CE Pro May 2022 - 58

CE Products
FIELD TEST | EDITOR'S PICK | NEW PRODUCTS
Kaleidescape Strato
C & Terra System
Ups the Ante for
Home Cinema
Performance
By Robert Archer
OVER THE PAST FEW years,
streaming has surpassed
all other forms of media to
become the preferred way to
listen to music and to watch
movies and TV shows. Yes, it
does look and sound better
than the content produced
just a few years ago, however,
streaming content does not
compare to uncompressed
audio and video content.
This is where Kaleidescape
comes in. The company
essentially has been delivering
for 20 years the same
convenience that streaming
services provide - but without
compromising audio and
video quality.
Through its benchmark
user interface and Kaleidescape
Store, the company
offers the best conveniences
of streaming, but it raises
the bar with bit-for-bit
uncompressed content.
The new Strato C player
and Terra 6 and Terra 12 servers
are designed to complement
the interface and store,
while delivering improved
infrastructure performance.
Sending me a Strato C and
Terra 12, I tested the system in
my home theater to see and
hear the benefits for myself.
Features & Setup
I'll note first that to facilitate
my review, the company
sent me its " demo system
The Kaleidescape Strato C and Terra 6 and Terra 12
components feature sleek and sturdy chassis.
kit " of a Strato C player and
a Terra 12 server mounted to
a single rack shelf. Each is a
half-RU space component,
and both are housed in metal
chassis that feel sturdy,
along with front panels that
light up with the branding
and logo.
The components support
the playback of content that
includes 4K with HDR and
immersive audio formats such
as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Kaleidescape specifies that
its Terra servers can support
any number of Strato C
players, and as many as five
simultaneous 4K Ultra HD
playbacks. In addition, storage
can be bolstered by adding
more full-size Terra servers.
The Terra 6 offers 6TB of
Kaleidescape's renowned user interface makes content
navigation easy.
storage, while the Terra 12
offers 12TB. The components
operate on the company's
kOS operating system, which
enables the functionality of
the system, as well as its advanced
content encryption
that protects the intellectual
rights of Hollywood studios.
Setup took mere minutes.
58 | CE Pro May 2022
I started by running an HDMI
cable to my Onkyo TXNR787
receiver, then I ran
Ethernet from the Terra 12
and Strato C to a 5-port unmanaged
switch in my rack.
I plugged both units into a
Torus Power AVR-20.
I also downloaded the
companion Kaleidescape
app onto my iPhone and
it quickly discovered the
system. The app provides a
control option and access to
the Kaleidescape Store.
The Kaleidescape products
ran in conjunction with
my system that includes
an Epson Pro Cinema
6050ub projector; Aerial
Acoustics left, center and
right loudspeakers; Emotiva
side and rear speakers;
Atlantic Technology height
speakers; Dish Hopper 3
set-top box; 4K Apple TV;
and Panasonic Ultra Blu-ray
disc player. MetraAV HDMI
cables connect my source
components, and a FBBR
fiber-optic HDMI cable is
run from the receiver to the
projector.
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CE Pro May 2022

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