hours after a movie has been viewed.
The Kaleidescape Strato M is now available through authorized dealers at a suggested price of $1,995, making it an interesting option compared to the best 4K Blu-ray players in this price range. Although the HD limitation may deter those seeking 4K on the best TVs, some home theater enthusiasts may find a place for this model.