Blu-ray Players / Magnetar UDP800 MKII vs Panasonic DP-UB420-K
Magnetar UDP800 MKII vs Panasonic DP-UB420-K
Magnetar UDP800 MKII
Plays every disc format there is, Roon Ready — but dealer-only, not on Amazon.
Wins overall by 1.7 points
Quick Verdict
A 1.7-point gap makes the Magnetar UDP800 MKII the straightforward choice here. Plays every disc format there is, Roon Ready — but dealer-only, not on Amazon.
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII and Panasonic DP-UB420-K are both closely matched blu-ray Player models, and the Panasonic DP-UB420-K is $1,502 cheaper than the Magnetar UDP800 MKII ($297.99 vs $1,799.99). On Disc Format Support, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads (10.0 vs 6.0/10) — how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio. On Audio Quality, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads (9.0 vs 6.0/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. On Build Quality, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads (9.5 vs 6.5/10) — chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish. Overall, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 8.6/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.9/10 for the Panasonic DP-UB420-K. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Magnetar UDP800 MKII | Panasonic DP-UB420-K |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1799.99 | $297.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2019 |
| Disc Formats | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, AVCHD, SACD, CD and Kodak Picture CD, plus all recordable variants — the most complete disc support of any current player | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and CD. No SACD and no DVD-Audio |
| HDR Formats | HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision; HLG is not confirmed | HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. No Dolby Vision |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | No |
| SACD Playback | Yes | No |
| Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, LPCM and DSD; HDMI carries up to 7.1-channel 192kHz PCM and 5.1-channel DSD | Dolby Atmos and DTS:X bitstream over HDMI; the detailed bitstream matrix is not published |
| HDMI Outputs | 2 — separate HDMI video and HDMI audio outputs | 1 |
| Analog Outputs | Balanced stereo XLR at 4.2Vrms and stereo RCA at 2.1Vrms. No 7.1 analog — that is the UDP900's role | None — optical digital only |
| Streaming Apps | None, but it is Roon Ready and supports DLNA and SMB network playback | Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Video |
| Upscaling & Processing | Upscales Blu-ray, DVD and sub-1080p files to 4K at 50 or 60Hz; the MKII adds a revised engine with cleaner scaling and smoother gradation | HCX processor with 4K upscaling |
| Network | Ethernet only — no Wi-Fi | Both Wi-Fi 5 and Ethernet |
| Region Free | The original UDP800 was region-free for both Blu-ray and DVD without modification; MKII status is not explicitly confirmed | No — Region A and Region 1 |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, Silver | Black |
Category Scores
Picture Quality
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on disc playback quality and HDR handling. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Quality
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 9.0 against 6.0 — a 3.0-point margin on DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Disc Format Support
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 6.0 — a 4.0-point margin on how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Build Quality
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 9.5 against 6.5 — a 3.0-point margin on chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.0 — a 2.0-point margin on HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Upscaling
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.0 — a 1.0-point margin on how well it improves DVD and Blu-ray on a 4K display. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB420-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.0 — a 2.0-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Magnetar UDP800 MKII if…
- • Disc Format Support matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 10.0/10 here (how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio).
- • Audio Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 9.0/10 here (DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support).
- • Build Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 9.5/10 here (chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 8.0/10 here (HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options).
- • Your main use case is audiophile.
Choose the Panasonic DP-UB420-K if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB420-K scores 8.0/10 here (performance and features relative to price).
- • You want to spend less — it's $1,502 cheaper.
Pros & Cons
Magnetar UDP800 MKII
Pros
- +Plays literally every disc format that matters, including SACD, DVD-Audio and Blu-ray 3D
- +Roon Ready with DLNA and SMB network playback and 16TB USB HDD support
- +The original model was region-free out of the box, which no mainstream player offers
- +Genuinely serious build — sound-dampened drive, isolated USB power, high-purity copper wiring
Cons
- −Not sold on Amazon at all — Magnetar is authorised-dealer only, so there is no affiliate link available
- −No Wi-Fi and no streaming apps
- −Stereo analog only; you need the UDP900 for 7.1 analog
- −The remote is widely criticised as nearly unusable in a dark room
- −MKII region-free status is not explicitly confirmed by Magnetar
Panasonic DP-UB420-K
Pros
- +The HCX processor is the same picture engine family as Panasonic's flagship, at a third of the price
- +HDR10+ plus HLG and Wi-Fi built in
- +Plays Blu-ray 3D
- +Voice control through Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
- −No Dolby Vision, which is the main reason to step up to the DP-UB820
- −Single HDMI output with no separate audio out
- −No analog audio outputs
- −Panasonic has announced no successor and has not refreshed this line since 2019
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or Panasonic DP-UB420-K better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Disc Format Support, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or the Panasonic DP-UB420-K?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores higher on Disc Format Support (10.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio.
Which is better for Audio Quality, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or the Panasonic DP-UB420-K?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores higher on Audio Quality (9.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support.
Which is better for Build Quality, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or the Panasonic DP-UB420-K?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores higher on Build Quality (9.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or the Panasonic DP-UB420-K?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores higher on Connectivity (8.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options.
Is the Magnetar UDP800 MKII worth the price difference over the Panasonic DP-UB420-K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K is the cheaper option at $297.99 versus $1,799.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Disc Format Support.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII is the better fit if you mainly care about audiophile. The Panasonic DP-UB420-K is the better fit for 4k-uhd or home-theater.
What's the warranty on the Magnetar UDP800 MKII vs the Panasonic DP-UB420-K?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII ships with a 12-month warranty; the Panasonic DP-UB420-K ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Panasonic DP-UB150-K — $179.99
Premium Option
Magnetar UDP900 MKII — $3299.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.