Strato M Launches at $1,995, Expanding Kaleidescape’s Entry Level Options

(April 2, 2025) Kaleidescape has pulled the curtain back on its latest entry-level movie player, the Strato M—a compact, lower-cost addition to its platform that delivers lossless audio and reference-quality 2K video output. With a retail price of $1,995, the Strato M is positioned as an accessible point of entry for Kaleidescape newcomers or a convenient expansion player for existing installations where 4K output isn't paramount.

For those familiar with Kaleidescape’s long-standing reputation of pristine video and uncompressed multichannel audio, the Strato M stays true to the formula. Like its higher-end siblings, it supports advanced lossless formats like Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X, and DTS-HD Master Audio. On the video side, users can expect playback that exceeds Blu-ray quality, thanks to high bit rates, better codecs, and support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, BT.2020 color, and 4:2:2 chroma subsampling.

Out of the box, the Strato M operates as a standalone unit with onboard storage capable of holding approximately six high-bitrate Kaleidescape movies. Downloads occur quickly—roughly ten minutes per title over gigabit Ethernet—and an automatic offload system clears space by removing watched titles 48 hours after playback. Purchased titles remain accessible via re-download from the Kaleidescape Movie Store.

For users looking to scale up, the Strato M is fully compatible with Kaleidescape’s Terra Prime movie servers. Grouping with a Terra unit not only adds more storage but also unlocks the full Kaleidescape user interface and experience. The Strato M can also be used in conjunction with other Kaleidescape players, including the Strato V and Strato C, offering custom integrators more flexibility when designing whole-home or multi-room media systems.

Physically, the unit is small—just 6.4 inches wide and deep, weighing 1.6 pounds—and designed with easy installation in mind. Two units can fit side-by-side in a single rack space with optional rack hardware, or they can be wall-mounted behind a display. The system is fanless and silent, with a maximum power draw of just 13 watts.

It’s worth noting how the Strato M compares with the more powerful $3,995 Strato V, Kaleidescape's former entry-level model. While both support lossless multichannel audio, the Strato V adds internal storage for about ten 4K movies and support for true 4K resolutions and Dolby Vision video playback. For users with large format 4K projection systems and displays, the Strato V may still be the more appropriate "entry-level" choice. But for secondary zones, marine or commercial installs, or customers looking to dip their toes into Kaleidescape without committing to flagship pricing, the Strato M looks to be a well-calibrated offering that doesn’t compromise the company’s hallmark video and audio performance.

You can purchase the Strato M now through our affiliate partner, Audio Advice. Please know that we may receive a small commission from purchases at no additional cost to you.

Purchase the Strato M at Audio Advice: https://fave.co/41WOs75

Related Reading:

• CEDIA 2024: Kaleidescape's New 123TB Movie Server & Strato-V Player Make Expo Debut!
• Kaleidescape Unveils Its Largest Server Yet... 123TB of Glorious Solid State Movie Storage!
• Kaleidescape Inks Deal with Mercury Studios, Further Strengthening Its Commercial Theater Efforts

 

[Mike Schramm]

Alright, you gotta help me out with this one. Who is the target market for this player? Projectors that haven't upgraded to 4K yet? People who sit far enough away that the resolution doesn't really matter anyway?

 

[Todd Anderson]

The lack of 4K is certainly going to disappoint anyone that's looking to buy into the K-scape 4K experience for less than the Strato-V.

I think it has obvious uses in secondary rooms, like a home gym, a playroom, or a workshop. And, let's not forget, 1080p can still look really amazing on screens that have strong PQ attributes (contrast and black levels bubbling to the top).

What's strange is the inclusion of HDR/Dolby Vision, but having the player essentially down-converting a 4K file to 2K. I need to look at the specs, but I'm assuming it provides a 1080p signal.

What do you think about the price/performance factors? Appealing?

 

[Todd Anderson]

One advantage is that this player still gives you access to a better than streaming experience regarding consistency. You won't have blocking or pixelation... and you're getting lossless audio.

 

[Mike Schramm]

The most appealing aspect of all of this is that it seems Kaleidescape is making a conscience effort to bring more people into their ecosystem. The price is definitely appealing as an entry point with the ability to upgrade later.

 

[SRW1000]

The lack of 4K is certainly going to disappoint anyone that's looking to buy into the K-scape 4K experience for less than the Strato-V.

I think it has obvious uses in secondary rooms, like a home gym, a playroom, or a workshop. And, let's not forget, 1080p can still look really amazing on screens that have strong PQ attributes (contrast and black levels bubbling to the top).

What's strange is the inclusion of HDR/Dolby Vision, but having the player essentially down-converting a 4K file to 2K. I need to look at the specs, but I'm assuming it provides a 1080p signal.

What do you think about the price/performance factors? Appealing?

Call me a cheapskate, but a 4K player priced at $1K would actually have me considering this. 1080P is a complete non-starter, though.

I do think the six-movie storage size is reasonable and wouldn't be an issue for me.

 

[JStewart]

Another step in the right direction. 4K at this price point and I’m in.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Call me a cheapskate, but a 4K player priced at $1K would actually have me considering this. 1080P is a complete non-starter, though.

I do think the six-movie storage size is reasonable and wouldn't be an issue for me.

I don't think that's being cheap. There's no doubt this is an expensive ecosystem of products.

I do question the logic of removing 4K from the equation. We live in a 4K world.

 

[austinblackboxspace]

View attachment 82358 (April 2, 2025) Kaleidescape has pulled the curtain back on its latest entry-level movie player, the Strato M—a compact, lower-cost addition to its platform that delivers lossless audio and reference-quality 2K video output. With a retail price of $1,995, the Strato M is positioned as an accessible point of entry for Kaleidescape newcomers or a convenient expansion player for existing installations where 4K output isn't paramount.

For those familiar with Kaleidescape’s long-standing reputation of pristine video and uncompressed multichannel audio, the Strato M stays true to the formula. Like its higher-end siblings, it supports advanced lossless formats like Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X, and DTS-HD Master Audio. On the video side, users can expect playback that exceeds Blu-ray quality, thanks to high bit rates, better codecs, and support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, BT.2020 color, and 4:2:2 chroma subsampling.

Out of the box, the Strato M operates as a standalone unit with onboard storage capable of holding approximately six high-bitrate Kaleidescape movies. Downloads occur quickly—roughly ten minutes per title over gigabit Ethernet—and an automatic offload system clears space by removing watched titles 48 hours after playback. Purchased titles remain accessible via re-download from the Kaleidescape Movie Store.

For users looking to scale up, the Strato M is fully compatible with Kaleidescape’s Terra Prime movie servers. Grouping with a Terra unit not only adds more storage but also unlocks the full Kaleidescape user interface and experience. The Strato M can also be used in conjunction with other Kaleidescape players, including the Strato V and Strato C, offering custom integrators more flexibility when designing whole-home or multi-room media systems.

Physically, the unit is small—just 6.4 inches wide and deep, weighing 1.6 pounds—and designed with easy installation in mind. Two units can fit side-by-side in a single rack space with optional rack hardware, or they can be wall-mounted behind a display. The system is fanless and silent, with a maximum power draw of just 13 watts.

It’s worth noting how the Strato M compares with the more powerful $3,995 Strato V, Kaleidescape's former entry-level model. While both support lossless multichannel audio, the Strato V adds internal storage for about ten 4K movies and support for true 4K resolutions and Dolby Vision video playback. For users with large format 4K projection systems and displays, the Strato V may still be the more appropriate "entry-level" choice. But for secondary zones, marine or commercial installs, or customers looking to dip their toes into Kaleidescape without committing to flagship pricing, the Strato M looks to be a well-calibrated offering that doesn’t compromise the company’s hallmark video and audio performance.

You can purchase the Strato M now through our affiliate partner, Audio Advice. Please know that we may receive a small commission from purchases at no additional cost to you.

Purchase the Strato M at Audio Advice: https://fave.co/41WOs75

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Related Reading:

• CEDIA 2024: Kaleidescape's New 123TB Movie Server & Strato-V Player Make Expo Debut!
• Kaleidescape Unveils Its Largest Server Yet... 123TB of Glorious Solid State Movie Storage!
• Kaleidescape Inks Deal with Mercury Studios, Further Strengthening Its Commercial Theater Efforts

oy vey...and just when we thought 2025 couldn't get any weirder..... i'm cryin' uncle.. i got nothin' for this one.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Yeah... I don't get the lack of 4K either, but at least it is a step towards making their system more attainable. Yet... just not sure who would spend this much for something that is not 4K. I guess since it's still supposedly better than Blu-ray, maybe some will bite.

 

[Todd Anderson]

It’s looking like Kscape is balancing a little bit of savings on the expense of the processing side (by going 2K), while further diversifying their offerings.

I’m hoping to have one in house soon, but let’s not forget 2K is better than 1080p - especially HD that’s streamed, so technically up conversion is going to look better.

 

[JStewart]

I’m hoping to have one in house soon, but let’s not forget 2K is better than 1080p - especially HD that’s streamed, so technically up conversion is going to look better.

I get confused sometimes with the use of the term “2k”. In the case of the Strato M, the specs for video resolution are 1080p 60frames and below. It’s not spelled out so I’d assume 2048 x 1080 but it’s probably not important if it’s that or 1920.
Also on their product webpage, Kaleidescape has the often seen seating distance/screen size/resolution chart, so kudos to them for not marketing this as something it isn’t.

Strato M Movie Player - Kaleidescape

Kaleidescape’s Strato M movie player provides lossless audio, Dolby Vision, and high-fidelity 2K video output. Learn more about our entry-level movie player!

www.kaleidescape.com

My perception has always been that a 1080p blueray looks better than a 4K stream. Be curious to see your thoughts on this if that’s a comparison you plan to make. If you do a 2k to 4K Kaleidescape comparison, that would be interesting, too.

I will add this though, even if there’s no discernible difference between this and a 4K version, I’d still insist on having 4K for the same reason I listen to High Rez flac files instead of higher bit rate mp3. That is fomo in most cases. I’m human and I’ve had to learn to live with this flaw.

 

[MusicManLen]

Call me a cheapskate, but a 4K player priced at $1K would actually have me considering this. 1080P is a complete non-starter, though.

I do think the six-movie storage size is reasonable and wouldn't be an issue for me.

Loved your bookcase theater entrance as shown in your video tour.

 

[austinblackboxspace]

Call me a cheapskate, but a 4K player priced at $1K would actually have me considering this. 1080P is a complete non-starter, though.

I do think the six-movie storage size is reasonable and wouldn't be an issue for me.

we never had more than 3 or so movies max on our old S and maybe 2 at the most on the V. in a modern 98.9% cloud based world, i will never understand all those big ol’ black box storage devices that are still selling. some with still 90s era spinning hard drives… still selling stick shifts in an EV world…. ️

 

[SRW1000]

we never had more than 3 or so movies max on our old S and maybe 2 at the most on the V. in a modern 98.9% cloud based world, i will never understand all those big ol’ black box storage devices that are still selling. some with still 90s era spinning hard drives… still selling stick shifts in an EV world…. ️

I can think of a couple of advantages. If Kscape ever should go under, you would at least still have access to all of those movies. At least until the hard drives fail.

The second would be if you want to browse you collection with friends with the expectation to start watching immediately, rather than waiting for ten minutes or so for the movie to download.

The second case wouldn't make a difference to me, but I can understand the first one.

 

[Michael Boeker]

I’m hoping to have one in house soon, but let’s not forget 2K is better than 1080p . . .

The Strato M is DCI 2K which is 2048x1080 vs standard HD resolution of 1920x1080.

 

[Mike Schramm]

I'm confused a little on how that works. Are things just scaled to 2K from 1080p? There aren't many movies that are native 2K, are there?

 

[Todd Anderson]

I would imagine it's down-res from 4K. Will ask

 

[austinblackboxspace]

I can think of a couple of advantages. If Kscape ever should go under, you would at least still have access to all of those movies. At least until the hard drives fail.

The second would be if you want to browse you collection with friends with the expectation to start watching immediately, rather than waiting for ten minutes or so for the movie to download.

The second case wouldn't make a difference to me, but I can understand the first one.

If K-Scape goes away (once Apple finally does lossless video streaming, and I dance around the house in celebration. ) we are fine. we have really zero attachment to the purchased films on K-Scape...
Funny as the only time we ever really watch via K-Scape is when folks are over once or twice a week, and even with the old S, download time was never an issue that i recall. We are really out to the movies more than at home for them.

 

[Mike Schramm]

So, I listened to this week's Take Over Tuesday from @Bright Side HT and DJ used me as an example of who this product would be catered to. After hearing his explanation, I get it. This may be the way I get into the KScape. I think it's time to start saving to get my foot in the Kaleidescape door...

 

[austinblackboxspace]

So, I listened to this week's Take Over Tuesday from @Bright Side HT and DJ used me as an example of who this product would be catered to. After hearing his explanation, I get it. This may be the way I get into the KScape. I think it's time to start saving to get my foot in the Kaleidescape door...

excellent. also keep an online search notification activated for demo, b stock, second hand V units. they will be close to the same price.

 

[Mike Schramm]

That's a really good point Karl. I'd rather a used V instead of an M, if I could get it at the same price.

 

[austinblackboxspace]

That's a really good point Karl. I'd rather a used V instead of an M, if I could get it at the same price.

Most certainly. This is why I've always had great relationships with our local dealers all these decades. They keep us up to date with special inventory. For example, I've owned over two dozen projectors since 1988, (pretty much every flagship JVC for 15 of those years), and none of them were ever new, all B-stock or demo for close to half off. Trinnov gear, K-scape S, dozens of Martin Logan for 32 years: all endless demo/B-stock gear, etc. I did purchase 3 Denon AVRs back in the day new though and a handful of other items.. The K-scape V was discounted nicely after the S died, but that took time to get approved. They no longer repair S units out of warranty. The second-generation madvr extreme was half price after trade-in. I think the M is best for bulk purchases from theater chains, large corporate and education institutions, etc. I kinda feel it's not the best value for the private consumer, but at the end of the day, it will work. Anywho, I know the Briggs purchased that M just to upset me... I'm sure he was looking forward to me completely blowing my stack over another breakfast just before swim meet..