Krovatar KB-200D
Specifications and features
Krovatar KB-200D, Full HD 3D Blu-ray player
Playing Blu-rays, including 3D films, without cluttering the TV cabinet with a bulky unit: that is what this Krovatar player sets out to do. It builds on the KB-200, with its quiet Panasonic drive mechanism and comprehensive connectivity, and adds playback of the main 3D Blu-ray formats. DVDs, CDs, files on a USB stick and videos stored on the home network all play through the same player.
A compact chassis with controls pared down to the essentials
At 26 cm wide, 20 cm deep and less than 4.5 cm high, the KB-200D fits on a TV cabinet shelf where a standard 43 cm-wide hi-fi component would not. Its black finish remains unobtrusive beneath a television. The front panel is limited to a digital display, a disc tray and three buttons: eject, play and pause, power and standby. The USB port is on the front, so there is no need to reach behind the cabinet to plug in a USB stick. Power comes from an external 12 V supply: the transformer stays outside the chassis, keeping its height down, but you will need to leave room for it near the mains socket.
Full HD Blu-ray and 3D films on a compatible screen
The KB-200D plays Blu-rays, video DVDs and VCDs, and outputs a 1080p picture, the Full HD resolution of Blu-ray discs. It does not play Ultra HD Blu-ray (4K) discs. Connected to a 4K television, it sends a Full HD signal that the television itself scales to its panel’s resolution.
The D version stands out for its support for 3D Blu-rays. To see the 3D effect, you need a 3D television or projector, connected via HDMI, and glasses suited to that screen. Most recent televisions have dropped 3D, while many home cinema projectors still support it: these are often where the KB-200D finds its place.
The player supports BD-J, the Java language used by interactive Blu-ray menus, as well as BD-Live, which provides access to online extras on discs that offer them. BD-Live requires the player to be connected to the internet through its Ethernet port. The MediaTek processor handles menu display and playback. A composite video output (yellow RCA socket) remains available for an older television, at standard definition only.
Sound for your amplifier to decode or for stereo listening
The KB-200D decodes Dolby and decodes DTS in stereo. To enjoy a DTS soundtrack in multichannel audio, the player sends the original stream to a home cinema amplifier or a soundbar, which handles the decoding. HDMI carries all Blu-ray audio formats. The coaxial digital output, useful with an amplifier that has no HDMI input, is limited to compressed 5.1 formats (Dolby Digital and DTS core): lossless high-resolution Blu-ray tracks are carried only over HDMI.
The RCA analogue stereo output (left and right) connects the player to a conventional hi-fi amplifier for listening to CDs or film sound in two channels. The Panasonic optical pickup operates quietly, which is noticeable during quiet passages in a film as well as when listening to a disc.
Files on USB sticks, hard drives and network shares
The front USB port reads the contents of a USB stick or hard drive. The Ethernet port connects the player to the local network: the KB-200D can then access videos and music shared via DLNA by a computer or stored on a NAS, a home storage server. The player does not have Wi-Fi. If it is far from the internet router, a powerline adapter (which carries the network over the electrical wiring) avoids running a cable across the room.
KB-200 and KB-200D, the same foundation, a 3D option
The KB-200 series consists of two models. The KB-200 and KB-200D share the same chassis, Panasonic drive mechanism, MediaTek processor, connectivity and network functions. Only 3D Blu-ray playback sets them apart: without a 3D screen at home, the KB-200 does exactly the same job.
Documentation
Technical specifications
Device and controls
- Device type: Full HD Blu-ray player
- Playback mechanism: quiet Panasonic optical assembly
- Processor: MediaTek (MTK)
- Display: front-panel digital display
- Front-panel controls: eject, play / pause, on / standby
- Laser class: class 1
- Finish: black
Media and playback features
- Video discs: Blu-ray, DVD-Video, VCD
- Audio discs: CD
- Other sources: USB flash drive, hard drive, network playback
- Network playback: DLNA, NAS
- Blu-ray interactivity: BD-J (Java), BD-Live
Video and audio
- Video resolution: 1080p (Full HD)
- Dolby sound: Dolby Audio
- DTS sound:
- DTS decoding in stereo (2.0)
- Digital passthrough of the original DTS stream
Connections
- HDMI output: 1
- Analog video output: 1 composite output (yellow RCA)
- Analog audio output: 1 stereo RCA output (left / right)
- Digital audio output: 1 coaxial output
- USB port: 1 on the front panel
- Network: 1 Ethernet port (local area network, LAN)
Power supply
- Power input: DC, 12 V / 1 A, external power adapter
Dimensions
- Dimensions (W × D × H): 260 × 199 × 44.5 mm
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the KB-200D play 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs?
No. It plays Full HD Blu-rays and 3D Blu-rays, but not Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. For those, Krovatar offers a separate range of 4K players, the KBU series, starting with the KBU-300.
Can you watch a 3D Blu-ray on a non-3D TV?
The 3D effect is only visible on a 3D screen. Most Blu-ray 3D editions also include a standard 2D Blu-ray disc in the same case, which can be played on any television.
How do I connect the player to a soundbar?
If the soundbar has an HDMI input, the player connects directly to it and the soundbar passes the video to the TV. Otherwise, the player connects to the TV, which sends the sound to the soundbar via its HDMI ARC or eARC port. In this second case, the TV must support passing through the film’s audio format, particularly DTS, which some models convert or do not pass through.
Does the KB-200D connect via Wi-Fi?
No, the network connection is only via an Ethernet cable. It is used for DLNA playback, NAS access, and BD-Live bonus content.
Can the KB-200D be used as a CD player with a hi-fi system?
Yes. The RCA stereo output connects to a line input on the amplifier. If the amplifier or an external converter has a coaxial digital input, the player’s coaxial output lets it handle the signal conversion.
What HDMI cable is needed for 3D?
A High Speed HDMI cable is sufficient for both 1080p and 3D. There is no need to invest in a cable certified for 4K or 8K with this player.
Does a hard drive connected via USB need its own power supply?
A 3.5-inch desktop hard drive always requires its own power supply. Portable 2.5-inch drives draw their power from the USB port, with current draw varying by model: a drive with a separate power supply is the safest option.
- Eco-contribution included in the sale price.
- GTIN / EAN: 6979082070079
