The Ultimate Home Theater Machine? An In-Depth Review of Kaleidescape's Strato C + Terra Multi-Room System

Manufacturer & Model

Kaleidescape Strato C Movie Player + Terra Movie Server

MSRP

$18,985

Link

https://www.kaleidescape.com

Highlights

Terra Movie Server offers 24-48TB of storage for up to 1,440+ movies in a typical mix of 4K, HD, and standard definition, can download 4K movies in as little as 12 minutes, enterprise computing performance, can support up to 10 Strato C Players simultaneously.

Strato C Movie Player supports true 4K HDR, compact form factor, upscales HD and SD video to 4K, excellent 4K menu interface, compatible with control systems.

Summary

Kaleidescape's Strato C + Terra movie system is a game-changing platform that makes it easy to find great content while offering access to a massive library of disc-quality (and better) 4K UHD, HD, and SD movies, shows, and concerts. Terra is a beast of a movie server, housing 24TB to 48TB of storage and possessing data capabilities that allow 4K UHD content to download in just 12 minutes. It can support up to 10 Strato C Movie Players simultaneously. Strato C is a generously sized player that can inconspicuously integrate into a room or rack system. With data rates exceeding 100mbps, Strato C can drive a mindblowing 4K experience.

Kaleidescape's instant playback capabilities, not to mention its ability to deliver jaw-dropping audio and video laced with the latest technologies, elevates Strato C + Terra to the top of the heap of 4K playback platform options.

During a recent home renovation, my contractor invited me to take a ride in his pride and joy, a Dodge Demon, the fastest street-legal car ever produced. As we looked over the Demon's muscular frame and high-fived to celebrate all 840 horses harnessed beneath its hood, I made the mistake of guessing what's in the tank. "91 octane?" I suggested, without realizing the depths of ignorance being exposed. "Are you kidding??" he quipped. "This beast only gets racing fuel."

Of course! I thought as I showed approval. But, between friends, I hadn't a clue that racing fuel was even an option.

Fast forward through months of noise and dust, and our home – including my reference theater – finally found itself stitched back together. That's when the contractor asked for a theater demo. "Welcome to the Entertainment Bunker," I told him as I powered up 7.4.8 channels of immersive glory. While we waited for the projector to spring to life, and I rattled off facts about the unearthly power lying dormant in the room's quad array of subs, he asked what I liked to feed my system. "Netflix?" he wondered aloud. "No way…" I scoffed. "Digital racing fuel, baby. Nothing but the best!"

If you're a hardcore AV enthusiast with a decent theater room, I'm sure you'll understand my sentiment. When it comes to a reference system, the thought of feeding it anything less than the purest, most potent source material available makes me cringe. Yes, Netflix has its time and place, but not in a theater room. For my desires, I want to know I'm tapping the best possible source material for the best possible theatrical experience.

To date, my preferred source has been disc-based, both Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray, spun by A-list players from the likes of OPPO and Panasonic. This has gotten the job done, giving me access to lossless audio and video with the latest surround sound and immersive codecs. But, as a card-carrying member of Twitter's #SupportPhysicalMedia legion, it pains me to confess that my enthusiastic support for disc-based media has begun to wane.

Setting declining sales and eroding manufacturer support aside, finding discs at local retail stores has become increasingly challenging, making spur-of-the-moment purchases nearly impossible. Of course, Amazon Prime is an obvious go-to source, but searching for films and sifting through buying options can be frustrating, day-of and next-day shipping doesn't always pan out, and money-saving "used" deals can cough up scratched discs. This all goes without mentioning the tremendous amount of waste – energy, plastics, and shipping materials – generated by having a single disc delivered to your home. Toss in the occasional freezing movie and the potential for rot as a collection ages, and discs are becoming less appealing.

There's still much to appreciate about physical media, including its ability to provide affordable access to reference content. Discs also guarantee actual ownership of a film. The same can't be said of movies purchased from the likes of Amazon Video and Apple TV.

This brings us to today's featured manufacturer, Kaleidescape, which offers an advanced digital movie platform that takes the disc experience and spins it on its head. When I first started talking to Brett Bjorkquist (Senior Manager, Dealer Engagement) at Kaleidescape, he proclaimed: "We've built a better engine." Having covered the brand for years and experienced its gear in action, I had little doubt in its ability to deliver reference-grade audio and video. But this notion of a better engine implied something more. "It's an experience," he assured me. So, Bjorkquist pulled together a system consisting of Kaleidescape's 24TB Terra Movie Server and two Strato C Movie Players – the first multi-room Terra review system ever assembled.

The reason?

Kaleidescape wanted me to live with and probe every facet of the ownership experience. The “engine,” they told me, is so much more than a physical player and reference media, promising a system that would kick my entire theater experience into overdrive. So, I agreed to welcome Kaleidescape's premium gear into my home. For the last six weeks, I've lived the life of a Kaleidescape customer, learning everything there is to know about the platform and getting a solid feel for what makes the company tick. What I found was a rather transformative ownership experience and, quite possibly, the ultimate home theater machine.


What's Kaleidescape?

Kaleidescape entered 2021 celebrating 20 years of operation, born from the passions of Founder and Chair, Michael Malcolm, and some heady Silicon Valley collaborators. The company's first disc-ripping multi-room system seems a bit archaic by today's standards, but it allowed Malcolm and his partners to establish key industry relationships while grinding through the ins and outs of licensing and digital technologies. Having survived publicly scrutinized growing pains, the company never lost sight of harnessing the internet as a delivery system for reference-quality media. And, as they say, the results speak for themselves; its current technology is widely heralded as the gold standard of movie playback systems.

Kaleidescape is a download platform, not a streaming service, which means users need storage and playback capabilities in their homes. Unlike app-based services found on various TVs and devices, it requires proprietary gear that's only manufactured by – you guessed it – Kaleidescape. Its entry-level Strato S 4K Ultra HD Players have storage and decoding capacities squeezed into one box, while the step-up Strato C + Terra systems assign storage and decoding responsibilities to separate units for increased performance.

Strato S gives owners access to 6 terabytes (TB) or 12TB of storage, with the 12TB model holding roughly 200 4K UHD movies or 360 Blu-ray quality films. The larger Terra server is available in both 24TB and 48TB versions, providing storage of 400 to 800 4K films, respectively, and even more when considering a mix of Blu-ray quality media. All four options allow owners to delete and re-download purchased content from the cloud, so media libraries aren't limited by storage capacities.

Data speeds for both Strato S and Terra are impressive, with Strato S executing 4k downloads in as little as 35 to 45 minutes. If that time frame isn’t fast enough, consider Terra's Olympic-grade 4K download speed of 12 minutes – blazing fast! Of course, you won't realize those numbers without Gigabit Internet access. According to my tests, throttling download speeds to 110 Mbps increases 4K download times by a factor of ten. While it's hard to complain about landing a full 4K lossless movie file in 120 minutes, the experience of downloading and playing that same file in 12 minutes will spoil you rotten.

On the content side, Kaleidescape's Movie Store is impressively stocked with more than 12,000 movies, shows, and concerts sourced directly from more than 50 studios and minimally compressed by a proprietary encryption algorithm. You'll find every 4K disc title imaginable (over 1,200 as of July 2021) in addition to over 400 4K titles you won't find on disc, including the likes of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, National Treasure, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, and Hans Zimmer: Live in Prague.

And, yes. Everything you buy, you own.

Kaleidescape's current Strato players can decode and output true 4K HDR video at 60 fps with bit rates reaching 124.5 Mbps. They also support lossless Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive audio and associated lossless legacy codecs. This means Kaleidescape customers enjoy the same exact audio quality found on disc, and equal to or better than video quality.

Better than, you ask?

Technically speaking, yes, some films are "better." Because Kaleidescape's movie files aren't limited to the confines of a 66GB physical disc, some are packed with more bits. Take, for example, Avengers Endgame (4K UHD) weighing in at 104GB, or Ford v Ferrari (4K UHD) landing at 82GB. According to Bjorkquist, those are just two of at least 50 films that benefit from larger file sizes and more bandwidth. And while your eyes might not necessarily detect an absolute difference between Ford v Ferrari on 4K disc and Ford v Ferrari in 4K on Kaleidescape, you'll have a hard time convincing me that more isn't ultimately better.


System Unboxing and Walkaround

Strato C and Terra's packaging doesn't scream for attention with flashy graphics and hi-res photos. Instead, Kaleidescape takes a more utilitarian approach, throwing its weight behind thick, high-quality containers cut with clean lines and sealed with reinforced kraft tape. Handling the boxes confirms thoughtful quality and attention to detail, causing the tactile component of the unboxing experience to thrive.

Cracking the boxes open kindled memories of OPPO's epic reign, as each component was neatly encased in a cloth bag and comfortably nestled in custom foam blocks. All three units shipped with a power supply and Ethernet cable, and both Strato Cs added physical remotes and THX Certified HDMI cables.

Strato C and Terra have the appearance of high-quality equipment, leveraging robust materials and appealing design attributes. With its thick metal casing and nearly 22-pounds of weight, Terra has a vault-like presence that flexes serious physical muscle. Overall fit and finish on my demo unit were perfect, and it felt great in the hands. Sized similar to a standard Blu-ray player (17" W × 3.5" H × 10.0" D), Terra can seamlessly fit in a gear stack or rack system.

Terra's front faceplate slowly folds down to reveal four drive bays, which, in my case, were filled with enterprise-grade 6TB SATA drives. Kaleidescape says its drives are carefully selected for reliability and performance, working with key data centers to make sure the drives they select are best-in-class. In the unlikely event of a catastrophic failure, storage and operation responsibilities are automatically shifted to the remaining healthy drives, and the show goes on. In fact, Bjorkquist says a failed drive would likely go unnoticed by a customer if the drives weren’t all filled – good thing a recent firmware update allows Terra to detect and automatically report system issues to Kaleidescape's Help Desk.

The simplicity of Terra's rear panel is refreshing, presenting power, Ethernet, USB, and service port connections. It's a clean slate that expedites a fast set-up process.

Strato C is smaller than Terra (7.87" W × 1.52" H × 10" D), allowing it to inconspicuously inhabit a tabletop near a display system, sit on a component in a rack, or mount neatly behind a television (accessory wall plates required). Its logo-clad faceplate doesn't flip down, but it does house a concealed power button along its lower right edge. The backside of Strato C is slightly more complex than Terra’s, presenting Audio/Video and Audio only HDMI outputs, SPDIF and optical audio outputs, and individual Ethernet, USB, and service ports.

Strato C is the playback arm of the Terra system, tasked with receiving, decoding, and outputting content stored on Terra's drives. It's compatible with other Strato and older Kaleidescape Premiere systems when linked using their Co-star product, and multiple Strato Cs can be deployed in a home. In fact, Terra can deliver 4K content to ten Strato C players simultaneously, giving owners insane levels of access to the purest versions of movies and shows on the planet.

I'd be remiss not to mention the low-profile rubber feet affixed to the bottoms of Terra and Strato C. Their thinness allows the units to fit in tight spaces, but they're also unusually tacky. Not sticky, but tacky. This keeps them locked to a surface, resisting side-to-side and back-and-forth movement. Admittedly, this feature isn't massively exciting, but it's a nice bit of insurance for gear placed on open surfaces in high traffic areas, and, despite its 4.2-pounds of weight, Strato C doesn't move an inch when the front power button is depressed.


What's missing?
Kaleidescape's 4K attack is definitely projector-centric. This isn't to say Kaleidescape movies aren't stunning on 4K TVs – trust me, they are – but the system's HDR10 High Dynamic Range foundation reflects a bias toward theater rooms with a projector. Dolby Vision, HDR 10+, and IMAX Enhanced aren't currently supported on the platform, nor is Auro-3D immersive sound. Kaleidescape says that Dolby Vision and HDR 10+ might be added in the future, but I wouldn't hold my breath for IMAX Enhanced or Auro-3D.

Also, Strato C performs 4K upscaling of HD and DVD quality content, but it doesn't offer dynamic tone mapping to assist older or less-than-capable 4K projectors in displaying HDR content. While not necessary for most of today’s advanced projectors, dynamic tone mapping would make for an appealing add-on feature if available.


Set-Up

Setting up a Strato C + Terra multi-room system requires moderate technical skills, with the biggest hurdle being access to a proper network. Unlike a Blu-ray player or a device like AppleTV, Terra and Strato C are engineered to operate on a wired network with access to high-speed internet (preferably Gigabit). While Gigabit is a luxury needed to achieve optimal download speeds, Ethernet connectivity is Kaleidescape's default recommendation and, as I discovered, practically essential for everyday use. For reference: my home has Gigabit Internet (averaging 850 Mbps) but lacks an intricate maze of Ethernet cables. Instead, it uses a Google Wi-Fi mesh network.

I deployed Kaleidescape in two rooms, the first being a home theater where Terra and one Strato C were connected directly to a Gigabit Ethernet Network Switch linked to a cable modem and a Google Wi-Fi point acting as a router. The other Strato C was paired with a system in a media room, hardwired to a Google Wi-Fi point. Both Strato Cs were connected to processors using the Audio/Video HDMI output.

Note: I was able to watch uninterrupted, pristine 4K movies in the media room using my home's mesh network. This success, I believe, was the result of a short distance between Wi-Fi points. Later in the review, I moved the media room's Strato C unit to a distant part of the home, and performance issues arose. So, proceed with caution if you're considering running a Kaleidescape system on Wi-Fi; you might have success, or you might crash and burn. My recommendation and as Bjorkquist clearly emphasized when I told him what I wanted to try: follow Kaleidescape's Ethernet-based installation requirements.

Once connected to my home's network, a browser interface assembled each of the three units as a system, display capabilities were auto-confirmed, a few settings were tweaked, and I was ready to roll.

Strato C's on-screen menu system gives owners access to basic features, like passcodes and parental controls, and advanced features such as test patterns and calibration videos. The browser interface unlocks even deeper settings, including the ability to scale a player's video output to match a screen's aspect ratio. This feature might be trivial for standard HD and 4K TVs, but it's a big deal for enthusiasts running fixed screen 2.35:1 or 2.40:1 projection systems.

Why?

When a projector is zoomed to display 2.35:1 content on a fixed cinemascope screen, menus and in-movie information tend to spill off the screen, making them difficult to see. Kaleidescape's scaling feature ensures that all of this information, along with Kaleidescape's Movie Store and library screens, are displayed within a 2.35:1 frame. As a long-time sufferer of difficult-to-see menus, this particular setting was a welcomed find.


Associated Gear
The home theater system used in this review is a 19-channel 7.4.8 speaker array driven by Emotiva's XPA-5 and Gen3 2.8 multi-channel amplifiers, and managed by a StormAudio ISP.24 MK2 processor. Associated speakers include GoldenEar's Triton One.R towers (L/R) and SuperCenter Reference Center Channel, SVS Ultra Surrounds (L/R Side Surrounds), SVS Ultra Bookshelfs (L/R Rear Surrounds), SVS Prime Elevations (ceiling mounted Top Middle and Top Front; top wall mounted Front Height and Rear Height), dual SVS SB16 Ultra subwoofers, and dual Power Sound Audio XS30 subwoofers. The display system consists of a JVC NX7 4K projector (running JVC's v3.52 Theater Optimizer firmware) and a 105" 2.35:1 Carada Cinewhite screen.

The media room's system is less complex, consisting of a Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A3050 AVR and 65" Sony X900F LCD 4K TV.


Ye Olde Movie Night

Life in the Anderson household moves a million miles an hour, with all six living, breathing components constantly playing tug of war with a finite amount of time and energy. Being the AV fanatic of the family, the burden of running the home theater falls squarely on my shoulders, and part of that responsibility is organizing and executing a family movie night. The typical movie night kicks off with a discussion of what to watch and where to watch it. If the majority votes for the family room, we fire up a flat panel and begin the task of searching for a movie on a streaming service or OnDemand. However, if the home theater gets the nod, a whole new cascade of events takes place – don’t forget: digital racing fuel!

Redbox rarely plays a role in the "what to watch in the theater room" decision-making process, largely because getting the family together is a last-minute event and time is of the essence. That shifts content selection to a disc library that consists of 700 titles, painstakingly organized in my second office (aka the basement workshop). On any given week, the spines of 10 to 15 movies are marked with a yellow sticker dot indicating "unwatched," and those become the focus of our attention.

The types of questions tossed around during the movie selection process are predictable: What's it about? Did it get good reviews? Who's in it? Are you sure we haven't watched this? Is it violent? Is it appropriate for kids? How long is it? So on, and so forth. If we're lucky, a film is picked and ready to spin in 10 to 15 minutes. If we're unlucky, the search takes longer, pushing the clock hands forward and increasing the likelihood that our movie night will be cut short and continued sometime in the next day or two.

Once a movie is in hand, its aspect ratio needs to be identified (requiring a search on the net or a scan of the box's excruciatingly tiny fine print), and the spin-up process begins. With the finish line in sight, final steps include navigating a combination of previews, advertisements, and FBI warnings, with a pitstop to confirm the disc's default audio settings.

And, voila, movie night is officially underway. Keep this process in mind as we take a closer look at the Kaleidescape experience.


The Elephant in the Room

Before diving into specific impressions, it's worth discussing the biggest rub on Kaleidescape’s platform: cost. The cost falls into two distinct categories – cost of entry and ownership – with the former boasting a decent amount of shock value, so strap on a helmet and hold fast. The company's least expensive Strato S player carries an MSRP of $5,995, with pricing exceeding $20,000 for its most potent Strato C + Terra package. The total price for the system used in this review (two Strato C Movie Players and a 24TB Terra) lands at $18,985 MSRP. While that number is hefty compared to a $999 Panasonic DP-UB9000 4K Disc Player, it buys you so much more: physical gear, access to downloadable reference content, and a curated home theater experience backed by the passionate folks at Kaleidescape's HQ.

The upfront cost of Kaleidescape is softened on the backend thanks to zero monthly fees and various promotions and programs that reduce the price of content. One program, called "Disc to Digital," allows customers to re-purchase and upgrade titles they own on disc at reduced rates (typically $4 - $9). Kaleidescape also offers generous pricing to customers upgrading films they already own in their digital library. For example, when Lord of the Rings landed in 4K earlier this year, owners of the HD version only paid $10 to upgrade.

The Movie Store routinely hosts promotional deals on film collections. During my review, Kaleidescape celebrated Marvel Studios by making Marvel's 4K catalog available for $9.99 per film. Similar promotions were run for Father's Day and a collection of summer blockbuster films, presenting lots of opportunities to purchase 4K and HD movies at wallet-friendly prices. And for real savings, customers can rent over 8,000 titles, with the ability to apply a portion of the rental fee toward purchasing rented content – a killer way to preview media before you buy!


Equipment Placement and System Impressions

Aside from initial set-up and the occasional poke of a power button, Kaleidescape's primary gear doesn't need to be touched. Terra is so hands-off that owners can tuck it away anywhere there’s access to power and Ethernet. That said, I placed my Terra demo unit on top of an enclosed rack system in a room adjacent to the home theater. Good looks aside, it was the source of just enough sound (periodic drive clicks and the low hum of fans) that I wouldn't recommend placing it within earshot of theater seating.

Strato C is a slick, high-functioning device that’s also easy to place. I positioned one on top of a StormAudio ISP.24 MK2 processor in my theater rack, and the other on an entertainment center directly under a flat-panel TV. Strato C’s footprint is negligible (roughly the size of a medium-sized hardback novel), and it's whisper quiet. Like Terra, it has an illuminated front panel logo that can be dimmed or turned off.

Strato C's remote control is a mixed bag of good and bad. Functionally speaking, it has convenient hot buttons – my favorites being two that instantly display all movies or concerts in Terra's library – and performs its duties as intended. The remote's physical properties, however, are middling. It's ergonomically shaped and the button layout is intuitive, but hard plastics and a cheap-looking button backlight miss the mark, especially considering the pedigree of Kaleidescape's components.

Kaleidescape says Strato C’s physical remote is typically used purely for set-up, with most systems eventually integrating with a 3rd Party control system for access to additional lighting control and screen masking metadata. Some customers also choose to use control system functionalities built into iOS and Android-based apps, but Bjorkquist was quick to note that an upgrade to a more premium control design is preferable. Taking that information into account, it’s understandable why the included remote received a little less attention in the design department.

Kaleidescape's proprietary menu system (kOS operating system version 10.10.0-22350) looks gorgeous on 4K displays thanks to crisp text, highly detailed images, and appealing colors. Smooth scrolling, seamless transitions add to the overall refined feel of the interface, which is easily managed using the remote control. Two additional mechanisms of system control, a browser-based UI and a phone app complete a streamlined home theater experience that’s infinitely more convenient than managing a large disc collection.

Using the on-screen menu or browser UI, owners can manage their entire digital library, sorting content into searchable collections, marking content as “Watch Soon,” and listing content that’s been paused. Comparatively speaking, these are all concepts I’ve used to manage my own disc collection, but Kaleidescape makes them all more effective and impactful. The phone app is slightly less useful, although it does allow for basic library management, including deleting, loading, and purchasing content.

The ability to deploy multiple Strato Cs around a home proved to be a bonafide luxury, as reference-grade media could be viewed in one location, paused, and played in another. It also allowed Terra to simultaneously share different content to multiple displays, which kept the family happy. During the review, the multi-Strato C system definitely increased my interest in watching movies, mainly because I could start a movie while leisurely relaxing on the couch, eventually moving to my theater room with minimal effort involved. Despite having 4K disc players linked to flat panels around my home, I’ve never slogged through the effort of moving a disc from one location to another. In fact, when I hit the couch in our media and family rooms, I rarely, if ever, reach for disc content.


Movie Store

Kaleidescape’s content team delivers a curated movie discovery experience that's second to none, combining the best cross-referencing aspects of sites like IMDB.com along with pertinent information and reliable ratings, fast-tracking the movie selection process. The Movie Store's on-screen interface features a tiled cover art mode that intelligently rearranges itself to display suggestions during the search process. While fun to experience, I ultimately gravitated to search and discovery using the phone app and browser interfaces. Both options allow for personalized search results using a combination of filters, with up to 24 filters available through the browser. Say, for example, you're looking to purchase a title on sale. Simply activate the "Special Pricing" filter. If you decide you only want to see sale pricing on 4K content with Dolby Atmos immersive sound, you can drill deeper by applying filters to achieve that too.

Kaleidescape's content team also maintains more than 90 searchable collections, grouping everything from Academy Award Winners and Golden Globe Nominees to Biopics and Inspirational Films, all of which can be filtered and sorted.

Once you select content that looks interesting, Kaleidescape displays detailed information about the release, including Common Sense Media and Rotten Tomatoes Ratings, cast and production names, available formats, aspect ratio, and more. You can even watch a trailer.

The ultimate endgame is a vastly streamlined discovery and purchase process that can be performed from the comfort of your theater room, on the computer while enjoying a bite to eat, or from your car while you sit at a traffic light. It buries every interface and search method I've ever used to find reference media, and, with Terra, it delivers true 4K HDR media in a matter of minutes. During the review, I ran several 4K download tests, and Terra consistently achieved 12 minute download times – impressive!

To sweeten the pot, some (not all) of Kaleidescape's new titles can be watched weeks before they're officially launched on disc. While that's not always the case, it's a nice perk of ownership. Also, some movies can be pre-ordered, which instantly downloads 99% of a film to your system. The last remaining morsel is sent at midnight on launch day, giving you day one, hour one, second one access.


Playback

While the build-up to pressing play on a Kaleidescape is a wonderful experience, playback is where it truly solidifies itself as a statement platform, launching viewers to the ultimate heights of home theater nirvana. Thanks to a stocked Terra demo unit with 125 pre-loaded movies and concerts, I was able to take Strato C + Terra for the ride of a lifetime, enjoying hours upon hours of reference content.

Kaleidescape's video and audio qualities are top-shelf, laced with all of the bits necessary to ignite a home theater into a fiery inferno of sensory overload. As part of a rental trial, I called upon The Dark Knight in 4K UHD, which dripped with inky blacks and roared with thunderous bass. That experience led me to another Christopher Nolan masterpiece, Interstellar, for even deeper bass and mind-blowing visuals. Much to my delight, both films were shown in a strict 2.39:1 aspect ratio from start to finish, which differs from the flip-flop IMAX to 2.39:1 presentations found on their respective 4K UHD discs – a major bonus for fixed cinemascope screen owners!

As I selflessly trudged my way through the latest 4K UHD Atmos demo films, like Deepwater Horizon and Baby Driver, and stopped to enjoy classics like Ferris Bueller's Day Off in HD, Kaleidescape was simply magnificent. In every case, audio and video qualities weren't a single scintilla short of those found on disc. There was zero buffering, pixelation, hiccups, or freezing, and playback commands were executed instantaneously. To top it off, the speed at which movies could be selected and played was notable – no FBI warnings to screen, no previews or advertisements to skip, just drop dead, gorgeous content.

Concerts also made for fun viewing, particularly with the impacts of COVID on our ability to enjoy live entertainment. Billy Joel Live At Shea Stadium: The Concert (16:9, HD quality), Norah Jones: Live at Ronnie Scott's (2.35:1, HD), and the sensational Atmos fueled Hans Zimmer: Live in Prague (16:9, 4K UHD) were three favorites. Each one enhanced the concert experience with stunning close-ups of musicians in action, not to mention jaw-dropping sound.

All of Kaleidescape's content has staff-selected "Kaleidescape Scenes," which act as bookmarks for key moments in a movie or concert. Owners can bookmark their own favorite scenes, too, or take things a step further by creating a demo reel (called a Script) using scenes from content they own. As a long-time theater fanatic, I'm all too familiar with the dreadfully slow process of playing favorite scenes from a stack of discs. Scripts eliminates that painful process, replacing it with the ultimate in instantaneous demo experience.

Strato C + Terra can integrate with control systems, using media cues to dim the lights, lower the shades, and adjust masking systems and projector lens settings. I was lucky enough to experience several of these features in action at a local Gramophone store, and they were impressive. Just another example of Kaleidescape’s ability to streamline and transform your at-home movie experience.


Final Thoughts

When you dump racing fuel in a Dodge Demon, its effective horsepower is bumped from 808 to 840, giving the car enough power to pull a face-altering, blood vessel popping 1.8 Gs. Likewise, when you inject your home theater with Kaleidescape’s version of digital racing fuel, the quality of your home theater experience is jettisoned from the stratosphere to the outer reaches of space. It truly is a transformative experience.

After living with Strato C + Terra for a few weeks, I concluded this review could be written in two words: Buy It. Its ability to streamline content discovery and expedite a reference-grade home theater experience is revolutionary, especially considering Strato C + Terra's ability to spread that experience around a home. The price to entry is steep, but once that obstacle is cleared, the ownership experience completely re-writes the family movie night script. Sorry discs, but Kaleidescape really is that much better.

For the home theater connoisseur, Kaleidescape is a bonafide game-changer and a significantly better experiential engine. A-plus Gear.


Terra Movie Server Specifications
Dimensions
• 17.0in × 3.5in × 10.0in (W × H × D) (43.2cm × 8.9cm × 25.4cm)

Weight
• 15.4lb (7.0kg) with no hard drives installed
• 21.6lbs (9.8kg) with four hard drives installed

Power
• Max consumption: 45W
• Typical: 40W
• External power adapter: 100-240V,
50-60Hz universal input 12V @ 7A, 84W with detachable line cord

Network
• 100Base-TX/1000Base-T Ethernet (RJ45 connector)

Other Connection
• USB 3.0 (reserved)

Environment
• Operating temperature: 41 to 95°F (5 to 35°C)

• Storage temperature: -4 to 140°F (-20 to 60°C)
• Relative humidity: 20 to 80% (operation) 5 to 90% (storage)
• Maximum operating altitude: 10,000ft (3,048m)
• Heat output: 154 BTU/hr (45W) max
• Airflow: 20 CFM (34 m3/hr) max

Ventilation
• Minimum 1in (2.5cm) space at the front • Minimum 2in (5cm) space at the rear

Rack Mount (sold separately)
• Rack shelf available for mounting in a 19in rack, 2RU space

Ceritifications
• CSA 62368-1 • CSA 60950-1 • IEC 62368-1 • IEC 60950-1 • FCC CLASS B • CE
• RoHS Compliant

Storage
• Available with four 6TB or 12TB hard drives (24TB or 48TB total)
• 24TB configuration stores up to 360 4K Ultra HD movies, 650 Blu-ray quality movies, or 3,600 DVD quality movies
• 48TB configuration stores up to 720 4K Ultra HD movies, 1,300 Blu-ray quality movies, or 7,200 DVD quality movies

Movie Server
• Maximum download rate: 800 Mbps • Serves 4K Ultra HD movies
simultaneously to up to 8 viewing zones • Serves Blu-ray movies simultaneously to
up to 15 viewing zones
• Serves DVD quality movies
simultaneously to up to 40 viewing zones

Limited Warranty
• 3 years (extendable)



Strato C Media Player Specifications
Dimensions
• 7.87in × 1.52in × 10.0in (W × H × D) (20.0cm × 3.9cm × 25.4cm)

Weight
• 4.2lb (1.91kg)

Power
• Max consumption: 20W
• Typical: 17W
• High power standby: 12W
• Low power standby: 0.50W
• External power adapter: 100-240VAC to
12VDC @ 5A, 60W with detachable line cord

Network
• 100Base-TX/1000Base-T Ethernet (RJ45 connector)
OTHER CONNECTION
• USB 3.0 (reserved)

Control
• Ethernet control from Crestron, AMX, Control4, Savant, the Kaleidescape App for iPad, and other apps & control systems

• Kaleidescape Remote included
• Front-panel IR receiver window
• IR input (1/8in mini plug)
  ENVIRONMENT
  • Operating temperature: 41 to 95°F (5 to 35°C)
• Storage temperature: -4 to 140°F (-20 to 60°C)
• Relative humidity: 20 to 80% (operation) 5 to 90% (storage)
• Maximum operating altitude: 10,000ft (3,048m)
• Heat output: 69 BTU/hr (20W) max
• Airflow: 3.5 CFM (6 m3/hr) max

Ventilation
• Minimum 1in (2.5cm) space at the front • Minimum 2in (5cm) space at the rear

Rack Mount (sold separately)
• Rack shelf with faceplates is available for mounting 1 or 2 (centered or side- by-side) Strato C players in a 19in rack, 1U space

Certifications
• CSA 62368-1 • CSA 60950-1 • IEC 62368-1 • IEC 60950-1 • FCC CLASS B • CE
• RoHS Compliant

Video Output
• HDMI 2.0a (labelled “VIDEO”) • HDCP 2.2 copy protection

Video Display Formats
• Resolutions: 2160p60/50/30/25/24, 1080p60/50/24, 1080i60/50, 720p60/50, 576i, 576p, 480i, 480p

• Chroma: 4:4:4 8-bit up to 2160p60, 4:4:4 10/12-bit up to 2160p30, 4:2:2 12-bit up to 2160p60, 4:2:0 8/10/12-bit at 2160p50/60 only
• Color spaces: BT.2020, BT.709, BT.601
• Aspect ratios: 1.78:1 and 2.35:1
  (CinemaScape), automatic or user
  interface selectable
• HDR: HDMI 2.0a with support for
  SMPTE ST 2084 EOTF, SMPTE ST 2086 metadata

Audio Outputs
• HDMI 2.0a (combined with video on the VIDEO connector)
• HDMI 1.4 (audio-only on the DIGITAL AUDIO connector)
• Digital (coaxial RCA and TOs-link connectors)

Audio Formats
• Dolby Atmos • Dolby TrueHD • Dolby Digital • DTS:X
• DTS-HD Master Audio • DTS Digital Surround • PCM
• MPEG audio

Storage
• No internal storage. Strato C accesses content stored on a Terra or Strato (with internal storage) when connected via network

Media
• Kaleidescape movie store downloads, including high-bit-rate 4K Ultra HD movies in 10-bit color, with and without high dynamic range (HDR), and movies that precisely match the quality available on Blu-ray Disc and DVD
• DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW (from Kaleidescape Disc Server)

Limited Warranty
• 3 years (extendable)

 

[Brett Bjorkquist]

That's a good point. A sale is a sale.

I didn't touch on the customer emails Kaleidescape sends out detailing promotions. It's another mechanism that keeps you aware of specials without having to think about it. I can definitely see the temptation of scooping up deals.

That reminds me... Gravity... I thought I read somewhere that it's being released in 4K. Might be time to sell my Diamond Luxe version

LOL, that's right sell the Diamond version and you're $100 closer to a Terra...

Here's the two sales we have going on now. Actually two sales, which is a new one for me. Pretty much every movie was $10. I already owned a bunch, but I use these opportunities to buy some of the fun movies that the studios haven't lowered the prices on for everyday pricing. I picked up Dead Poet's Society and Mr. Hollands Opus, two movies I remember being great but haven't watched in more than 20 years, which means I'd have bought it in DVD quality, and now I can introduce my teenager to these movies for $10 ion HD quality, that's rental money but I now own it.

Brett

 

[Brett Bjorkquist]

As someone who, over the past couple years, has built and loaded a powerful PLEX server with all my disc content, I can say that it is definitely a large amount of work. I have just under 700 movies in UHD, HD and SD ripped onto a server, along with a bunch of concert films, TV series, etc. The server has about 90% of the functionality of the Kaliedescape, as well as some functionality not offered by the K-scape.

I still want a Kaliedescape.

The upkeep and maintenance greatly decreases once you have that initial load complete and it's simply adding new titles as you acquire them. But that is still work, effort, and pre-planning that the K-Scape can eliminate with its store platform.

However, one thing PLEX does add that I really appreciate is the OTA DVR functionality. I added an HD HomeRun and antenna and it allows me to view live TV and record our stories for time-shifting.

I still want a Kaliedescape.

As Todd mentioned, with optical media being harder to find locally, smaller sections, fewer options, it's making the PLEX server more and more work to keep up.

I think, where I'm at is that I'm really enjoying the PLEX server, but I still want a Kaliedescape. If anything, the PLEX server has made the Kaliedescape more attractive and desirable. It has given me a taste of the functionality, ease and quality of what the K-scape offers, but still requires a fair amount of time for upkeep and adding content. I would imagine within a few years out, I will likely have K-scape in my system in some form. I would likely run it alongside my existing PLEX server to avoid having to convert that catalog into K-scape's ecosystem, but again, as physical media continues to become less and less available, K-scape is the most viable option for max quality.

Hey @Brett Bjorkquist, perhaps you should look into giving your hardware the ability to read an external server full of mkv files so I can use a single device per display and not give up access to my existing content (wink, wink). That would truly make it a no-brainer.

I do love my PLEX system, but it makes me want a Kaliedescape even more.

I think for those truly passionate about movies, I see many people with multiple platforms.

Hey look, I can post links now, I've been accepted into the community!!! "Sharkbait - hoohaahaa"

Check out this long panel discussion with owners of both Kaleidescape and other platforms: July Kaleidescape Consumer Panel
For a shorter testimonial from Matt Blair where he mentions how he used to use Plex but still wanted Kaleidescape: Matt Blair Testimonial

Enjoy the weekend,

Brett

 

[Tom L.]

Ha! A man that recognizes road hazards and plans ahead to avoid them is a very SMART man! Not surprised, Tom, as we know you've got some healthy gears turning in that head of yours .

It's always fun to handle gear that really nails the experience. "They've figured it out" definitely applies here.

 

[Brett Bjorkquist]

Wow! A lot of technical prowess jam-packed into those boxes! The price for entry, and then to re-purchase all of the media I have spread between iTunes and physical media (or even a small part of it) would cause a major rift in my household (READ: DIVORCE!).

A very neat product that has demonstrably grown in power and capabilities over the years!

Thanks Todd!

I hear you on that. I'm constantly buying things to test out, not only on the movie side, but lighting control, whole home audio, etc. She puts up with a lot because I get to at least position it as how I make a living. I need three different lighting control systems in the house because, I have to test and see how they integrate with various control systems. Of course I somehow decided to pick AV, cars, watches, and alcohol as my hobbies and vices, so I need an understanding spouse...

Luckily there are some options with disc-2-digital for you physical media. Here's an example of one of my purchases. These are cataloged movies that I owned on physical disc, many in DVD quality because I've been collecting since the platform released. This allowed me to transfer to Kaleidescape, and generally upgrade the quality at the same time. Here, you can see at the top, I bought 109 titles for $480, or less than $5 a title. You can see at the top I upgrade the Mummy series from DVD to 4K for less than $9 a film, and The Pirates series at the bottom from DVD to 4K HDR for less than $6 a title.

BB

 

[Todd Anderson]

I hear you on that. I'm constantly buying things to test out, not only on the movie side, but lighting control, whole home audio, etc. She puts up with a lot because I get to at least position it as how I make a living. I need three different lighting control systems in the house because, I have to test and see how they integrate with various control systems. Of course I somehow decided to pick AV, cars, watches, and alcohol as my hobbies and vices, so I need an understanding spouse...

Luckily there are some options with disc-2-digital for you physical media. Here's an example of one of my purchases. These are cataloged movies that I owned on physical disc, many in DVD quality because I've been collecting since the platform released. This allowed me to transfer to Kaleidescape, and generally upgrade the quality at the same time. Here, you can see at the top, I bought 109 titles for $480, or less than $5 a title. You can see at the top I upgrade the Mummy series from DVD to 4K for less than $9 a film, and The Pirates series at the bottom from DVD to 4K HDR for less than $6 a title.
View attachment 44076


BB

Do you have a general idea of what D2D customers typically do with their physical discs... keep? Sell? Trash?

 

[Brett Bjorkquist]

Do you have a general idea of what D2D customers typically do with their physical discs... keep? Sell? Trash?

So technically because they are buying a studio approved upgrade, they could technically sell their existing content, something they can’t technically do when ripping with other system, but some do anyway. Think of it as buying another version, so I can take my physical content and toss it, sell it, or stick it in the attic. Good way to help pay for the conversion!

 

[Nexus99]

Another +1 vote for Kaleidescape here. I have a Strato S in the smallest configuration. I’ve had it for about a year now and I love it! I also have a Plex server, Zappiti, Zidoo, Shield, Panny disc player, AppleTv, and I watch everything on the Strato if possible. Love it.

 

[Michael Boeker]

Ripping discs (Blu-ray & UHD) with my HTPC with JRiver Media Center is so easy even my kids could do it when they were 5 (my youngest is now 7). One put the disc in and it automatically ripped, downloaded metadata, and cataloged the disc with multiple views available. I bought a Kaleidescape a few months ago for my demo theater and to loan to potential customers. It wasn't the ripping that was difficult with the HTPC, it was acquiring the content. I watched ads, looked for sales on Amazon, went to Best Buy's Black Friday sale every year to build a collection. With Kaleidescape's disc-to-digital program I was able to upgrade most of my existing collection for very little money.

Most the new movies I've purchased have been the sales for $9.99 or $14.99. For example, I purchased The Hobbit trilogy on UHD last December for ~$90 at Target (had family coming over to watch!). I was able to purchase The Lord of the Rings on Kaleidescape for 1/2 the price of any other available locaton! I didn't have to go anywhere. I just added it to my Kaleidescape wish list and then purchased the entire wish list before the sale expires.

I purchased the 12TB Strato S and have completely filled it up already with content. What I like about the Strato S is its portability. I put it in an SKB flight rack and took it to South Dakota two weekends ago and to San Francisco this past weekend. I let both customers use it overnight and they loved it. It is always interesting what people think are great features. The consistent interface with the same menu system for all movies was especially appealing - I have DVD, Blu-ray, and UHD quality content.

My HTPC will probably only be used for music and the large Blu-ray concert collection I have that aren't on Kaleidescape.

As a calibrator, I used JRiver Media Centers Particle feature to create virtual clips of music and movies. All my concerts have a Particle that have the start/stop locations for each song. I have before/after content of both concerts and movies for audio and video calibration. This lets me easily spot issues and show the customer the difference before and after calibration. The Kaleidescape is the only other system I've seen that can match with its Scenes and Scripts that can match JRiver's Particles and Playlists. A Script is what most other system calls a Playlist (I think the word "script" is a little intimidating for customers). I can use the Scenes that come with each movie/concert and create my own. Putting them all together with a Script just takes a few minutes and it provides a nice way to demo the Kaleidescape while I'm doing the calibration.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Another +1 vote for Kaleidescape here. I have a Strato S in the smallest configuration. I’ve had it for about a year now and I love it! I also have a Plex server, Zappiti, Zidoo, Shield, Panny disc player, AppleTv, and I watch everything on the Strato if possible. Love it.

What's the biggest driver for you versus those other options?

 

[Todd Anderson]

It wasn't the ripping that was difficult with the HTPC, it was acquiring the content. I watched ads, looked for sales on Amazon, went to Best Buy's Black Friday sale every year to build a collection. With Kaleidescape's disc-to-digital program I was able to upgrade most of my existing collection for very little money.

I thought the discovery/purchasing aspect was a huge driver in my positive opinion. It's just so easy... completely takes the hassle out of the process.

Curious, I'm seeing some feedback on social media channels complaining that Dobly Vision isn't currently supported. While I touched on this, I'm curious if that's an issue for you or your customers (as a dealer)?

 

[Michael Boeker]

Curious, I'm seeing some feedback on social media channels complaining that Dolby Vision isn't currently supported. While I touched on this, I'm curious if that's an issue for you or your customers (as a dealer)?

Every UHD release that I've seen come with Dolby Vision also has HDR10. No projectors support Dolby Vision. With frame-by-frame analysis for HDR10 tone mapping like done by JVC projectors, and Lumagen and madVR Envy video processors, there is no need for Dolby Vision either. Even Sony PJ's are getting better in this regard. Since Dolby Vision isn't necessary, then nobody I've worked with has requested or required it. Most current TV's also handle HDR just fine and Dolby Vision offers no visual benefit.

Note that the AV NIRVANA reviews, like the one done on Nobody, don't even specify whether the movie has Dolby Vision. Has anyone complained? Nobody cares.

By the way, the disc reviews on AV NIRVANA, like other places, provide the disc aspect ratio. The Kaleidescape aspect ratio can differ from the disc.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Every UHD release that I've seen come with Dolby Vision also has HDR10. No projectors support Dolby Vision. With frame-by-frame analysis for HDR10 tone mapping like done by JVC projectors, and Lumagen and madVR Envy video processors, there is no need for Dolby Vision either. Even Sony PJ's are getting better in this regard. Since Dolby Vision isn't necessary, then nobody I've worked with has requested or required it. Most current TV's also handle HDR just fine and Dolby Vision offers no visual benefit.

Note that the AV NIRVANA reviews, like the one done on Nobody, don't even specify whether the movie has Dolby Vision. Has anyone complained? Nobody cares.

By the way, the disc reviews on AV NIRVANA, like other places, provide the disc aspect ratio. The Kaleidescape aspect ratio can differ from the disc.

Agree 100% on the projector front... and I agree 100% on the movie reviews (come to think of it, I never even considered it).

I noted the variation in aspect ratio on both Christopher Nolan flicks...wasn't aware it varies quite a bit beyond that. One of the awesome aspects of Kaleidescape is having all of that information in a one-stop-shop location.

 

[Chuck Gerlach]

There is no way to EVER "cost justify" the initial entry expense or the ongoing movie purchase expense of a Kaleidescape system. And has been pointed out, the DIY solution of MakeMKV/Plex/NAS "sort of" gets you the same capability at MUCH less expense, and that is the route I have taken for the last 4 or 5 years (now have a bit over 600 movies ripped and stored). BUT, it is NOT even close to the same "experience" as the K system as I have previously owned one and have decided to jump back in. A couple of examples: One of my favorite features of the K system is "scenes" where they have selected scenes from every movie that you have instant access to for demo purposes. And you can create "scripts" of scenes from different movies. Yes, you can create "scenes" using MKVTool but that is messy and time consuming. But my new favorite capability when using one of the K Terra Servers, is the ability to download and watch a 4K movie in about 10 minutes. So let's say you are having guests over to watch a movie. Prior to them coming to your home, you can point them to the K Movie store, let them pick ANY movie in the store (from about 15,000 choices), watch trailers and make a decision - and if you don't already own it, you can have it ready to watch in about 10 minutes. While you can do that with streamed movies, you can't get to Redbox and return that quickly - or conveniently for those movies offered up by the studios.

There is no way to put a value on any of the wonderful capabilities of a Kaleidescape system. It is a VERY costly product. But if you have the financial wherewith-all to afford it and want convenience and a "slickness" that is simply not available ANYWHERE else, it is the only way to go.

It should be clear that they only have interest in attracting some small part of "the 1 percenters". This is not a "for the masses" product, and they have never given any indication that they have interest in trying to attract that group of people. Their idea of "an entry product" is their just announced 12TB Terra Server that sells for a "mere" $7,995. Yes, you can go to Amazon and find a 12TB drive for under $500. Just remember what I said in my first sentence. Financial justification does not apply when thinking about purchasing a Kaleidescape. I have played that head game for years and finally decided, the features and capabilities are "worth it" to me.

 

[Todd Anderson]

There is no way to EVER "cost justify" the initial entry expense or the ongoing movie purchase expense of a Kaleidescape system. And has been pointed out, the DIY solution of MakeMKV/Plex/NAS "sort of" gets you the same capability at MUCH less expense, and that is the route I have taken for the last 4 or 5 years (now have a bit over 600 movies ripped and stored). BUT, it is NOT even close to the same "experience" as the K system as I have previously owned one and have decided to jump back in. A couple of examples: One of my favorite features of the K system is "scenes" where they have selected scenes from every movie that you have instant access to for demo purposes. And you can create "scripts" of scenes from different movies. Yes, you can create "scenes" using MKVTool but that is messy and time consuming. But my new favorite capability when using one of the K Terra Servers, is the ability to download and watch a 4K movie in about 10 minutes. So let's say you are having guests over to watch a movie. Prior to them coming to your home, you can point them to the K Movie store, let them pick ANY movie in the store (from about 15,000 choices), watch trailers and make a decision - and if you don't already own it, you can have it ready to watch in about 10 minutes. While you can do that with streamed movies, you can't get to Redbox and return that quickly - or conveniently for those movies offered up by the studios.

There is no way to put a value on any of the wonderful capabilities of a Kaleidescape system. It is a VERY costly product. But if you have the financial wherewith-all to afford it and want convenience and a "slickness" that is simply not available ANYWHERE else, it is the only way to go.

It should be clear that they only have interest in attracting some small part of "the 1 percenters". This is not a "for the masses" product, and they have never given any indication that they have interest in trying to attract that group of people. Their idea of "an entry product" is their just announced 12TB Terra Server that sells for a "mere" $7,995. Yes, you can go to Amazon and find a 12TB drive for under $500. Just remember what I said in my first sentence. Financial justification does not apply when thinking about purchasing a Kaleidescape. I have played that head game for years and finally decided, the features and capabilities are "worth it" to me.

Interesting comments Chuck. Price is definitely a huge barrier to entry. It's the biggest point of discussion, hands down, when it comes to Kaleidescape. But, as you point out, the system gives you incredible tools and capabilities. The mere fact that you can research, purchase, and (legally) receive an actual lossless 4K or HD-quality film in a handful of minutes is a true thing of beauty. And early access to films (for example, Black Widow and Fast/Furious 9) is also great. Of course, scenes and scripts are also notable convenience features.

You say that you decided to jump back in... what kind of system configuration are you using?

 

[Chuck Gerlach]

You say that you decided to jump back in... what kind of system configuration are you using?

It is "will be using" as I do not yet have them installed. I was getting ready to order a Strato-C with the 12TB Terra server. What got my (re)interest was the announcement of their new 12TB Terra. Unfortunately, they don't have any to sell yet (maybe another month or two) and I am impatient person, so am considering the 24TB which is way more storage (and money) than I will need. One of the many beauties of the high speed downloads is that you don't need to keep your entire library on the Terra as you can just keep some of it at Kaleidescape. So while my existing ~200 Kaleidescape movies (from when I last owned a Kaleidescape) is available to me, I will only keep those local that I might want to re-watch sooner rather than later. Plus add new over time. I have a client who uses the Strato with 12TB of storage (slower download speeds) and that is how he manages his storage.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Cloud access is definitely appealing. Conversely, the speed of Terra erases the need to buy a film that you think you may watch... so you buy to have on hand for easy access.

I like the fact that Terra 12 is physically small... I think a lot of folks will find its size to be appealing