The pair of UHD Blu-ray players, UDP800MKII and UDP900MKII, are universal video and music players designed to appeal to discerning buyers.
Shortly after French Reavon threw in the towel and stopped making high-end UHD Blu-ray players entirely, Hong Kong-based Magnetar is introducing two updated models at CEDIA Expo 2025.
The UDP800MKII and UDP900MKII succeed the existing UDP800 and UDP900. They remain universal players with support for everything from UHD Blu-ray and 3D Blu-ray to DVD, and from SACD and CD to network media.
Changes on the inside
The mark two players look like their predecessors but include internal improvements, such as an improved sound-dampened optical drive housed in an aluminum chassis with enhanced EMI shielding.
According to Magnetar, the video processing engine offers better noise reduction and upscaling. UDP900MKII features USB 3.0 ports that support up to 768kHz PCM and DSD512 audio playback. Both models are now also Roon Ready.
One of the main differences remains that the UDP900MKII features 7.1 analog outputs (with a dedicated 60W toroidal power transformer). The players also have dual HDMI ports. Both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are supported, along with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Magnetar UDP800MKII (left) and UDP900MKII (right). Photo: Magnetar
High-end price tags
The two new UHD Blu-ray players from Magnetar are designed for universal disc playback of both video and audio, targeting enthusiasts who still collect physical media.
Besides Magnetar, Panasonic and Sony continue to offer UHD Blu-ray players. Oppo, Samsung and most recently LG have exited the market. Panasonic and Sony focus mainly on more affordable players, though Panasonic also offers the high-end DP-UB9000.
Magnetar's UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII players will begin shipping in Q4 2025 with suggested retail prices of $3300 and $1800.
- Source: AVNirvana, AudioXpress
