Anyone try Kaleidescape?

[JoeJr81]

Has anyone tried Kaleidescape? I’m irritated by the new Apple TV app. I don’t want all the crap and ads. I just want a decent place to buy movies and TV shows.

https://www.kaleidescape.com

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by JoeJr81

Has anyone tried Kaleidescape? I’m irritated by the new Apple TV app. I don’t want all the crap and ads. I just want a decent place to buy movies and TV shows.

https://www.kaleidescape.com

Have you priced the hardware necessary to use Kaleidescape? It's enough to make many .

[JoeJr81]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Have you priced the hardware necessary to use Kaleidescape? It's enough to make many .

Yeah, just saw that recently. I thought the service offered streaming too.

[Chad Rouch]

Originally Posted by JoeJr81

I’m irritated by the new Apple TV app. I don’t want all the crap and ads.

There are ads on AppleTV? I don't have ads on my AppleTV box.

As to Kaleidoscape, it's $4,000 or so for the player which needs a hard drive to hold the movies and I think the cheapest hard drive is $5,000. Compared to a $180 Apple TV...

So, no, I haven't tried one.

[JoeJr81]

Originally Posted by Chad Rouch

There are ads on AppleTV? I don't have ads on my AppleTV box.

As to Kaleidoscape, it's $4,000 or so for the player which needs a hard drive to hold the movies and I think the cheapest hard drive is $5,000. Compared to a $180 Apple TV...

So, no, I haven't tried one.

There are ads for channels, or other streaming services.

Yeah, I missed the price of the equipment.

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by JoeJr81

There are ads for channels, or other streaming services.

Yeah, I missed the price of the equipment.

Yeah. It's not something you "try."

[blurocks]

Are there any other streaming services with a focus on audio/video quality?

[Chad Rouch]

Originally Posted by blurocks

Are there any other streaming services with a focus on audio/video quality?

Kaleidoscape isn't streaming. You download to a hard drive. That's how they get the quality they claim to get.

But I think Apple is committed to quality. I'm sure others will jump in real soon to claim otherwise, though.

[trespoochies]

Sony Pictures Core claims highest bitrate and the biggest library of IMAX Enhanced offerings. Drawback is the service has mostly all Sony titles and non purchases are MA/transferable to other streaming services. You can only access it via PS4/5 or select Sony Bravia TV.

https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/5/2...s5-ps4-ps-plus

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by trespoochies

Sony Pictures Core claims highest bitrate and the biggest library of IMAX Enhanced offerings. Drawback is the service has mostly all Sony titles and non purchases are MA/transferable to other streaming services. You can only access it via PS4/5 or select Sony Bravia TV.

https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/5/2...s5-ps4-ps-plus

The service available on PlayStation consoles does not have the high bitrates of the Core service available on select TV sets.

[Naiera]

Kaleidescape is for people who have "F you" money. It's exclusively (at least almost) sold by high-end custom installers who cater to, well, people who have "F you" money

UHD Blu-ray is about the same quality. We're pretty much only losing out on some convenience, and blowing $10,000 on saving a spot of bother seems like a bit much, unless you have "F you" money

[SpaceBlackKnight]

I talked with a fellow who happens to own a Stratos player with the 8TB server drive. This is what they told me:

"Kaleidescape is not a streaming device and anything you rent or own is downloaded to the server drive, even free previews, trailers, and extras. The server drive is mandatory for the system to operate, watch and store stuff. Kaledescape devices are preparatory hardware so you cannot use a standard HDD store to stuff on and any replacement parts must come from the manufacture and cost half the SRP of new hardware. Most models don't come with a remote anymore as they operate through a app that can be downloaded to a Apple/Android Phone & Pad.

Once the device is registered, you can rent or purchase stuff from the Kalediscape store. Basic run of the mill studio titles, nothing out of the ordinary that you cannot get elsewhere. Prices range from $4-30 for rentals and $20-40 to own titles, though they typically have sales and some are set at much cheaper than others.

The files are jpeg-2000 format and range in size from 80-250gbs for 1080p and 120-400gbs for 4k HDR. These are also said to be a b!tch to download as the servers are sometimes very slow, worse on Wi-Fi and anything other than hard wired GigaFiber networks.

The 1080p files do have much better PQ than even the best BD, but 4k isn't much different aside from less color banding and artifacts. They also have DCP like encryption in the files which, very few have gotten around for maybe one or two titles that have since been reencoded at places like [REDACTED] and [REDACTED]. Audio is basically Blu-Ray/UHD quality DTS-HD and Dolby Tru-HD, with X and Atmos multi channel on certain titles. Same bitrates as their disc counterparts, sometimes even less. A few titles with 2.0 tracks come up as PCM 48hz 24bit, but most of them are DTS-MA and even lossy AC3!

Since what Kaleidescape offers isavailable elsewhere (for far less in cost and work/time needed mind you), it's not worth ripping or HDMI capturing stuff. Even then the rips would be compressed to s#!t and back anyway.

To endcap, these things are wayyyyyyyyyyyyy overpriced for only a small uptick overall in PQ and no differences in audio. If one mega rich d-bag that isn't very technical wants the best of everything, all compact and simplified to their needy needs, Kaleidescape is for them."

[RFK]

I chose to buy a projector and screen instead and to keep buying discs.

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by RFK

I chose to buy a projector and screen instead and to keep buying discs.

OK. Cool story that is not the topic of this thread.

[cmay91472]

Originally Posted by RFK

I chose to buy a projector and screen instead and to keep buying discs.

I chose to buy a projector and screen and upgrade equipment every year with the money saved from not buying discs anymore.

On a serious note… if the hardware ever came down in price I think people would seriously take a look at this type of system. I recently started using Infuse because there were a handful of titles a family friend of mine had of stuff not available to stream in the US such as Battle Royale 4K HDR and the 1 to 1 back up copies were outstanding. Even the loseless audio even though it’s only 7.1 or 5.1 for the stuff he gave me is really good.

But because of the amount of space the titles take up and the lack of computer knowledge I have… I would never seriously try to collect these files just too complicated for me.. Just once in awhile if I see something in the family friend’s KODI set up that I would want. Not gonna lie though… looking forward to when we go see them again as he has Hellraiser 4K HDR and Shin Godzilla 4K HDR in his library and that I want to add to my Infuse library.

But if there was a more reasonable priced Kaleidoscope type of system for computer literate dummies like me, I’d be all over it in a heartbeat.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by cmay91472

I chose to buy a projector and screen and upgrade equipment every year with the money saved from not buying discs anymore.

Without the highest quality media (discs) what the hell are you upgrading your equipment for ?

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by cmay91472

On a serious note… if the hardware ever came down in price I think people would seriously take a look at this type of system.

The system exists because of the price, not in spite. Studios wouldn't let them do what they do if it wasn't priced the way it was, outside the reach of most people.

[Markie4tv]

Originally Posted by Naiera

The system exists because of the price, not in spite. Studios wouldn't let them do what they do if it wasn't priced the way it was, outside the reach of most people.

Not quite , a server grade HDD (24 TB) can run around $700 add in the rest of the electronics , your looking at a good 2/3 grand.
Think of any hobby , cars , motorcycles , art. , poster collections etc can cost multable thousands so why not the best piece of Home Theatre equipment out there.

[Brahmzy]

I’ve been running a full high-end HTPC + NAS + 10GbE at my house for over a decade. Definitely more than Kaleidoscope, but it is truly the best option available. There is nothing better than it. Ya better be technically-minded to support something like that though.

Kaleidoscope is a poor-man’s HTPC setup.

[Naiera]

Originally Posted by Brahmzy

I’ve been running a full high-end HTPC + NAS + 10GbE at my house for over a decade. Definitely more than Kaleidoscope, but it is truly the best option available. There is nothing better than it. Ya better be technically-minded to support something like that though.

Kaleidoscope is a poor-man’s HTPC setup.

LOL.

I hope you know what you're doing as far as video output from that computer...