NEWS: Strato V Player Announced

[J.Green]

Is there a Strato V manual with recommended player settings posted online yet, and/or one that will be included?

I am trying to ascertain the Dolby standard vs LLDV options without going down a rabbit hole….I have a Sony A95L so assume this would be either automatic or standard but it gets hairy when I introduce my MadVR MK2 in the mix for a variety of reasons re: LLDV and inability to dynamic tone map HDR due to Sony locking their proprietary settings and not using a gamma based picture curve for tone mapping etc….

The Strato V Installation Guide is here:

https://support.kaleidescape.com/article/Strato-V-Installation-Guide

There is also a "Getting the most out of your Strato" document here (which has been updated to include Strato V):

https://support.kaleidescape.com/article/Getting-the-Most-out-of-Strato

 

[baltz]

Amazing how the "devil is always in the detail". That's an absolute bummer for me. Maybe those titles will get upgrades to the HDR10 versions too.

According to @MikeKobb earlier in this thread, the Strato V can play a DV download and output it as either DV or HDR10. The Strato C can’t play the DV download at all and requires a separate download for HDR10.

 

[kimg1453]

My only issue is that I just found that the Strato V does not have separate HDMI Video/Audio outputs. I split my signal, feeding the Video to a Lumagen and Audio to a Trinnov. So, I'm disappointed that they did not include it. I will be sticking with my Strato C. When I'm ready I'll just obtain another C model. I'm sure this is not an issue for most folks but I want to keep the configuration I have now.

 

[HarperVision]

Is there a Strato V manual with recommended player settings posted online yet, and/or one that will be included?

I am trying to ascertain the Dolby standard vs LLDV options without going down a rabbit hole….I have a Sony A95L so assume this would be either automatic or standard but it gets hairy when I introduce my MadVR MK2 in the mix for a variety of reasons re: LLDV and inability to dynamic tone map HDR due to Sony locking their proprietary settings and not using a gamma based picture curve for tone mapping etc….

If you have an A95L using an Envy Mk2 then your only option, if you want to utilize the native DV file, is to use LLDV and add HDR metadata using something like an HDFury Vertex2 so the Envy sees it as an HDR10 signal.

You can of course just connect the Strato V directly to the Envy and it’ll see it as an HDR10 only device and convert the output to HDR10, but as of yet we don’t know the quality differences between the two.

I should know by Thursday evening or end of the weekend latest.

 

[HarperVision]

My only issue is that I just found that the Strato V does not have separate HDMI Video/Audio outputs. I split my signal, feeding the Video to a Lumagen and Audio to a Trinnov. So, I'm disappointed that they did not include it. I will be sticking with my Strato C. When I'm ready I'll just obtain another C model. I'm sure this is not an issue for most folks but I want to keep the configuration I have now.

I believe you should be able to get an HDMI audio extractor or I think even just a plain HDMI 1 in/2 out DA with one output going to the display and another to the AVR.

 

[DmitryB]

Ugh I bought a Strato C a month or so ago! Annoyed!

 

[MovieChef]

Ugh I bought a Strato C a month or so ago! Annoyed!

Me too. But don’t be too annoyed — the Strato C still plays a lot of HD movies that the Strato V cannot and, as best I can tell, the main feature missing from the Strato C is DV compatibility, which may not matter depending on your setup (such as if you have a projector and/or a MadVR Envy).

 

[MikeKobb]

My only issue is that I just found that the Strato V does not have separate HDMI Video/Audio outputs. I split my signal, feeding the Video to a Lumagen and Audio to a Trinnov. So, I'm disappointed that they did not include it. I will be sticking with my Strato C. When I'm ready I'll just obtain another C model. I'm sure this is not an issue for most folks but I want to keep the configuration I have now.

For what it's worth, you and I have similar configurations. I have a Radiance Pro and an Altitude 16 in my theater. I send Audio/Video into the Radiance Pro, and I have the Radiance send audio-only from one of its outputs to the Altitude, and send video to the projector. I did this with my Strato C and it works fine with Strato V as well.

 

[kimg1453]

Mike, thanks for your suggestion.

 

[ZeroDarkFuga]

If you have an A95L using an Envy Mk2 then your only option, if you want to utilize the native DV file, is to use LLDV and add HDR metadata using something like an HDFury Vertex2 so the Envy sees it as an HDR10 signal.

You can of course just connect the Strato V directly to the Envy and it’ll see it as an HDR10 only device and convert the output to HDR10, but as of yet we don’t know the quality differences between the two.

I should know by Thursday evening or end of the weekend latest.

Sent you PM so as not to go off topic…

 

[MikeKobb]

Strange that the V doesn’t (currently?) support CEC. I’d think that’s really important to a new-to-kaleidescape user with this standalone, likely sitting next to an AppleTV on a system. Will be a bummer that it doesn’t switch AV inputs on the controller/receiver automatically for this type of user so now they need multiple remotes and/or more advanced programming of their system.

Also begs the question if this comes with the kaleidescape remote control? Sorry if I missed that in the materials.

Sorry, this thread is moving fast and I missed this question.

First, the easy one: yes, a remote is included.

Regarding CEC, as mentioned earlier in this thread, bringup of a new hardware platform is an extremely challenging project, and we deliberately kept the first release of Strato V scoped in such a way as to minimize schedule risk and help ensure software quality. That means that some things that we would have liked to include in a perfect world were deferred for consideration in future releases.

As a policy, we don't discuss future feature plans, because it's always possible that plans will have to change for one reason or another. So I can't say when or even if CEC will be included. What I can say is that some of the technical things that presented stumbling blocks to including it on Strato C are not present on Strato V, so it's at least a more likely possibility for the future.

 

[ZeroDarkFuga]

Sorry, this thread is moving fast and I missed this question.

First, the easy one: yes, a remote is included.

Regarding CEC, as mentioned earlier in this thread, bringup of a new hardware platform is an extremely challenging project, and we deliberately kept the first release of Strato V scoped in such a way as to minimize schedule risk and help ensure software quality. That means that some things that we would have liked to include in a perfect world were deferred for consideration in future releases.

As a policy, we don't discuss future feature plans, because it's always possible that plans will have to change for one reason or another. So I can't say when or even if CEC will be included. What I can say is that some of the technical things that presented stumbling blocks to including it on Strato C are not present on Strato V, so it's at least a more likely possibility for the future.

@MikeKobb I assume we won’t get the mobile app tags until later this week or next as previously stated. Do we have to have a Strato v in the eco system to even view the DV tags?

And if so, how will movie updates work?

Will we get a notification that x # of movies in our library have DV updates and would we like to download?

I have a Strato v on order and en route and would like to start refreshing my library of available DV titles (almost 90%) now but I don’t show any available above HDR10, hence my ask….thank you!

 

[DmitryB]

Me too. But don’t be too annoyed — the Strato C still plays a lot of HD movies that the Strato V cannot and, as best I can tell, the main feature missing from the Strato C is DV compatibility, which may not matter depending on your setup (such as if you have a projector and/or a MadVR Envy).

Yeah, I actually have a JVC projector, so that's never going to have DV. But the new V model does have storage, which the C doesn't. That's my main source of blargh.

 

[MikeKobb]

@MikeKobb I assume we won’t get the mobile app tags until later this week or next as previously stated. Do we have to have a Strato v in the eco system to even view the DV tags?

And if so, how will movie updates work?

Will we get a notification that x # of movies in our library have DV updates and would we like to download?

Correct, you'll see the same Dolby Vision badging design that's on the web store today in the mobile app any day now. That will show up for all users of the store, as it currently does for web.

The way "updates" are defined today is that they are a new version of something already on your system. So, if you have the 4K HDR10 version of a movie on your system, and it gets a new version that adds a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, for example, that is an update. This feature does not currently support the addition of new quality versions, although we may implement that in the future.

The easiest thing to do is to go on the web store to Manage -> My Movies, and turn on the Dolby Vision video filter. That'll show you everything you own that is available with Dolby Vision, and you can then use the Download All button to download your chosen ones in bulk.

 

[MikeKobb]

Yeah, I actually have a JVC projector, so that's never going to have DV. But the new V model does have storage, which the C doesn't. That's my main source of blargh.

Don't let that be too big of a source of blargh. The storage in the Strato V is used in standalone mode. It's not used when grouped with a Terra server, so from the standpoint of the system you have today, it would make no difference.

 

[clueluzz]

To clarify:

However: Strato V can play Dolby Vision files on HDR10 displays if needed.

Since the JVC NZ projectors are HDR10+, will the Dolby Vision metadata map correctly to HDR10+? If it plays back on HDR10, HDR10+ display/projector owners should get this benefit.

 

[ZeroDarkFuga]

Correct, you'll see the same Dolby Vision badging design that's on the web store today in the mobile app any day now. That will show up for all users of the store, as it currently does for web.

The way "updates" are defined today is that they are a new version of something already on your system. So, if you have the 4K HDR10 version of a movie on your system, and it gets a new version that adds a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, for example, that is an update. This feature does not currently support the addition of new quality versions, although we may implement that in the future.

The easiest thing to do is to go on the web store to Manage -> My Movies, and turn on the Dolby Vision video filter. That'll show you everything you own that is available with Dolby Vision, and you can then use the Download All button to download your chosen ones in bulk.

@MikeKobb its super early, but would also be great to have a “delete and replace” option feature for the DV titles if we already have the same Version in HDR10, otherwise it’s manual.

I have almost 80-90 of the initial 100 DV titles, and I’m probably not alone, but not sure how much coding work is involved with such a task….

 

[LoveCinema]

Since the JVC NZ projectors are HDR10+, will the Dolby Vision metadata map correctly to HDR10+? If it plays back on HDR10, HDR10+ display/projector owners should get this benefit.

JVC projectors are not Dolby Vision compatible, and would identify themselves to the Strato V as HDR display devices. This would prevent the downloading/display of Dolby Vision files. To my knowledge, the Strato V will offer no specific benefit to a JVC projector.

I’d love to learn otherwise…

 

[clueluzz]

JVC projectors are not Dolby Vision compatible, and would identify themselves to the Strato V as HDR display devices. This would prevent the downloading/display of Dolby Vision files. To my knowledge, the Strato V will offer no specific benefit to a JVC projector.

I’d love to learn otherwise…

I suspected as much but it seemed like a missed opportunity to not include HDR10+ as a feature considering that the Dolby Vision spec is the highest in the industry. Hopefully Kaleidescape will enable HDR10+ thru a firmware update

 

[MikeKobb]

@MikeKobb its super early, but would also be great to have a “delete and replace” option feature for the DV titles if we already have the same Version in HDR10, otherwise it’s manual.

I have almost 80-90 of the initial 100 DV titles, and I’m probably not alone, but not sure how much coding work is involved with such a task….

Very reasonable request. I will raise that with the store team.