Streaming Versus Downloaded Content: Can you tell the difference?
There are multiple options when selecting a source for your home cinema content: streaming, 4K discs, or a movie server system from Kaleidescape. But which one is better?
Home Cinema Alliance members can advise you on creating the best experience for your home, but it’s useful to have some knowledge beforehand about the different content delivery systems available.
Hard disc playback remains an option for many, especially those with collections of DVDs or Blu-rays they wish to continue enjoying. Some caution is advisable here. Studios are beginning to recognise the cost savings of not releasing titles on Blu-ray and are instead choosing our next content delivery format: streaming. These are the services we are all now familiar with, which have significantly altered how people consume content over the past decade. Convenient and often packed with exclusive content, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Paramount, Disney, and YouTube have all contributed to making viewing more immediate.
The final category to mention is only available through professional home cinema installers and involves high-performance movie servers and playback options from a brand called Kaleidescape. With its own digital movie store and hardware options for content playback, the system is designed to be cutting-edge in-home movie playback. The key difference between this system and streaming is that the content is downloaded before playback. But how do these systems compare?
Delivering an immersive experience
The art of creating a good home cinema lies in getting as close as possible to the vision the creators had when producing the content. This involves delivering the best imaging and surround sound possible.
Regarding video, it’s important to recognise that most sources use some form of compression to transfer images from storage to your system. The amount of data displayed on your screen significantly influences image quality. For comparison, the average throughput for video on a Kaleidescape system is 58 Mbps, while a 4K Blu-ray disc typically offers 48 Mbps. Apple TV streams at around 16 Mbps. Although Apple TV is widely regarded as the best streaming platform in terms of quality, it is noticeably behind the other two in data transfer performance. A Blu-ray disc's space allows for a large amount of information to be stored. For Kaleidescape, content is downloaded—in approximately 10 minutes with a strong internet connection—and can deliver much more data from a local server or playback device.
If you’re wondering whether you'd even notice the difference, think about the fuss over the Game of Thrones episode ‘The Long Night’, when viewers complained they couldn’t see what was happening in this crucial episode. This was largely due to the compression used during its broadcast, and it’s far from an isolated case.
Audio plays a crucial role in creating a memorable experience. Where would Jaws be without its soundtrack? Where would Star Wars be without its iconic John Williams score? All of this is before considering the atmosphere created by skilled sound effects and mixing. Once again, the amount of information a system can handle and its method of delivery are important. Audio throughput from a Kaleidescape system and a 4K Blu-ray is typically around 5.3 Mbps. Apple TV and Netflix streams are typically at 768 kbps, while Amazon Prime offers 448 kbps. This represents a notable difference, and it becomes even more significant given that streaming often utilises 5.1 format, which limits the number of surround channels available. Blu-ray and Kaleidescape benefit from content not being streamed, allowing for more information to be transmitted.
A skilled HCA member can mitigate many of these system characteristics, but for optimal performance, increasing the amount of visual and audio data is the best starting point. Other factors to consider include the system's price and access to content. Streaming is the most affordable option, often providing free playback hardware and much content available at no extra cost after subscription. However, the appeal has diminished recently, as much of the content now requires payment even after subscribing, and services that previously offered ad-free options have introduced ad-supported tiers or now feature more frequent ad breaks.
Blu-ray discs remain a solid choice, but it’s worth considering how long they will continue to be produced and how much longer manufacturers will keep making playback devices. Kaleidescape is a highly reliable option when it comes to quality. None of the other systems provides the same level of audio and video performance. However, the investment needed is higher. It is worth noting that Kaleidescape has recently introduced more entry-level options, making access to this system more affordable.
Ultimately, our members will help you choose the right options for your family and home, perhaps combining two or all three to suit your needs. Rest assured, whatever your budget, the knowledge of an HCA member will enable you to take your home cinema experience to the next level.
If you want to sign up for any of the streaming services, please use our Affiliate Links and help support the platform:
Image provided by HCA Pro Member Cyberhomes
