Kaleidescape Movie & Music Server Page 4

Setting preferences ensures the desired performance every time. You can opt for Dolby Digital or DTS defaults for audio, and the ability to select different video resolutions for each output let me to enjoy 720p on my big screen and 480i in my bedroom. Parental controls keep the kids from stumbling across something they shouldn't. You can even override a rating if you feel a movie is more R than PG-13.

The system's biggest change since my original review is the addition of music management to make it a complete media-management solution. Kaleidescape has incorporated the same terrific interface and browsing experience for your CDs. CD listings feature a full album review, and a nice cross-fade option even provides a smooth transition between songs.

Video and audio quality were excellent. The Movie Player 2 flawlessly passed the video scaling tests on the Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark disc, offering the best performance of any device I've tested.

BOTTOM LINE Even with the new pricing, a Kaleidescape system still runs $9,995 with a server and Movie 2 player, while a music-and-movies system starts at $12,730.

But Kaleidescape is just a media server the way Patek Philippe is just a watch, Kristal just a sparkling wine, or Bentley just a car. It offers the highest level of refinement, sophistication, and elegance of operation while remaining simple enough for a child to use. Personal movie and music libraries can easily be worth $10,000 or more, so why not get something that lets you enjoy yours to the max? For that, there's simply nothing better today than a Kaleidescape Movie & Music Server.

Back to Homepage What's New on S&V

ARTICLE CONTENTS

X