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8K resolution has long been billed as the future of home entertainment, but the market is still waiting for a breakthrough. Despite the arrival of more 8K TVs, users still have very limited access to content that uses the full capabilities of those screens. Now Kaleidescape, known for offering films for download in the highest possible quality, is trying to change that. The maker has just revealed a new Strato K player, the first device of its kind to receive official certification from the 8K Association. Besides supporting 8K resolution, the hardware also introduces a new picture format called 4K Cinematic.
Strato K is ready for 8K, but the industry isn’t yet
The new Kaleidescape Strato K has been designed for users expecting the highest image quality available at home. The manufacturer emphasises that the player is fully prepared to play 8K material. The player received official certification from the 8K Association, making it the first product of its kind on the market. The problem, however, is that there is currently virtually no consumer 8K movie library. At launch users get access to only a single demo clip created specifically to showcase the device’s capabilities. That shows how far the industry still is from widespread 8K adoption. The hardware itself supports 8K playback at a maximum of 30 frames per second over HDMI 2.1. It supports SDR and HDR10 standards, but lacks Dolby Vision support for 8K material. Despite the limited amount of available content, the manufacturer believes that as the market develops and larger screens appear, interest in 8K will gradually grow. For now, however, most users will not realistically be able to use the device’s main function. The situation is similar to the early days of 4K TVs, which also suffered for a long time from a shortage of suitable content. This time the rollout is proceeding much more slowly. Many TV makers have even cut back on investment in the 8K segment because of weak consumer interest. So right now the Strato K’s biggest advantage is not its 8K support, but something completely different.
New 4K Cinematic format set to embarrass UHD Blu-ray
There’s much more interest in a new 4K Cinematic format developed by Kaleidescape. The maker says it delivers picture quality that even surpasses films on UHD Blu-ray discs. A key factor is a much higher bitrate, averaging around 110 Mbps. By comparison, standard 4K movies in the Kaleidescape store reach about 75 Mbps, while most UHD Blu-ray discs run at roughly 60 Mbps. The new format also uses full 4:4:4 colour sampling instead of the common 4:2:0, which preserves more detail and more accurate colour reproduction. Titles are also available with Dolby Vision, lossless Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Early releases include Top Gun: Maverick, Dune: Part Two, Avatar, Superman, Thunderbolts and Tron: Ares. All content must be downloaded locally, as the system does not support streaming. The built-in 1 TB SSD holds only around seven 4K Cinematic films, so you’ll need to buy extra storage for a larger library. The price is as impressive as the capabilities. The Strato K is priced at about $5,000, and films must be purchased separately. That makes the product aimed mainly at the most demanding home theatre enthusiasts.
Kaleidescape Strato K opens a new chapter for home entertainment, offering 8K support and a new 4K Cinematic format that surpasses UHD Blu-ray in quality. Still, the very limited availability of 8K content and its steep price tag mean it's aimed at a small group of the most demanding users.
source: flatpanelshd
