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My new K (and 120TB Terra Prime) were delivered by my dealer yesterday but they are still sitting in boxes as he needed to leave because of the World Cup! Hopefully, today they can get installed.
My head is spinning from all the discussions about which format (SDR, HDR10, DV) and settings to use for viewing. I have the JVC 8K-ish (e-shift) projector, so DV is not an option. The projector does have the "Filmmaker Mode" feature on it and so does the new K.
I would like to watch the Devil Wears Prada 2 tonight and I think I will start with "Filmmaker Mode" on both to see the results. Any reason to use the SDR download vs the HDR10 version and has anyone tested "Filmmaker Mode" so, as hyped, you see the movie "displayed as it was intended by the filmmaker"?
Goodwins is a fantastic place, better when they were in Harvard Sq.
I bought some B&W bookshelves from them just before they demo'd some Maggies to me. I instantly regretted purchasing the B&Ws and saved up to get the Maggies. That was in '85 or '86.
My new K (and 120TB Terra Prime) were delivered by my dealer yesterday but they are still sitting in boxes as he needed to leave because of the World Cup! Hopefully, today they can get installed.
My head is spinning from all the discussions about which format (SDR, HDR10, DV) and settings to use for viewing. I have the JVC 8K-ish (e-shift) projector, so DV is not an option. The projector does have the "Filmmaker Mode" feature on it and so does the new K.
I would like to watch the Devil Wears Prada 2 tonight and I think I will start with "Filmmaker Mode" on both to see the results. Any reason to use the SDR download vs the HDR10 version and has anyone tested "Filmmaker Mode" so, as hyped, you see the movie "displayed as it was intended by the filmmaker"?
Which JVC projector? Which screen and size? I would choose between HDR10 and SDR. If you have a smaller positive gain screen with a lot of brightness then HDR may be preferred. Otherwise SDR may be preferred. I think you’d have to just try both.
It actually is an option if you have an HDFury device or a video processor such as a madVR or Lumagen. All of which support Low Latency Dolby Vision (LLDV) and will be sent to your JVC as a spoofed HDR10 signal.
My new K (and 120TB Terra Prime) were delivered by my dealer yesterday but they are still sitting in boxes as he needed to leave because of the World Cup! Hopefully, today they can get installed.
My head is spinning from all the discussions about which format (SDR, HDR10, DV) and settings to use for viewing. I have the JVC 8K-ish (e-shift) projector, so DV is not an option. The projector does have the "Filmmaker Mode" feature on it and so does the new K.
I would like to watch the Devil Wears Prada 2 tonight and I think I will start with "Filmmaker Mode" on both to see the results. Any reason to use the SDR download vs the HDR10 version and has anyone tested "Filmmaker Mode" so, as hyped, you see the movie "displayed as it was intended by the filmmaker"?
I am interested in what you discover. I only have a JVC RS1100 and Strato V and have been debating if getting a K would be of any benefit to me. In my setup ...135" 1.3 gain screen I find that I prefer HDR10 + JVC DTM over HDR SDR but curious what you end up choosing.
Which JVC projector? Which screen and size? I would choose between HDR10 and SDR. If you have a smaller positive gain screen with a lot of brightness then HDR may be preferred. Otherwise SDR may be preferred. I think you’d have to just try both.
The projector is the JVC DLA-RS4200 (3300 lumens). The screen is a Stewart Filmscreen StudioTek 100 2.39:1 with masking and 146.5" wide by 61.25" high. I am theoretically able to get about 53 foot-lamberts.
Love that this device exists, unsure it would add anything to my experience. I tend to think my gear limits the upgrade despite being high grade, it just isn’t the latest and greatest.
Sony PJ, Trinnov 16, Atmos 9.6.2, etc
I’m also using a mad VR Envy so I’m also question (not on paper) real world results past that.
The projector is the JVC DLA-RS4200 (3300 lumens). The screen is a Stewart Filmscreen StudioTek 100 2.39:1 with masking and 146.5" wide by 61.25" high. I theoretically able to get about 53 foot-lamberts.
It actually is an option if you have an HDFury device or a video processor such as a madVR or Lumagen. All of which support Low Latency Dolby Vision (LLDV) and will be sent to your JVC as a spoofed HDR10 signal.
Hi HarperVision. Yes, I understand I can "spoof" the projector with a DV source signal. I have the HDFury VRROOM and the Lumagen Radiance Pro, though I am leaving the Lumagen out of the system currently until I can achieve "stability".
The two HDMI outputs from my Strato C are going to the projector and to the VRROOM (and then to a Theta Digital Casablanca V audio processor) as I was having picture loss using the C when both audio and video went only through the VRROOM (Probably an HDCP or an EDID problem).
The challenge for my dealer today is to get a stable picture using only the single HDMI output of the K. I have an HDMI 2.1 splitter if needed, but it would be better to not have more "stuff" in the signal path.
The projector is the JVC DLA-RS4200 (3300 lumens). The screen is a Stewart Filmscreen StudioTek 100 2.39:1 with masking and 146.5" wide by 61.25" high. I am theoretically able to get about 53 foot-lamberts.
I’m estimating a little over 100nits on screen. If using the JVC DTM you may be better off with SDR. With Lumagen doing the DTM maybe the HDR version. I have similar light output and have been using hdr with Lumagen which looks great but to be honest I really should give SDR a try. I think just try both. Or try all 3 if you opt to try LLDV. It will probably come down to your subjective preference.
Hi HarperVision. Yes, I understand I can "spoof" the projector with a DV source signal. I have the HDFury VRROOM and the Lumagen Radiance Pro, though I am leaving the Lumagen out of the system currently until I can achieve "stability".
The two HDMI outputs from my Strato C are going to the projector and to the VRROOM (and then to a Theta Digital Casablanca V audio processor) as I was having picture loss using the C when both audio and video went only through the VRROOM (Probably an HDCP or an EDID problem).
The challenge for my dealer today is to get a stable picture using only the single HDMI output of the K. I have an HDMI 2.1 splitter if needed, but it would be better to not have more "stuff" in the signal path.
Thanks cardsdoc and HarperVision. Copilot calculates that at my throw distance, the JVC RS4200 / Stewart 1.0 gain screen combo is probably putting out about 135 to 140 nits.
I have multiple possible configurations of equipment and settings that are available to try (too many choices!).
Now, I need to sit with SDR, HDR and, perhaps, DV downloads of movies, choose Look Up Tables / Tone Mappings, Brightness settings, etc. and see if these ol' eyes can spot a difference or. at least, determine which image I think looks best.
And the most optimal choices may well be movie-specific. The settings that work well for one motion picture may be totally different than what looks great on the different scans of another movie title. Lotsa Fun Ahead!!
After several days of A/B testing, I thought I’d share my results with the Strato K, especially since there is so little real-world feedback on this new device. I am coming from a Strato E supplemented by a hefty physical media collection, so for me the goal of the testing was to answer two questions: 1) Is the upgrade worth it coming from a Strato E? and 2) When there is a 4K UHD available, should I just buy the disc instead? I’ll say that with the Strato E, I found that it was almost always better than the streaming/digital purchase equivalent on Apple TV, due to the increased picture and sound quality, and on average equivalent to 4K UHD discs. Obviously, some were better, some worse, and when a title had a 4K disc and only HD or SD on Kaleidescape, it wasn’t a true comparison.
I originally ordered my Strato K through Best Buy, as I was thinking it would be easier to return if I didn’t end up thinking it was worth it. However, Best Buy missed my original pickup date and then the order turned into an indefinite status, so I bought from forum user @todo instead. The experience was quick, hassle free, and I ended up with my Strato K with next day mail. Very happy with the purchase and highly recommend @todo for purchases! I removed my Strato E, hooked up the new Strato K and its associated power cables and such, and let it load up. It took a restart of all of my components and my internet to get everything to sync correctly the first time, but after that I have had no playback issues.
About my setup:
Strato K to Marantz receiver to 77 inch LG OLED C1. My setup checks all the boxes under the Kaleidescape Video Capabilities Status, aside from 8K obviously. This passes to a Marantz Slimline NR1711 with 8K, Dolby Atmos, 7.2 channel with dedicated 8K HDMI input support. Television is LG OLED77C1PUB that can do 4K Dolby Vision, HDR10, 4:4:4 and 4:4:2 on regular (non-game) settings. Speakers are NHT with full 7.1 Atmos, although to be fair this wasn’t a comparison of sound, as that wasn’t upgraded with Strato K, but everything worked nonetheless. Internet is 1 GB download speeds. Viewing distance roughly 8 feet. Room is full dark for the comparisons.
Sources:
To compare, I used multiple file types on the Strato K (Cinematic DV, HDR10, and SDR, regular 4K DV, HDR) as well as full UHD disc rips played back on an Ugoos AM6B+ with CoreELEC that passes all the tests to correctly play FEL and MEL Dolby Vision.
Top Favorites for Demos:
Moana (2016): I will start with the best. Of everything I tested, this is what I would choose as the ultimate demo of the Cinematic format. I compared K-scape Cinematic DV, regular K-scape 4K DV, and the disc 4K HDR10. The worst by far was the disc, even though it’s a great disc. It looked so lifeless in comparison without the enhancement of DV. The regular K-scape 4K DV file brings balance and saturation to the color. However, once you compare to the Cinematic 4K DV, you reach a whole other level of wow-factor. The colors are so vibrant in Cinematic. I know this is 4:2:2 and I’ll be curious to see the Cinematic HDR when it is released, but just wow. The whole movie shines. I sampled some of the early beach scenes when Moana is a child and the family walks into the green lush forest (amazing color here, the jungle greens and father’s red clothing is so luscious) as well as the underwater scene with the crab Tamatoa. Here the contrast between the neon sea creatures and the dark ocean backgrounds, as well as the glinting treasures in the crab’s lair—it’s unreal how good it looks. If you are trying to show someone why Cinematic is different, I feel that even people that are not tech-minded would be impressed by this movie. It’s what they are trying to do in showrooms with Vivid mode, except this is perfectly balanced and not unnatural. Whenever Encanto comes to Cinematic, I feel its colors will have similar gains, but for now, this is the best showcase I found.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984): I compared the UHD disc in DV against the K-scape Cinematic DV version. Here the colors weren’t the big difference, but the grain was so obviously better. Here is where the larger file sizes come into play. You don’t have to go close to the screen or freeze frame; you can see the difference with normal viewing conditions. The grain never seemed bad to me on the disc before, but it just looks so much more crisp and refined and detailed on the Cinematic version. I am eager to see more classic films, as these grain-heavy titles would greatly benefit from the additional bitrate and file size.
Dune: Part Two (2024): Another demo title in any format. I compared the Cinematic 4K DV against the UHD 4K DV. This one had better color and more sharpness to the image. The orange-reds of the desert were just more vibrant and you could see every ripple of the sand in the wide shots. The colors though just felt so rich and deep. Both sources were using all of the same settings (as they were with all tests), so it wasn’t a difference of mode. But the increased file size and the increased chroma both made this movie stand out.
These were the biggest demo titles I found in terms of difference from the previous versions. They were just so obviously better, while some other titles were better but in more subtle ways, or just not great demo titles as the movie itself just wasn’t that impressive visually for whatever reason.
These next few are demo-worthy titles in any format. They may not be as obvious of an increase as the above, but are worth to show off your system. I tested:
The Greatest Showman (2017):I compared the Cinematic HDR10 to the UHD HDR10. Wow, this one really shines in the Cinematic format. This might be one of my demo titles as well, even if the effect is more subtle than the above. There are so many scenes with spotlights, bright red jackets, and so on that really come alive in Cinematic. It looked great before and would be a demo title in any format, but this had a big boost for me in Cinematic. It was also much sharper and more detailed in the image.
Speed Racer (2008): More vibrant in Cinematic DV than the UHD in DV. The bright colors were more pronounced and impactful.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022): I compared the Cinematic DV to the UHD DV. The Cinematic had better brights and slightly more vibrancy to the colors, it was definitely better. Both are stellar images though. I feel like this movie looks great in every format, so while it’s great to show off a system, it’s maybe not the best to showcase the difference between Cinematic and regular 4K.
More films:
The Batman (2022):This was the first title I tested, looking at the Cinematic DV and regular K-scape 4K DV version. There was a minimal gain in some of the reds and the image appeared smoother in motion. It was better, but so subtle that I was a bit disappointed in this one and worried that the Strato K wouldn’t be worth the upgrade. I soon learned that Cinematic makes more of an impact for bright, colorful scenes, which this movie lacks, and heavy grain, which this movie doesn’t have. So yes, it’s the best version, but not one that you’d necessarily use to justify the purchase of a Strato K.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017):This was actually the second movie I downloaded to compare and unfortunately there’s something wrong with the Cinematic DV file. It’s in the wrong color space or wrong gamma or something; the blacks are elevated so that everything is a milky gray instead of black. I submitted a support ticket to Kaleidescape and hopefully this is corrected in the next week or so, as I think this has the potential to be a demo title once it’s fixed. Let me just say the testing was off to a rocky start!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001): I compared pretty much every file type with this one: Cinematic 4K, Cinematic HDR10, Cinematic SDR, Kaleidescape DV, and UHD 4K HDR10. This one almost felt like an eye test where you are choosing between very, very similar prescription strengths. I couldn’t decide if I preferred the Cinematic DV 4:2:2 or the Cinematic HDR10 4:4:4. Both were roughly even, but I may prefer the 4:4:4? It was so close that it almost doesn’t matter which one you go with. I did notice a bit of color vibrancy loss with the Cinematic SDR version, but this was still really nice. The regular K-scape DV was also still better than the disc and the big difference between the Cinematic versions and regular 4K was that the grain was slightly better on the Cinematic versions, but even this was not a huge increase like with some other films. The disc is 4K HDR10 with the smallest file size; the image is softer, with smoothed grain, and the grade is a little too hot in the highlights, so this was the weakest overall. This film had so much processing to the image in an early 2000s workflow that it made it really hard to see the very subtle differences between versions. Still, it was fun being able to see all the different varieties.
Toy Story (1995): I compared the K-scape Cinematic DV to the K-scape regular 4K DV. I was curious how not-so-great CGI films would look, and this one was better in Cinematic, although in a way only very discerning AV enthusiasts might see. The more graphic imagery has greater sharpness and the image has a greater pop in the bright elements, although the colors themselves were largely the same.
Elf (2003): I compared the Cinematic DV against the UHD HDR10. Not a big surprise that the colors were richer and more vibrant on the Cinematic version. The detail was much stronger too, not just the grain, but the detail of the different shots. This could be demo-worthy for many people.
Interstellar (2014): I compared the Cinematic DV against the UHD HDR10. So this one is a big complicated, because the variable aspect ratio is only on the disc and not on any digital platforms. That said, the DV grade and increased vibrancy of Cinematic made the Cinematic better overall. I watched the wormhole scene in both formats and both the interior spaceship scenes and the exterior space scenes had more impact with the DV grade. I normally will not watch anything if it doesn’t have the variable aspect ratio, but with this one, I think I actually prefer the DV grade.
Wicked (2024):Subtle improvement coming from K-scape 4K DV file to Cinematic DV. This film by its nature has a gauzy sheen to it that makes it less high contrast, so while it looks good, it’s not really demo worthy.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)/The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026): So I just looked at the Cinematic files for these, which were HDR10 for the first movie and DV for the second. The first one is fun, but Disney did an overall ugly job with the restoration. I don’t think they went back to the elements for this one, which is probably why they haven’t announced an upgrade to the blu-ray disc. It’s the best way to watch the film, but it’s not a showcase piece. As for the second, I only sampled a few scenes with a planned full watch over the weekend. It’s generic digital cinematography with overall a low-contrast look to the source. It looks as good as it’s going to look, but it’s filmed almost like a streaming movie. If this is your first impression of the Cinematic format, don’t worry; it gets better.
Overall Impressions:
Was the upgrade worth it? Very much yes. I can see a difference even under regular viewing conditions for almost every single title I looked at. It took a few films to develop an eye for it, and I’m sure there will be different results for those with projectors, bigger screens, or other setups. There might also be bigger technical gains once we get to the screenshot level of comparison, but for me, what matters is if I could subjectively see a benefit. I’m happy to report that I could. If you’re in any doubt about the upgrade, just watch Moana. Once Moana gets its Cinematic HDR10 file added, it should be everyone’s first film to download. It was just incredible and made it feel like a new format.
Thanks for all the detailed impressions from the members here. I put my order in today for the K. I am looking forward to the upgrade and hoping I don't have to wait too long.
After several days of A/B testing, I thought I’d share my results with the Strato K, especially since there is so little real-world feedback on this new device. I am coming from a Strato E supplemented by a hefty physical media collection, so for me the goal of the testing was to answer two questions: 1) Is the upgrade worth it coming from a Strato E? and 2) When there is a 4K UHD available, should I just buy the disc instead? I’ll say that with the Strato E, I found that it was almost always better than the streaming/digital purchase equivalent on Apple TV, due to the increased picture and sound quality, and on average equivalent to 4K UHD discs. Obviously, some were better, some worse, and when a title had a 4K disc and only HD or SD on Kaleidescape, it wasn’t a true comparison.
I originally ordered my Strato K through Best Buy, as I was thinking it would be easier to return if I didn’t end up thinking it was worth it. However, Best Buy missed my original pickup date and then the order turned into an indefinite status, so I bought from forum user @todo instead. The experience was quick, hassle free, and I ended up with my Strato K with next day mail. Very happy with the purchase and highly recommend @todo for purchases! I removed my Strato E, hooked up the new Strato K and its associated power cables and such, and let it load up. It took a restart of all of my components and my internet to get everything to sync correctly the first time, but after that I have had no playback issues.
About my setup:
Strato K to Marantz receiver to 77 inch LG OLED C1. My setup checks all the boxes under the Kaleidescape Video Capabilities Status, aside from 8K obviously. This passes to a Marantz Slimline NR1711 with 8K, Dolby Atmos, 7.2 channel with dedicated 8K HDMI input support. Television is LG OLED77C1PUB that can do 4K Dolby Vision, HDR10, 4:4:4 and 4:4:2 on regular (non-game) settings. Speakers are NHT with full 7.1 Atmos, although to be fair this wasn’t a comparison of sound, as that wasn’t upgraded with Strato K, but everything worked nonetheless. Internet is 1 GB download speeds. Viewing distance roughly 8 feet. Room is full dark for the comparisons.
Sources:
To compare, I used multiple file types on the Strato K (Cinematic DV, HDR10, and SDR, regular 4K DV, HDR) as well as full UHD disc rips played back on an Ugoos AM6B+ with CoreELEC that passes all the tests to correctly play FEL and MEL Dolby Vision.
Top Favorites for Demos:
Moana (2016): I will start with the best. Of everything I tested, this is what I would choose as the ultimate demo of the Cinematic format. I compared K-scape Cinematic DV, regular K-scape 4K DV, and the disc 4K HDR10. The worst by far was the disc, even though it’s a great disc. It looked so lifeless in comparison without the enhancement of DV. The regular K-scape 4K DV file brings balance and saturation to the color. However, once you compare to the Cinematic 4K DV, you reach a whole other level of wow-factor. The colors are so vibrant in Cinematic. I know this is 4:2:2 and I’ll be curious to see the Cinematic HDR when it is released, but just wow. The whole movie shines. I sampled some of the early beach scenes when Moana is a child and the family walks into the green lush forest (amazing color here, the jungle greens and father’s red clothing is so luscious) as well as the underwater scene with the crab Tamatoa. Here the contrast between the neon sea creatures and the dark ocean backgrounds, as well as the glinting treasures in the crab’s lair—it’s unreal how good it looks. If you are trying to show someone why Cinematic is different, I feel that even people that are not tech-minded would be impressed by this movie. It’s what they are trying to do in showrooms with Vivid mode, except this is perfectly balanced and not unnatural. Whenever Encanto comes to Cinematic, I feel its colors will have similar gains, but for now, this is the best showcase I found.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984): I compared the UHD disc in DV against the K-scape Cinematic DV version. Here the colors weren’t the big difference, but the grain was so obviously better. Here is where the larger file sizes come into play. You don’t have to go close to the screen or freeze frame; you can see the difference with normal viewing conditions. The grain never seemed bad to me on the disc before, but it just looks so much more crisp and refined and detailed on the Cinematic version. I am eager to see more classic films, as these grain-heavy titles would greatly benefit from the additional bitrate and file size.
Dune: Part Two (2024): Another demo title in any format. I compared the Cinematic 4K DV against the UHD 4K DV. This one had better color and more sharpness to the image. The orange-reds of the desert were just more vibrant and you could see every ripple of the sand in the wide shots. The colors though just felt so rich and deep. Both sources were using all of the same settings (as they were with all tests), so it wasn’t a difference of mode. But the increased file size and the increased chroma both made this movie stand out.
These were the biggest demo titles I found in terms of difference from the previous versions. They were just so obviously better, while some other titles were better but in more subtle ways, or just not great demo titles as the movie itself just wasn’t that impressive visually for whatever reason.
These next few are demo-worthy titles in any format. They may not be as obvious of an increase as the above, but are worth to show off your system. I tested:
The Greatest Showman (2017):I compared the Cinematic HDR10 to the UHD HDR10. Wow, this one really shines in the Cinematic format. This might be one of my demo titles as well, even if the effect is more subtle than the above. There are so many scenes with spotlights, bright red jackets, and so on that really come alive in Cinematic. It looked great before and would be a demo title in any format, but this had a big boost for me in Cinematic. It was also much sharper and more detailed in the image.
Speed Racer (2008): More vibrant in Cinematic DV than the UHD in DV. The bright colors were more pronounced and impactful.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022): I compared the Cinematic DV to the UHD DV. The Cinematic had better brights and slightly more vibrancy to the colors, it was definitely better. Both are stellar images though. I feel like this movie looks great in every format, so while it’s great to show off a system, it’s maybe not the best to showcase the difference between Cinematic and regular 4K.
More films:
The Batman (2022):This was the first title I tested, looking at the Cinematic DV and regular K-scape 4K DV version. There was a minimal gain in some of the reds and the image appeared smoother in motion. It was better, but so subtle that I was a bit disappointed in this one and worried that the Strato K wouldn’t be worth the upgrade. I soon learned that Cinematic makes more of an impact for bright, colorful scenes, which this movie lacks, and heavy grain, which this movie doesn’t have. So yes, it’s the best version, but not one that you’d necessarily use to justify the purchase of a Strato K.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017):This was actually the second movie I downloaded to compare and unfortunately there’s something wrong with the Cinematic DV file. It’s in the wrong color space or wrong gamma or something; the blacks are elevated so that everything is a milky gray instead of black. I submitted a support ticket to Kaleidescape and hopefully this is corrected in the next week or so, as I think this has the potential to be a demo title once it’s fixed. Let me just say the testing was off to a rocky start!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001): I compared pretty much every file type with this one: Cinematic 4K, Cinematic HDR10, Cinematic SDR, Kaleidescape DV, and UHD 4K HDR10. This one almost felt like an eye test where you are choosing between very, very similar prescription strengths. I couldn’t decide if I preferred the Cinematic DV 4:2:2 or the Cinematic HDR10 4:4:4. Both were roughly even, but I may prefer the 4:4:4? It was so close that it almost doesn’t matter which one you go with. I did notice a bit of color vibrancy loss with the Cinematic SDR version, but this was still really nice. The regular K-scape DV was also still better than the disc and the big difference between the Cinematic versions and regular 4K was that the grain was slightly better on the Cinematic versions, but even this was not a huge increase like with some other films. The disc is 4K HDR10 with the smallest file size; the image is softer, with smoothed grain, and the grade is a little too hot in the highlights, so this was the weakest overall. This film had so much processing to the image in an early 2000s workflow that it made it really hard to see the very subtle differences between versions. Still, it was fun being able to see all the different varieties.
Toy Story (1995): I compared the K-scape Cinematic DV to the K-scape regular 4K DV. I was curious how not-so-great CGI films would look, and this one was better in Cinematic, although in a way only very discerning AV enthusiasts might see. The more graphic imagery has greater sharpness and the image has a greater pop in the bright elements, although the colors themselves were largely the same.
Elf (2003): I compared the Cinematic DV against the UHD HDR10. Not a big surprise that the colors were richer and more vibrant on the Cinematic version. The detail was much stronger too, not just the grain, but the detail of the different shots. This could be demo-worthy for many people.
Interstellar (2014): I compared the Cinematic DV against the UHD HDR10. So this one is a big complicated, because the variable aspect ratio is only on the disc and not on any digital platforms. That said, the DV grade and increased vibrancy of Cinematic made the Cinematic better overall. I watched the wormhole scene in both formats and both the interior spaceship scenes and the exterior space scenes had more impact with the DV grade. I normally will not watch anything if it doesn’t have the variable aspect ratio, but with this one, I think I actually prefer the DV grade.
Wicked (2024):Subtle improvement coming from K-scape 4K DV file to Cinematic DV. This film by its nature has a gauzy sheen to it that makes it less high contrast, so while it looks good, it’s not really demo worthy.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)/The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026): So I just looked at the Cinematic files for these, which were HDR10 for the first movie and DV for the second. The first one is fun, but Disney did an overall ugly job with the restoration. I don’t think they went back to the elements for this one, which is probably why they haven’t announced an upgrade to the blu-ray disc. It’s the best way to watch the film, but it’s not a showcase piece. As for the second, I only sampled a few scenes with a planned full watch over the weekend. It’s generic digital cinematography with overall a low-contrast look to the source. It looks as good as it’s going to look, but it’s filmed almost like a streaming movie. If this is your first impression of the Cinematic format, don’t worry; it gets better.
Overall Impressions:
Was the upgrade worth it? Very much yes. I can see a difference even under regular viewing conditions for almost every single title I looked at. It took a few films to develop an eye for it, and I’m sure there will be different results for those with projectors, bigger screens, or other setups. There might also be bigger technical gains once we get to the screenshot level of comparison, but for me, what matters is if I could subjectively see a benefit. I’m happy to report that I could. If you’re in any doubt about the upgrade, just watch Moana. Once Moana gets its Cinematic HDR10 file added, it should be everyone’s first film to download. It was just incredible and made it feel like a new format.
My new K (and 120TB Terra Prime) were delivered by my dealer yesterday but they are still sitting in boxes as he needed to leave because of the World Cup! Hopefully, today they can get installed.
My head is spinning from all the discussions about which format (SDR, HDR10, DV) and settings to use for viewing. I have the JVC 8K-ish (e-shift) projector, so DV is not an option. The projector does have the "Filmmaker Mode" feature on it and so does the new K.
I would like to watch the Devil Wears Prada 2 tonight and I think I will start with "Filmmaker Mode" on both to see the results. Any reason to use the SDR download vs the HDR10 version and has anyone tested "Filmmaker Mode" so, as hyped, you see the movie "displayed as it was intended by the filmmaker"?
I generally find Filmmaker Mode biased toward dark and yellow, so I don't bother with it. To really get the best out of your JVC projector, having a professional colour calibrator come in and set it up is the way to go. I see you're in Canada. If you happen to be in Vancouver, Richard Stokes of Finely Tuned Technologies works wonders, sets up JVC's (and MadVR's) as his bread and butter, and is very pleasant to deal with.
I generally find Filmmaker Mode biased toward dark and yellow, so I don't bother with it. To really get the best out of your JVC projector, having a professional colour calibrator come in and set it up is the way to go. I see you're in Canada. If you happen to be in Vancouver, Richard Stokes of Finely Tuned Technologies works wonders, sets up JVC's (and MadVR's) as his bread and butter, and is very pleasant to deal with.
Thanks for the tips, RobT. I am in Toronto, which is too far to travel for a calibrator in Vancouver. Interesting that you have not found "Filmmaker Mode" to be a good picture (I have not tried it yet).
Twice over my long "career" I have had people in to do a setup of my projector-of-the-day (I have had Sonys', Runcos' and now JVC). I was amused that both times they setup their fancy light readers but utimately they then adjusted the final results "by eye". Perhaps all of these picture quality discussions come down to what each of us perceives as a "good picture".
I did pick up a Datacolor Spyder that works with JVC's calibration tools, but I am still on the early part of the learning curve playing with settings on all the equipment (and still struggling to even get picture stability!).
[Sorry that this has nothing to do with the K! My dealer is here now doing the K install and having difficulty getting a picture and audio through the VRROOM with the single HDMI output of the K.)
100% agree. Audio is even more subjective...at least with video we do have some standards we can measure against. But in the end what we like is what we like. I have been to trade shows showing off fancy MadVR stuff and all I can say after watching it is...it looks "different"....sometimes I liked it other times not so much...Not once could I tell you if it was close to the "directors intent".
Moana (2016): ...the green lush forest (amazing color here, the jungle greens and father’s red clothing is so luscious) as well as the underwater scene with the crab Tamatoa.
Dune: Part Two (2024): ...The orange-reds of the desert were just more vibrant and you could see every ripple of the sand in the wide shots. The colors though just felt so rich and deep.
Speed Racer (2008): More vibrant in Cinematic DV than the UHD in DV. The bright colors were more pronounced and impactful.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022): I compared the Cinematic DV to the UHD DV. The Cinematic had better brights and slightly more vibrancy to the colors,
Nothing about 4:2:2 should be changing saturation or overall color values. I wonder if you have something configured such that this is getting a different set of settings in your system. It seems to me that the only three options are either configuration error, a bug in the content that's providing too-vivid color values, or placebo.
Thanks for the tips, RobT. I am in Toronto, which is too far to travel for a calibrator in Vancouver. Interesting that you have not found "Filmmaker Mode" to be a good picture (I have not tried it yet).
Twice over my long "career" I have had people in to do a setup of my projector-of-the-day (I have had Sonys', Runcos' and now JVC). I was amused that both times they setup their fancy light readers but utimately they then adjusted the final results "by eye". Perhaps all of these picture quality discussions come down to what each of us perceives as a "good picture".
I did pick up a Datacolor Spyder that works with JVC's calibration tools, but I am still on the early part of the learning curve playing with settings on all the equipment (and still struggling to even get picture stability!).
[Sorry that this has nothing to do with the K! My dealer is here now doing the K install and having difficulty getting a picture and audio through the VRROOM with the single HDMI output of the K.)
My own personal limit in the chase for the perfect picture are those magnificent bastards who take their projectors apart to paint the light tunnels Vanta black. Buddy, just get an LED wall.
