Kaleidescape

[SRW1000]

So, my question about 5.1 4K disc releases vs. Atmos Kaleidescape wasn't directly asked, but a one came up.  It sounds like Kaleidescape will use whatever the studios offer, and it's not a case where they're asking for higher quality for their premium system.

In some cases, the studio may give them a better mix after the initial release.  That's a plus for the system over a physical disc, since you can download the improved copy for free.

I got a "no comment" on my question about a more affordable player, though.  Maybe we'll see something some day?

Scott

[David Vaughn]

So, my question about 5.1 4K disc releases vs. Atmos Kaleidescape wasn't directly asked, but a one came up.  It sounds like Kaleidescape will use whatever the studios offer, and it's not a case where they're asking for higher quality for their premium system.

In some cases, the studio may give them a better mix after the initial release.  That's a plus for the system over a physical disc, since you can download the improved copy for free.

I got a "no comment" on my question about a more affordable player, though.  Maybe we'll see something some day?

Scott

They are really trying to hold onto the "premium" position, so I doubt they'll ever have anything for the masses. 

[SRW1000]

Yeah, I'm just trying to remain hopeful.

Back when they came out of bankruptcy, Cheena Srinivasan said that they were going to remain focused on the luxury market, but also that they could do that and also offer something under $1K.

That was almost seven years ago, and he's moved on, but subsequent articles have mentioned how they want/need to grow the market.  One way to do that is make the price more attractive.   And at $500-$1K, that's still a pretty hefty price to the average consumer that's happy with the streaming service from their $20 plug-in stick.

All of that might have changed in the post-Covid, supply-chain shortage era, though, so I'm not holding my breath.

[AVSCraig]

I noticed the same thing...not worth it IMO (I'll get off my a$$ and put a disc in the player for $21 per movie). Anything under $5 is worth it though. I have to pause now since I'm at my bandwidth cap from Xfinity (got a nastygram email warning me I was near my limit ).

I wondered if that could be an issue. Interesting.

[bmoney]

So overpriced. Ugh

[David Vaughn]

So overpriced. Ugh

Not for its intended audience. The same could be said for luxury sports cars. To some, they are overpriced, bot others, they are a necessity. 

[AVSCraig]

So overpriced. Ugh

That's why some of us have NAS's and media players. 

[David Vaughn]

That's why some of us have NAS's and media players.

The Honda Accords of movie storage

[Ralph P.]

That's why some of us have NAS's and media players.

Greetings,

I am with Craig. I recently set up a Zidoo Z9X 4K media streamer and it does a fabulous job handling my ripped 4K/Blu-ray/DVD library. I am not certain what problems Dave had with Make MKV but, it works flawlessly in my case. It takes roughly 20 minutes to rip 1080p content and 4K titles range from 48 to 90 minutes depending.
To say that Kaleidescape is a niche product is an understatement. No thanks.



Regards,

[David Vaughn]

Greetings,

I am with Craig. I recently set up a Zidoo Z9X 4K media streamer and it does a fabulous job handling my ripped 4K/Blu-ray/DVD library. I am not certain what problems Dave had with Make MKV but, it works flawlessly in my case. It takes roughly 20 minutes to rip 1080p content and 4K titles range from 48 to 90 minutes depending.
To say that Kaleidescape is a niche product is an understatement. No thanks.



Regards,

I may jump down that rabbit hole in the future. I'm running out of space to store all my discs

[AVSCraig]

Greetings,

I am with Craig. I recently set up a Zidoo Z9X 4K media streamer and it does a fabulous job handling my ripped 4K/Blu-ray/DVD library. I am not certain what problems Dave had with Make MKV but, it works flawlessly in my case. It takes roughly 20 minutes to rip 1080p content and 4K titles range from 48 to 90 minutes depending.
To say that Kaleidescape is a niche product is an understatement. No thanks.



Regards,

I didn't want to re-buy my collection on Kscape, since after my wife and I went through the movie closet and culled all the movies neither of us thought we would watch again, we still had over 800 films ( and a few shows ). So far it's worked quite well. 

[SRW1000]

I didn't want to re-buy my collection on Kscape, since after my wife and I went through the movie closet and culled all the movies neither of us thought we would watch again, we still had over 800 films ( and a few shows ). So far it's worked quite well.

One advantage of Kscape for those with large libraries, is that with their new upgrade program, you can add an external drive, use it to register that you have a Blu-ray disc and then upgrade to 4K Kscape copy for an upgrade fee.  Studios run specials from time to time, so the cost can be less than purchasing a new 4K disc.  And there are titles that have better audio/video quality than their disc counterparts.

Of course, that ignores the initial cost of the hardware.   

One of the other questions I asked during the live stream last night was regarding the version of the movie you get.  Once downloaded, that's your copy.  But if you delete it and download it later, you get whatever version the studio is currently offering.  We've seen a number of recent examples in the publishing world where books are being changed (often posthumously) to an author's work based on a panel of sensitivity experts.

Should that practice make it over to movies, physical media is the best way to insure you have access to what the filmmaker created.

Scott

[David Vaughn]

One advantage of Kscape for those with large libraries, is that with their new upgrade program, you can add an external drive, use it to register that you have a Blu-ray disc and then upgrade to 4K Kscape copy for an upgrade fee.  Studios run specials from time to time, so the cost can be less than purchasing a new 4K disc.  And there are titles that have better audio/video quality than their disc counterparts.

Of course, that ignores the initial cost of the hardware. 

One of the other questions I asked during the live stream last night was regarding the version of the movie you get.  Once downloaded, that's your copy.  But if you delete it and download it later, you get whatever version the studio is currently offering.  We've seen a number of recent examples in the publishing world where books are being changed (often posthumously) to an author's work based on a panel of sensitivity experts.

Should that practice make it over to movies, physical media is the best way to insure you have access to what the filmmaker created.

Scott

I should have my article on their disc-to-digital done sometime this week. Also, I have Avatar: Way of the Water downloaded already and it goes "live" at midnight tonight and I plan on comparing it to the "digital copy" on Movies Anywhere that Disney sent me. That should go live sometime next week. 

[bmoney]

The Honda Accords of movie storage

not even close.  same performance of the Kscape but at literally 1/10th the cost if that.  this cant be compared to a luxury sport car either.  you cant drive an accord 0-60 in 2 seconds and 195mph top speed
a NAS can do 100% of what the kscape can do.  even more in fact, since you have to rely on kscape having the movie you want (think old movies) 

[bmoney]

i cant state how much of a ripoff the kscape is.  its for the lazy (and those who have FU money).  I drive a Porsche but am not paying a porsche dealership $500 to change my oil.  Ill do it myself for $70 in parts. I have the money to pay the dealership but Im not stupid nor lazy...even if i were lazy or didnt have the time/skill (even this is laughable) id take it ot an indy ship and pay maybe $200