Following the launch of the Strato V player, Kaleidescape has released a series of FAQs and comparisons with existing Kaleidescape equipment for dealers to enable dealers to make an at a glance assessment of the new products abilities and specifications.
In Standalone Mode, Strato V delivers…
• Storage for approximately 10 reference 4K movies
• Fast download
• Faster than Terra, slower than Terra Prime
• ~10 minutes over gigabit Ethernet for a 2-hour movie
• Simplified onscreen user interface
• A single view for a seamless movie-watching experience
• Downloads become candidates for deletion 48 hours after playing
• Truly standalone
• Doesn’t group directly with other Strato V players
• (or Strato or Strato S players)
In Grouped Mode, Strato V can…
• Group one or more Strato V players with Terra or Terra Prime servers
• Onscreen interface reverts to full power and complexity
• Except Collections view is modernised
• Strato V internal storage is not active when grouped with a server
What does Strato V do that Strato C cannot?
• Standalone operation
• Dolby Vision capability
• Lossless audio decoding from multi-channel bitstreams
What does Strato V not do that Strato C can?
• No Audio-only HDMI
• Does not support Co-Star
• Strato V will not be able to play all HD titles at launch but will play all 4K & SD from the Kaleidescape movie store
Key Points of Strato V
• Drops the entry price of a Kaleidescape system
• Reference video for every 4K display. SDR, HDR10 and now Dolby Vision.
• Lossless spatial audio. Clear dialogue and immersive sound effects.
• Standalone. An entry-level Kaleidescape system that works on its own.
• Scalable. Add a server for more movies and whole-house entertainment.
• Ultimate performance. New electronics and grounding topology for audiophiles.
Positioning
• Strato V is appropriate for new customers
• Strato C is appropriate for customers with existing systems
• Strato V can be added to an existing system if Dolby Vision is desired for a viewing zone(s)
When should I choose Strato V?
• New customers
• With its standalone option, Strato V provides customers with a lower cost of entry
• Customers can add storage with the purchase of Terra Prime movie servers
• When installing in a system that does not decode Dolby TrueHD or DTS:HD, such as an older processor, a two-channel system, or certain soundbars
• When the viewing zone has a TV or projector with Dolby Vision support
When should I choose Strato C?
• Existing customers with Co-Star configuration
• Existing customers with a large library of HD content
• When installing in a system that requires an HDMI audio output separate from the HDMI video output
• Which player is better for video, Strato C or Strato V?
• Both Strato C and Strato V provide full reference video quality. Strato V now incorporates Dolby Vision and has an improved HDMI port, resulting in a cleaner signal
• Which player is better for audio, Strato C or Strato V?
• Both Strato C and Strato V support lossless audio
What is the difference between Grouped and Standalone Mode
Standalone Mode
• Strato V has onboard solid-state storage to hold approximately 10 reference 4K titles
• Movies download in about 10 minutes over a gigabit network, even while watching previously downloaded movies
• When in standalone mode, Strato V:
• Must be activated as a separate system
• Plays movies stored locally on its internal storage drive
• Can convert to grouped mode by adding a Terra Prime movie server
• Storage and playback zones can be expanded by grouping it with a Terra Prime movie server. This will change Strato V from standalone to grouped mode
Grouped Mode
• When Strato V is grouped with a system that includes a Terra or Terra Prime movie server, it automatically switches to grouped mode
• In this mode, all movies in onboard storage are deleted and storage is disabled
• These movies will need to be redownloaded to the Terra Prime
Strato V will then view and play movies stored on the servers in the system
• To return Strato V to standalone mode, with the power on, initiate a factory reset by pressing and holding the pinhole reset button on the Strato V back panel for 5 seconds until the front panel LEDs begin blinking
• The Strato V will reboot and switch to standalone mode
• When reactivated in standalone mode, the onboard storage will be empty
Can Strato V be used to rent movies?
• Yes
• Movies rented on the Kaleidescape movie store can be played by Strato V in either standalone mode or when grouped with a server
• Rentals are automatically removed from onboard storage after their expiry
Can multiple Strato V players be grouped together?
• Strato V players cannot be grouped directly with other Strato V players; they require a server to group
• Without a server, each player operates in standalone mode as a separate, unique system
Do I need to download special versions of a title to see Dolby Vision?
• Yes
• To take full advantage of Strato V’s Dolby Vision playback capabilities, a Dolby Vision version of the movie must be downloaded to the system
• In almost all cases, at the time of purchase, the Kaleidescape store will automatically detect your Strato V player and download the correct Dolby Vision version
• When configured to minimize display mode changes, Strato V will convert HDR10 content to Dolby Vision format for playback on a Dolby Vision display
• If a Strato V player is connected to a display that only supports HDR10, then the player will play back in HDR10 on that display
Does Strato V support an HDR10+ display?
• Kaleidescape does not distribute HDR10+ content
• When connected to an HDR10+ capable display device, Strato V can play any downloaded HDR10 content
• In addition, any downloaded Dolby Vision content will be converted to HDR10 for playback
Can I use Strato V and Strato C players in the same system?
• A Strato V player in grouped mode can be grouped with a Terra Prime movie server that also has one or more Strato C players grouped with it
• Only the Strato V player will be able to play downloaded Dolby Vision content.
Does Strato V support an external Blu-ray drive for disc-to-digital offers?
• Yes
• Refer to the ‘Registering Discs for Disc-to-Digital Offers Using an External USB Blu-ray Drive’ knowledge base article for full instructions
• DVDs and Blu-ray discs that have been cataloged will not appear on the Strato V’s onscreen display and will not be playable.
Does Strato V support Co-Star pairing?
• Strato V does not currently support Co-Star pairing
• If Co-Star support is required, a Strato C should be chosen for that zone
Does Strato V play discs from a Disc Server?
• No
• Strato V can only play content that has been downloaded from the Kaleidescape store. It cannot play disc-based content of any format
Can I connect Strato V to a Wi-Fi network for software updates and movie downloads?
• No, Strato V does not support Wi-Fi networking
• A hard-wired Ethernet connection with internet access is required to receive software updates and download content from the Kaleidescape store
More Information
Product information here.
Comparison Chart here.
