Strato V: UI resolution limited to 1080, not 4k!

[Substance]

All very good points. It's likely not possible, but if they would allow the UI to be output in 1080p, I could let my madVR Envy handle the upscaling. It does a pretty good job, avoiding many of the problems you're talking about

But as I said, it's likely not possible. And more of a work-around than an actual solution.

Actually, on the contrary, Kaleidescape can beat MadVR or any other “real-time” video enhancer.

They can process their cover arts offline with multiple passes with pro-tools before they upload them to the database. This is labor intensive. If all Kaleidescape products use the same movie guide database then Strato-C would also get the “processed” cover arts.

 

[Edgar]

Thanks for the input, and I appreciate the honest opinion on the UI resolution on my large screen.

I'm really conflicted here, and not sure which way to go. Will mull it over for a few days.

Assuming I do go with one or the other, yes, the plan is to get a BD player to take advantage of sales and add a selection of my disc collection to KScape. I have over 800 titles, and in retrospect, quite a few could have been streamed, or rented, as I'm not interested in watching them again!

I got a Strato C and 22TB in April for my dedicated projector room, before the Strato V announcement. I remain very happy with it, and recommend that combination today. Sure it's more than a Strato V, but it sounds like you'd eventually want at least 22TB of storage anyway. This just gets you there sooner!

Plus I absolutely adore my movie wall. It appeals to the deep OCD core of my being to see and scroll around my movie collection. Movies mean a lot to me, they are my escape from the world. I also love being able to select the correct original art for each of my movies, replacing the BS modern photoshop row of heads style that passes for poster art these days. I love it. I love it in 4K on my 127" screen. I love seeing my selected art in 4K in Intermission mode. I would never downgrade this experience to just HD.

I've really been thinking of my Strato C as this magical perfect device that modern technology hasn't been able to exceed. Like my Oppo UDP-203 (region-free) and my Harmony Elite, you may have my Strato C when you pry it from my cold dead hands!

 

[imfletcher]

i am new to K and just got the V. i have to say i don’t think i would have ever thought about or noticed the resolution if it wasn’t for this forum. it looks fine IMO

 

[DLCPhoto]

i am new to K and just got the V. i have to say i don’t think i would have ever thought about or noticed the resolution if it wasn’t for this forum. it looks fine IMO

Interesting, and thanks. Others have said the same thing, which is encouraging.

Now that you are aware of it, is it any more noticeable?

And perhaps more importantly, how large is your display (TV or Projector), and how far away are you sitting?

 

[danteoh]

Gonna have to agree with @imfletcher - of all the things the Kscape engineering team could be working on, navigation in 4k instead of 1080p is possibly at the very bottom of the list for me (if I had a list)

 

[Surge]

It is an unacceptable downgrade: displaying the user interface in 1080 instead of 4K. Why would this decision have been made for an “upgraded” model?
It doesn’t make any sense, nor does it look like it can be fixed, since this is the limitation of the hardware chip.
And Upscaling will not make it 4K!

 

[steelman1991]

I’d say it’s more of an “acceptable compromise”

 

[JWort93]

Yeah, I'd agree, not my favorite thing, but far from a deal breaker. I would like to see the "Allow display mode changes (use external scaler)" setting to output the UI in 1080p though, instead of upscaling, just so we have more control over how that upscaling is performed.

 

[imfletcher]

Now that you are aware of it, is it any more noticeable?

Not really. I guess it's not as sharp as it could be, but it looks good. I don't think about it when using it. My wife was like "what are you talking about?" and she's usually particular

And perhaps more importantly, how large is your display (TV or Projector), and how far away are you sitting?

130", JVC NX5, about 11'

I will say the video quality is fantastic. Wife was blown away by how sharp and clear the 4K movies are.

 

[rafaelsmith]

Not really. I guess it's not as sharp as it could be, but it looks good. I don't think about it when using it. My wife was like "what are you talking about?" and she's usually particular


130", JVC NX5, about 11'

I will say the video quality is fantastic. Wife was blown away by how sharp and clear the 4K movies are.

I told my wife I wanted to know what she thought of the UI before we started a movie. She said "umm...its a UI..it has posters of movies...so what?......now hit play".

 

[Edgar]

Not really. I guess it's not as sharp as it could be, but it looks good. I don't think about it when using it. My wife was like "what are you talking about?" and she's usually particular


130", JVC NX5, about 11'

I will say the video quality is fantastic. Wife was blown away by how sharp and clear the 4K movies are.

With a 130” screen, I’m assuming that’s 16:9? That’s probably a mitigating factor with the UI. If you have a scope screen, you’re likely zooming in to fill your screen. Then the lower resolution of 1080p is more obvious.

 

[Nathan28]

This to me is a minor issue, I’d much rather have HD titles coded to work on the Strato V etc
But at this premium price point, there isn’t a good excuse for it, that’s the issue

 

[josh]

As I reflect on this discussion, I really think Kaleidescape should have noted the UI resolution difference in their otherwise comprehensive comparison matrix of features between the V and the C. I'd still have picked the V for my needs, but it would have avoided people who feel disappointed in the UI when shown on a large projection screen AND who feel that they were just not aware of this particular "downgrade" from what they expected.

The company seems to have recently modified that chart on their website to make this clear, but if I recall correctly it wasn't in the initial versions and was never mentioned in press or launch materials. If I'm wrong in that recollection, please let me know and post here.

Nevertheless, the V is a great addition, filling a real need in the product line and opens up an important new market for the company at this lower pricepoint for a standalone player. Eventually I'm sure there will be another version of it that gets back to a full 4K UI display. I hope if this is true, they'll offer an affordable way for initial buyers to make that swap if that's super important to them.

 

[Furnace Inferno]

I can surely tell the UI isn’t 4K on my 145” 16:9 screen at ~3.65m/12ft viewing distance but it’s not anywhere near as bad as some people are making out. I know it’s not entirely the same but HD movies are hardly unwatchable compared to UHD, if anything, resolution is the last thing you notice and I have 20:15 vision still. I realise UI’s and computer generated graphics are a little different as you notice resolution a lot more than films because it’s directly rendering it but people are talking like we are looking at SD level stuff!

Was in slightly disappointed sure but once I saw it competed to a Strato C, it’s not that big a deal IMO of course and it got me into the KScape system much sooner than I was planning as it was £6k less than a C with an 8TB server (UK pricing).

 

[DrTechBull]

I agree with you 100%. It is just bad decision, still wondering why 1080p UI at premium price product which released in 2024. Dolby Vision is only plus V has over C otherwise C UI looks stunning on big screens

 

[Nathan28]

It’s not over the top. This is a $4,000 player. Every player you mentioned costs a a small fraction of the Strato V. Why are you defending this decision? It clearly can be easily done as it was done on the C which came out 8 years ago!! There is no possible way that over an 8 year period they couldn’t improve the product to add DV and 1TB of storage at the same price point. This was probably done intentionally so they can keep selling the C + server combo. They should fix the issue and update everyone who owns a V.

I do not disagree. It doesn’t bother me as much as several hd titles I want to watch haven’t been upgraded to work with the V.. but this is like buying a Ferrari and it doesn’t include a backup cam lol

 

[Furnace Inferno]

It’s not over the top. This is a $4,000 player. Every player you mentioned costs a a small fraction of the Strato V. Why are you defending this decision? It clearly can be easily done as it was done on the C which came out 8 years ago!! There is no possible way that over an 8 year period they couldn’t improve the product to add DV and 1TB of storage at the same price point. This was probably done intentionally so they can keep selling the C + server combo. They should fix the issue and update everyone who owns a V.

I’m not defending anything I’m just saying you are being unreasonable and clearly don’t know about what chips are out there and what they are and are not capable off.

It’s like them having to re-transcode all of the HD movies that were in VC1 because the new chips don’t support it anymore (including the new AMLogic media players). Do you really think they wanted to have to do that when it’s a huge task?

Media player chips are pretty universal unless you are Apple using your own custom chips for millions of devices or Nvidia who can repurpose theirs (Tegra X1). It’s just not as simple as you are making out that’s all and if there isn’t a chip out there readily available which can run the UI well rendering at 4K and do all the other things they wanted what do you want then to do?

 

[steelman1991]

I’ll just reiterate. This was accomplished already 8 years ago. You are telling me that 8 years later we have gone backwards? Look at any other piece of tech 8 years ago. How about the iPhone? You defense does not hold up.

I think you need to actually read what is being said and not continually just parrot the line that other manufacturers can do it. Have you actually read the "rationale" surrounding the compromise that had to be made. If not, please go back through the thread and have a read. The members of staff from K have had the decency to explain the reasons, at least show them the same decency and read and digest their posts.

The accomplishment of which you speak was made, as you rightly point out 8 years ago, but with a different chip set, which doesn't support DV.

 

[steelman1991]

They are doing their best to justify their decision. I would do the same. I don’t believe the rationale. I’ve never seen tech go backwards, especially after almost a decade. If DV really was the culprit, which I still don’t believe, then I would have to imagine most users would opt to forgo this as they are using projection. I obviously do not speak for everyone but a second model for DV and 1080p could have been offered for those using televisions.

They are already offering that - it's called the Strato V. No one is being forced to buy the V who has a PJ system, in fact on many threads, users are being advised to stay with Strato C and Terra Servers combos.

 

[steelman1991]

Maybe Kaleidescape just isn't for you .