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NEWS: Strato K Movie Player with 8K capability and new "4K Cinematic" full-chroma & higher bitrate support

@KDeering -- I assume C SDR is in Rec. 709 colorspace vs the wider Rec. 2020 for C HDR/DV? Whether one can tell the difference--display capability notwithstanding--is debatable.
I´d really love to get 4K SDR with extended colorspace. I know, there are not many projectors who can really display the additional color. But if you have, that would be a great benefit.
 
Having dithered over upgrading from my old Premium system for the last couple of years I finally bought a Strato V + 30TB Terra just last week. As you might imagine I was feeling slightly less pleased with myself when I woke up this morning to learn Kaleidescape had announced a new flagship model - the Strato K.

I must therefore give a big shout out to Keith Harris of TouchstoneAV for immediately securing Kaleidescape’s agreement to change to this new flagship model despite this bundle having already shipped!

Already impressed by the great deal Touchstone AV had secured for me in the first place - and for Keith’s patience and the way he made me feel there were no daft questions - I will be forever grateful to them for moving so swiftly this morning.

Very excited to be the proud owner of a new Strato K when the first batch arrives in the UK in July!

Great customer care and a terrific team effort from Kaleidescape, distributer and dealer.
Wow — thank you so much for the incredibly kind words, Kerr.

I’m really pleased we were able to get everything sorted in time and secure the swap to the new Strato K for you.

I’m especially glad we could find a solution that gives you the very latest Kaleidescape has to offer, while also allowing you to retain and continue enjoying your legacy Kaleidescape system.

It’s been a real pleasure working with you throughout, and I sincerely appreciate your trust and support. Your custom means a great deal to us.

I’m very excited for you to experience the Strato K when the first units arrive in the UK — I have no doubt it will be worth the wait.

Thanks again, Kerr.
 
I have a Trinnov Alt 16 still running with the HDMI 2.0 board, I have the 2.1 board in hand but have not installed it yet. Will there be an advantage with the new K if I install the 2.1 board?
 
I have a Trinnov Alt 16 still running with the HDMI 2.0 board, I have the 2.1 board in hand but have not installed it yet. Will there be an advantage with the new K if I install the 2.1 board?
Not unless you have an 8K display. Everything the Strato K can do with regards to 4K Cinematic, can be done over HDMI 2.0's 18Gbps bandwidth.
 
I’ve spoke with Kscape engineering and I am waiting a response. My question was around calibration, I’ve had my Oled professionally calibrated and I reached to my calibrator and asked what happens to the calibration is I toggle on 4:4:4 pass through on the Oled. He stated that it will kick the Oled into PC mode and it will bypass the calibration. Only the basic controls (brightness, contrast etc.). So what am I gaining by adding a “K”. I could toggle 4:4:4 on and it will not use the accurate calibration and if I decide not to toggle it on is there anything to gain with the “K”.
Here’s the question on the ticket that’s open.
Any thoughts here? I would love to get Kris Deering’s thoughts

"if a user has a Strato K but does not want to use the "PC" mode of an LG OLED to enable 4:4:4, as this disengages calibration settings, is there any advantage? IE 4:2:2 or enhanced 4:2:0 or should they stay with Strato V for now?
 
I’ve spoke with Kscape engineering and I am waiting a response. My question was around calibration, I’ve had my Oled professionally calibrated and I reached to my calibrator and asked what happens to the calibration is I toggle on 4:4:4 pass through on the Oled. He stated that it will kick the Oled into PC mode and it will bypass the calibration. Only the basic controls (brightness, contrast etc.). So what am I gaining by adding a “K”. I could toggle 4:4:4 on and it will not use the accurate calibration and if I decide not to toggle it on is there anything to gain with the “K”.
Here’s the question on the ticket that’s open.
Any thoughts here? I would love to get Kris Deering’s thoughts

"if a user has a Strato K but does not want to use the "PC" mode of an LG OLED to enable 4:4:4, as this disengages calibration settings, is there any advantage? IE 4:2:2 or enhanced 4:2:0 or should they stay with Strato V for now?
I'm in the exact same boat. I had a new G6 calibrated back at the end of April. I'll gladly get it recalibrated next year, but what to do in the meantime?
 
I'm in the exact same boat. I had a new G6 calibrated back at the end of April. I'll gladly get it recalibrated next year, but what to do in the meantime?
Well not sure that’s a current option either. This was the response from my calibrator as we were talking the other day.

I also believe the TV’s PC mode bypasses the internal 3D LUT calibration. I say this because I know when calibrating the LG OLED directly, Calman does not give the option of calibrating PC mode. It would only be able to be calibrated with the user controls which would not be as precise.
 
Well not sure that’s a current option either. This was the response from my calibrator as we were talking the other day.

I also believe the TV’s PC mode bypasses the internal 3D LUT calibration. I say this because I know when calibrating the LG OLED directly, Calman does not give the option of calibrating PC mode. It would only be able to be calibrated with the user controls which would not be as precise.
So it's possible that the upgrade path the K offers really isn't a viable option for OLED panels? I mean, if we can use it in PC mode to take advantage of the 444 data, but lose the benefit of calibration, is it really a benefit?

I'm still within my return window in the E and I'm considering a return to exchange it for a K, but only if it truly makes sense. I'm on the G6 in a living room environment, so it will always be a similar situation for me.
 
So it's possible that the upgrade path the K offers really isn't a viable option for OLED panels? I mean, if we can use it in PC mode to take advantage of the 444 data, but lose the benefit of calibration, is it really a benefit?

I'm still within my return window in the E and I'm considering a return to exchange it for a K, but only if it truly makes sense. I'm on the G6 in a living room environment, so it will always be a similar situation for me.
100% my thoughts.
 
So it's possible that the upgrade path the K offers really isn't a viable option for OLED panels? I mean, if we can use it in PC mode to take advantage of the 444 data, but lose the benefit of calibration, is it really a benefit?

I'm still within my return window in the E and I'm considering a return to exchange it for a K, but only if it truly makes sense. I'm on the G6 in a living room environment, so it will always be a similar situation for me.
It’s not a new format. If it were all 8K and or Dolby Vision 2 that might be a different story for me. It feels like it’s Kscapes version of a “filmmaker” mode with settings that are already determined.
 
Every time a new piece of equipment is released, the FOMO kicks in like a narcotic inciting numerous users to run out and purchase before anyone knows if it will work on their particular system or if it even makes a difference in the audio or video. And I suspect these early adapters will perceive an improvement even though the facts will support no such benefit. After spending thousands of dollars it will be difficult for many to admit there is no true benefit at least in their current system.
 
Every time a new piece of equipment is released, the FOMO kicks in like a narcotic inciting numerous users to run out and purchase before anyone knows if it will work on their particular system or if it even makes a difference in the audio or video. And I suspect these early adapters will perceive an improvement even though the facts will support no such benefit. After spending thousands of dollars it will be difficult for many to admit there is no true benefit at least in their current system.
Well said. Look I love my Kscape. However I will wait for real world reviews and testing before I consider it. Would still love to hear from anyone with calibration experience and their thoughts
 
Every time a new piece of equipment is released, the FOMO kicks in like a narcotic inciting numerous users to run out and purchase before anyone knows if it will work on their particular system or if it even makes a difference in the audio or video. And I suspect these early adapters will perceive an improvement even though the facts will support no such benefit. After spending thousands of dollars it will be difficult for many to admit there is no true benefit at least in their current system.
Yeah, I'm feeling a bit of that FOMO. hst, there are a few real world benefits to the K over the V and E. The proper 4K UI being probably the most immediate. What would be others not dependent on the new Cinematic content, which has its pros and cons (e.g. adverse effect on calibrations).
 
Just realizing your location is in MA. I work for a company in Natick and lived in Needham/Wellesley for ~5 years a while back. I should stop by your place sometime when I'm traveling out there.

Yes Techthusiasm, by all means you’d be most welcome to visit my store the next time you fly into Boston! My suggestion is to email me directly at alan@goodwinshighend.com with as much advance notice as possible so that we could arrange a time that would be mutually convenient. I’d like to be free in order to personally give you a tour of our facility. Especially if you are into ultra high end audio I think you’d find your visit here to be rather fascinating, as have other aficionados who’ve flown in to visit us.
 
*** Gets on soap box ***

I've been spending an unhealthy amount of time reading folks takes on this and man is it an interesting case of human behavior. Quite a bit of "willful ignorance" that there might be higher fidelity video beyond what comes on a disc. People totally glossing over the potential here because they just don't want to acknowledge it and what that might mean for their paradigm. Don't get me wrong...I have over 1800 4K discs that I've been collecting since the first releases. They are excellent. My issue is these individuals are twisting themselves in knots to not acknowledge that there's now (potentially) something better than disc. I get that it costs more money than they're willing to spend. Just say as much. But to attempt to downplay and ignore that for the first time in 10 years there is a new version of "best" for home viewing is insincere (at best).

While the perceptible differences in picture quality with "4K Cinematic" content remain to be seen, there is no question that when it comes to specifications discs are no longer cutting edge.

These guys are likely the same ones running a plex server or Zapitti/Zidoo full of pirated content from unknown sources. Remuxes and bastardized DV grades that have been handbraked within an inch of their lives. I've visited some local enthusiast's 7 figure homes with dedicated theaters where they spent massive wads of cash...HUGE projector screens fed by expensive video processor chains and fully kitted sound systems but everything was run off a media server. Unfortunately, it was VERY obvious that the source was compromised & overly compressed and when asked the host really had no idea where the content he was demoing came from nor what had been done to it previously. But guess what? The movie was free. 😬

Hey, I have a Zidoo 8K...but it's full of disc images I created from my disc that's still sitting on the shelf.

I'm also in awe at how much people are lashing their negative comments to the 8K availability while completely ignoring the refinement of 4K. It's like they read "8K" and completely quit reading. But they feel informed enough to take time out of their day to disparage the product release and encourage people to move along because "8K is dead...what a stupid product". 🥴

Whole lot of people arguing in bad faith in an attempt to convince themselves and others not to purchase a premium product with an admittedly premium price. I honestly saw somebody who wrote that we should let him know when the price was the same as his Blu-ray player. The Strato K not going to be $300 Bob...move along. :rolleyes:

I've got no skin in the game (per say)...I may have got *incredibly* lucky with my announcement prediction but I don't know the crew at KScape. I just read the tea leaves and asked myself what I would do if I were in charge. I'm not in the circle. I'm not a dealer. I'm just a normal customer who likes his hobby and pools his limited resources to make things happen in this (premium) space. It's a choice. But it bugs me when fellow enthusiasts do their best to sabotage something because they obviously have taken personal offense with the price point.

Well anyway...thanks for reading. 😁 My Strato K will be here Tuesday and I'll put it through it's paces on my new Bravia 9 II. Should be fun. Giddy up! Will let you know what I see!
 
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Yes Techthusiasm, by all means you’d be most welcome to visit my store the next time you fly into Boston! My suggestion is to email me directly at alan@goodwinshighend.com with as much advance notice as possible so that we could arrange a time that would be mutually convenient. I’d like to be free in order to personally give you a tour of our facility. Especially if you are into ultra high end audio I think you’d find your visit here to be rather fascinating, as have other aficionados who’ve flown in to visit us.

For those that don't know Goodwin's High End, they've been in this industry for almost 50 year, IIRC. I remember industry insiders talking about the incredible people that work there and the support provided for all of the higher end equipment they offered at that time, and for me, that was 30 years ago! It's worth a visit by anyone that makes it to that area in MA.

Jim
 
For those that don't know Goodwin's High End, they've been in this industry for almost 50 year, IIRC. I remember industry insiders talking about the incredible people that work there and the support provided for all of the higher end equipment they offered at that time, and for me, that was 30 years ago! It's worth a visit by anyone that makes it to that area in MA.

Thanks for the kind words Jim. If you yourself are ever in the Boston area you have a standing invitation. It would be an honor for me to give you a personal tour — and to let you experience how far ultra high end audio has come in this day and age. And most importantly to give you the opportunity to rediscover your favorite music. Hearing is believing!
 
Well not sure that’s a current option either. This was the response from my calibrator as we were talking the other day.

I also believe the TV’s PC mode bypasses the internal 3D LUT calibration. I say this because I know when calibrating the LG OLED directly, Calman does not give the option of calibrating PC mode. It would only be able to be calibrated with the user controls which would not be as precise.
I believe PC mode and 4:4:4 passthrough are different settings. Although PC mode does have 4:4:4 passthrough, one can also turn on 4:4:4 passthrough separately. HDMI deep color needs to be turned on before doing this to avoid a black screen. I’m not sure how this affects or disables internal 3D LUT calibration. Another concern is how other sources are handled in 4:4:4 passthrough mode when the LG G5/G6 OLED TV is connected via HDMI to a receiver which in turn has different devices connected via HDMI such as the Strato K, Apple TV, and a 4K Blu-ray player.

This is speaking as an enthusiast with an LG G5 OLED Strato E who also did an AI search on potential issues.
 
If K the company started QA'ing so that their encodings and hardware aren't frequently defective I'd love to upgrade to K the device, but it seems their work on this new device might be why they haven't devoted sufficient resources to fixing the current set of issues. Very disappointing. Will be waiting for trustworthy independent parties to look at this before spending any more money.
 
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