Redakcja Choose TV
8K resolution has for years been touted as the future of home entertainment, but the market has yet to see a breakthrough. Despite the arrival of more 8K TVs, users still have very limited access to content that takes full advantage of such screens. Now Kaleidescape, known for offering films for download in the highest possible quality, is trying to change that. The manufacturer has just unveiled a new player, the Strato K, which has become the first device of its kind to receive official certification from the 8K Association. In addition to supporting 8K resolution, the device also introduces a new image 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 seeking the highest picture quality available at home. The manufacturer emphasises that the device is fully prepared to play 8K material. The player has been officially certified by the 8K Association, making it the first such product on the market. The problem, however, is that there is currently virtually no library of 8K films for consumers. At launch users get access to only a single demonstration title created specifically to showcase the device's capabilities. This shows how far the industry still is from widespread 8K adoption. The hardware itself supports 8K playback at up to 30 frames per second via HDMI 2.1. It supports SDR and HDR10, but lacks Dolby Vision support for 8K content. Despite the limited amount of 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 have a realistic opportunity to use the device's main feature. The situation is reminiscent of the early days of 4K TVs, which also suffered from a shortage of suitable material for a long time. This time, however, development is proceeding much more slowly. Many TV manufacturers have even scaled back investments in the 8K segment because of low customer interest. Therefore, the greatest advantage of the Strato K at present is not 8K support itself, but something entirely different.
New 4K Cinematic format is set to put UHD Blu-ray to shame
A lot more interest has been generated by the new 4K Cinematic format developed by Kaleidescape. According to the manufacturer, it offers picture quality that surpasses even films available on UHD Blu-ray discs. A key factor is the much higher bitrate, averaging around 110 Mbps. For comparison, standard 4K movies in Kaleidescape’s store reach about 75 Mbps, while most UHD Blu-ray discs run at around 60 Mbps. The new format also uses full 4:4:4 colour sampling instead of the common 4:2:0. This preserves more detail and provides more accurate colour reproduction. The films are also available with Dolby Vision, lossless Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Among the first titles are Top Gun: Maverick, Dune: Part Two, Avatar, Superman, Thunderbolts and Tron: Ares. However, all content must be downloaded locally, as the system does not support streaming. The built-in 1 TB SSD holds only around seven films in 4K Cinematic quality. That means you will need to purchase additional storage capacity for a larger library. The price of the device is as impressive as its capabilities. The Strato K is priced at around $5,000, and films must be bought separately. This makes the product aimed mainly at the most demanding home cinema enthusiasts.
Kaleidescape Strato K opens a new chapter in home entertainment, offering support for 8K and a new 4K Cinematic format with quality that surpasses UHD Blu-ray. However, the very limited availability of 8K content and the device's high price remain issues, making it a product for a narrow circle of the most demanding users.
source: flatpanelshd
