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

[Imakeller]

Not gonna be a popular assessment but it sounds like V was a beta-tester model, K is born from it.

K is a clear progression from the V. It does make you wonder where the next Strato progresses to after the K? Maybe 4:4:4 12-bit chroma support for higher resolutions and frame rates? In the meantime, they’ll certainly come out with a K mini. It never ends, but the Strato K will be a happy place to be for quite a while I’d think.

 

[thrillcat]

Not gonna be a popular assessment but it sounds like V was a beta-tester model, K is born from it.

 

[Neighbor]

Will the additional info/increased chroma necessitate a new video calibration?

 

[cgreene]

DCI-compliant Digital Cinema Packages do not use chroma subsampling and the content is 4:4:4. Some of you may remember when Kaleidescape announced in 2024 that they were expanding into cinema: Kaleidescape Announces Alternative Content Delivery Platform for Cinema.

One of my local theaters uses a Kaleidescape system. I wonder if some of the impetus behind the Strato K and Cinematic content is based on Kaleidescape's relationship with the studios and theaters.

Do you know what movies the local cinema uses Kaleidescape for? Care to name this local cinema? I remember the announcement but never saw it advertised at a cinema. I’m around DCP files all the time and am spoiled by the uncompressed files.

 

[Jin-X]

K is a clear progression from the V. It does make you wonder where the next Strato progresses to after the K? Maybe 4:4:4 12-bit chroma support for higher resolutions and frame rates? In the meantime, they’ll certainly come out with a K mini. It never ends, but the Strato K will be a happy place to be for quite a while I’d think.

The V took almost 2 years of firmware fixes to get it to work properly (mine still needs the fw update that came out this week), those fixes come baked in to the K as they are based on the same platform. So yes V users had to deal with tons of issues only for it to be fixed when a new player came out.

A new player which btw doesn’t work properly if your display doesn’t support DV as the 4KC encodes would rely on a DV to HDR10 software conversions that is still broken on the latest fw.

 

[rafaelsmith]

Not gonna be a popular assessment but it sounds like V was a beta-tester model, K is born from it.

Does seem that way... To be honest, its felt that way ever since I got the V and it still has unresolved issues.

 

[KDeering]

Will the additional info/increased chroma necessitate a new video calibration?

No

 

[cardsdoc]

Deleted. Wrong thread.

 

[Kabillyhop]

A new player which btw doesn’t work properly if your display doesn’t support DV as the 4KC encodes would rely on a DV to HDR10 software conversions that is still broken on the latest fw.

Do we know this for certain? I think @Rmarci observed the brightening issue on a Strato E converting a 4K DV file to HDR 10. Is it a given that a Strato K converting a cinematic DV file to cinematic HDR 10 would have the same problem?

@Rmarci, you are likely the best person to comment.

 

[Broncowrangler]

Jhonnyfocal at the 'Lumagen Artisan' thread on AVS is reporting why 4:4:4 is misleading in this case, I quote his post:

The beauty of the IPTPQc2 colour encoding system is that conventional discussions around 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 become somewhat misleading. The colour information is not being handled in the same way as traditional video formats. Instead, it is encoded perceptually and at full range, meaning that the familiar chroma-subsampling terminology does not accurately describe what is taking place.

This is also why Kaleidescape can legitimately describe the system as delivering full-bandwidth colour. Strictly speaking, this is a simplification, because it is not 4:4:4 in the conventional sense used by traditional video engineering. Rather, the perceived result is equivalent to what people associate with full-bandwidth colour, but it is achieved through the encoding methodology itself rather than through a literal 4:4:4 signal structure - a framework we would now consider increasingly obsolete anyway.

I’m on AVS as well, I saw that.

Sorry @Broncowrangler , @DieZwei wasn’t the only one confused by your response to @Neighbor . I was too. Not a big deal. Neighbor was wrestling between his Extreme MK2 and whether upgrading to Extreme MK3 was necessary. You replied you have the Extreme MK3 on order, but that his Extreme MK2 should be fine with the Strato K. For new buyers, you advised “getting the MK2 with premium pack or MK3.” Adding “Core” before “MK2” there would have been clearer. After reading your post, I had to search for a MadVR model comparison chart to clarify and still wasn't sure if you misspoke or were referring to the Core. Mostly it’s MadVR’s fault for having too many models and using MK2 and MK3 repeatedly!

P.S. I'm psyched for the Strato K based on your Speed Racer Cinematic 4K impressions!

View attachment 10504

I thought there was only one MK2 model equipped with premium pack so…anyways my bad for the ambiguity, point taken and Diezwei gets to keep his pint . Lol.

 

[Broncowrangler]

Major improvement! The lack of 4K GUI on the V was a letdown. Do you notice any difference in navigation smoothness or speed with the Strato K too, or is it just 4K now?

Buttery smooth operation all around. Seamless transitions, no black screen or ghosts floating around. etc. lol.

 

[Lon]

I would guess the next progression would be day and date, which now seems possible given that studios are granting Kscape access to master copies.

 

[Imakeller]

The V took almost 2 years of firmware fixes to get it to work properly (mine still needs the fw update that came out this week), those fixes come baked in to the K as they are based on the same platform. So yes V users had to deal with tons of issues only for it to be fixed when a new player came out.

A new player which btw doesn’t work properly if your display doesn’t support DV as the 4KC encodes would rely on a DV to HDR10 software conversions that is still broken on the latest fw.

Other than the “low-res” GUI, I actually don’t have any complaints about my V. However, I have a flatscreen (making the move to projection soon), so I just use the DV files, if available. I think I read that the Strato K requires the latest firmware out of the box, so maybe they’ve incorporated some fixes.

 

[rafaelsmith]

I would guess the next progression would be day and date, which now seems possible given that studios are granting Kscape access to master copies.

Still my dream!

I think its the "Theater owner" side of things that is the major hurdle over this. I think if Kscape could work out a way so that Kscape owners can essentially "buy a ticket" day and date the studios would be on board. Its the damn Theater owners/chains that are so dependent on sales of snacks and drinks at ridiculous prices that would not be on board. There is also a subset of big wig directors that would not be on board.

 

[rafaelsmith]

Other than the “low-res” GUI, I actually don’t have any complaints about my V. However, I have a flatscreen (making the move to projection soon), so I just use the DV files, if available. I think I read that the Strato K requires the latest firmware out of the box, so maybe they’ve incorporated some fixes.

The "low-res" GUI was never a issue with me...I spend so little time on the GUI. That said...I think the K gui is starting to look/feel dated regardless of res.

For me the complaints I have about the V:
1) Still to this date occasionally suffer from random (not recreatable) audio-dropouts...sometimes brief...other times requiring restart of movie.
2) Playing DV titles on non DV capable system results in different/dimmer image than either HDR10 version or disc. The fact that by default the K store chooses to D/L the DV version even thou it knows the Strato is not hooked to a DV capable display just made it worse. Luckily via support was able to get my account somehow tagged to default to HDR10...but the fact that this is not a user option is baffling.
3) Continued issues with the firmware resulting in various playback artifacts.

 

[josh]

I hope some of the great technical advice here can move to this new thread specifically about what you need in terms of equipment and settings to fully see/exploit 4K Cinematic on the Strato K with 4:4:4 chroma.

Thread 'What do you need to fully enjoy Strato K, 4K Cinematic, and 4:4:4 chroma?'

Jun 25, 2026

Since I'm finding myself confused, I may not be alone.

Wondering if some of the real AV tech gurus can help explain to me/us what is needed to fully enjoy the new capabilities and higher bitrate format in the Strato K?

• What current/recent panel displayscan handle the full quality of the signal?
  • and, what settings need to be enabled/disabled within the settings?
• For projectors, does 4:4:4 make as noticeable of a difference, and if so, which current projectors can make use of it?
• Signal path: AVRs- if your path runs from player through an AVR and...

• josh
• Replies: 30
• Forum: Kaleidescape Hardware & Setup

• 

 

[Trevor]

Mine is (finally) here and initial setup is complete. Just started testing on multiple titles, formats/players, and times stamps that I pre-ID'd a few days ago.

First thing that struck me is the GUI is ridiculously clean. I wasn't that hung up on the V's GUI but it's notable. Even the popup GUI while watching 4:2:2 DV or HDR10 is better and sharp as a tack. I think even better than my Strato C (which is still in my system for normal HDR10, SDR and HD titles (I only used my V for DV)).

Watched a bit of Endgame in 4K_C DV (4:2:2) and Bohemian Rhapsody in 4K_C HDR10 (also offered in 4:2:2 ) on my 75" B9 II. Both look as good as I've ever seen any 4K movie look. I think motion resolution is surely improved and colors just seem to be more stable/accurate but the colors could totally could be post-purchase excitement creeping in (I'm not going to deny it). At the beginning of Endgame when they're playing field goal flick football I noticed color variances in Tony's Red/Brown sweater that I hadn't before but maybe I just need to look harder at the legacy formats. I also was struck when Nebula is putting Tony in the co-pilot's seat...there's a whole 'lot of blue going on in that scene but the detail and gradients in all that blue were outstanding. This was just an initial quick look straight to 4K_C. I have more work to do.

I'm going to attempt to shoot some pics of said timestamps in multiple formats but it's pictures of a TV...TBD if they're even worth posting. I picked scenes where there is very little motion which is great for pausing and shooting pictures but it's also the easiest for compression to deal with. Scenes like that will show the least improvement. Let me see how the first batch turn out.

 

[Darthbishop79]

I am surprised nobody with a K is testing Blade Runner 2049 first. That Las Vegas Scene with all the orange hues should be a great test to see what the 4K Cinematic can do.

 

[jglowinski]

Mine is (finally) here and initial setup is complete. Just started testing on multiple titles, formats/players, and times stamps that I pre-ID'd a few days ago.

First thing that struck me is the GUI is ridiculously clean. I wasn't that hung up on the V's GUI but it's notable. Even the popup GUI while watching 4:2:2 DV or HDR10 is better and sharp as a tack. I think even better than my Strato C (which is still in my system for normal HDR10, SDR and HD titles (I only used my V for DV)).

Watched a bit of Endgame in 4K_C DV (4:2:2) and Bohemian Rhapsody in 4K_C (also offered in 4:2:2 ) HDR10 on my 75" B9 II. Both look as good as I've ever seen any 4K movie look. I think motion resolution is improved and colors just seem to be more stable/accurate but that totally could be post-purchase excitement creeping in (I'm not going to deny it).

I'm going to attempt to shoot some pics of said timestamps in multiple formats but it's pictures of a TV...TBD if they're even worth posting. I picked scenes where there is very little motion which is great for pausing and shooting pictures but it's also the easiest for compression to deal with. Scenes like that will show the least improvement. Let me see how the first batch turn out.

I assume that means your Strato V got the new O/S update when you installed the Strato K. Since you are using a flat panel like me... I am curious how much difference you see on the new firmware between the V and the K.

 

[Kabillyhop]

Mine is (finally) here and initial setup is complete. Just started testing on multiple titles, formats/players, and times stamps that I pre-ID'd a few days ago.

First thing that struck me is the GUI is ridiculously clean. I wasn't that hung up on the V's GUI but it's notable. Even the popup GUI while watching 4:2:2 DV or HDR10 is better and sharp as a tack. I think even better than my Strato C (which is still in my system for normal HDR10, SDR and HD titles (I only used my V for DV)).

Watched a bit of Endgame in 4K_C DV (4:2:2) and Bohemian Rhapsody in 4K_C (also offered in 4:2:2 ) HDR10 on my 75" B9 II. Both look as good as I've ever seen any 4K movie look. I think motion resolution is improved and colors just seem to be more stable/accurate but that totally could be post-purchase excitement creeping in (I'm not going to deny it).

I'm going to attempt to shoot some pics of said timestamps in multiple formats but it's pictures of a TV...TBD if they're even worth posting. I picked scenes where there is very little motion which is great for pausing and shooting pictures but it's also the easiest for compression to deal with. Scenes like that will show the least improvement. Let me see how the first batch turn out.

Was Bohemian Rhapsody converted from 4K Cinematic DV to 4K Cinematic HDR 10 by the K?