Kaleidescape won’t be a title you’re acquainted with in Australia. That’s as a result of, till now, the corporate hasn’t had a presence Down Below.
For those who’re acquainted with the model and what it does – ie produce a few of the most interesting at-home movie players normally reserved for the luxurious customized set up market – then the corporate’s arrival on our shores could possibly be probably the most thrilling information you learn all yr.
It’s actually up there with probably the most thrilling AV bulletins for me at the least.
Kaleidescape is, in accordance to the corporate, the “solely digital movie supplier with lossless audio and full reference video high quality” through its players which, following the current launch of the Strato M, now sits at three fashions.
The Strato M is extra entry-level by Kaleidescape requirements in that it solely outputs in 2K high quality, and it sits beneath the Strato C and Strato V. Each of those players output in 4K high quality, with the Strato V having the additional good thing about Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR assist.
All three players are now accessible to purchase in Australia, together with Kaleidescape’s Terra Prime media servers for storing content material downloaded from the model’s retailer.
Australian pricing has been confirmed as AU$3,999 for the Strato M, AU$5,899 for the Strato C and AU$7,499 for the Strato V. Terra Prime servers begin at AU$10,999 for 12TB of storage.
Huge information for big-screen movie followers
Whereas the model is new to Australia, I have been acquainted with Kaleidescape for a while as I’m a home cinema fanatic and the model has had a cult-like following abroad. What I’m unfamiliar with is strictly how its merchandise work.
Luckily, my US-based colleague Al Griffin has beforehand been given the chance to expertise a full Kaleidescape system for himself and, primarily based on his impressions, I can’t wait to expertise it myself.
What appears obvious to Kaleidescape’s success isn’t essentially the tools it produces, however its on-line retailer for movie downloads and the consumer interface to navigate by way of a downloaded assortment. As Al mentioned in his article, “Movies downloaded from the corporate’s retailer have a 10 instances greater bitrate than typical streaming providers and consequently current a crisper picture that’s freed from compression artifacts.”
“And in contrast to streaming providers,” he provides, “which all use the lossy and extremely compressed Dolby Digital Plus audio format, Kaleidescape gives lossless, bit-for-bit soundtracks within the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X codecs additionally provided on Extremely HD Blu-ray disc.”
Certainly, Priscilla Morgan, president and COO of the corporate informed me, “Kaleidescape obtains the mezzanine information straight from the studios and we’ve a complete overview course of from our content material group guaranteeing the standard that the director supposed.”
I’m a sucker for top-quality motion pictures at home, each when it comes to image and sound. I’ve even claimed earlier than that my TV’s built-in streaming apps sound higher than the Apple TV 4K. Whereas I’m at present proud of the standard I’m in a position to get at home, each from the most effective streaming providers and my rising assortment of Extremely HD 4K Blu-ray discs, the prospect of that being eclipsed by a Kaleidescape media participant is one that’s arduous not to be excited by.
Kaleidescape says 3,000 titles are accessible as of the launch at this time, with extra being added on a day by day foundation. Content material will in fact be the true key issue to Kaleidescape’s success. When my colleagues at What Hello-Fi? reviewed the Strato C movie participant within the UK final yr, they observed the movie retailer lacked content material from main studios together with Disney and NBC Common, amongst others, due to licensing restrictions. I haven’t but been in a position to verify if these studios are additionally lacking from the Australian retailer however will replace this text as quickly as I discover out.
Bridging the hole
I used to be a little skeptical as to the breadth of the home theatre group in Australia, however Priscilla rapidly debunked these ideas, assuring me that “Australia has passionate home theatre lovers who admire the perfect in image and sound high quality.”
She added that “suggestions from Australian sellers and distributors indicated there may be a robust demand for Kaleidescape, they usually are excited it’s finally coming to their market.”
Now, make no mistake, a Kaleidescape system goes to be greatest suited as an addition to a devoted home cinema. Not solely as a result of it should seemingly be kitted out with a display screen and sound system to faithfully reproduce the high-quality motion pictures, TV reveals and live performance movies from Kaleidescape’s retailer, but additionally as a result of these with a home cinema are seemingly going to be the one ones keen to spend large on the required tools.
That being mentioned, the Strato M specifically might current itself as a less expensive choice. Priscilla Morgan provides, “With Strato players and Terra Prime servers that vary in capabilities and value factors, we provide a wide selection of merchandise for purchasers wanting to enter the Kaleidescape ecosystem.” So, what might have feasibly been seen as solely an aspiration for a lot of, might now be a extra practical temptation.
With Kaleidscape merchandise now being accessible in Australia, I hope I don’t have to wait too lengthy to uncover what they’re really able to. I’m simply nervous that as soon as I do, I’ll now not be content material with the truth of my front room setup.
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