Blu-ray Players / Magnetar UDP800 MKII vs Panasonic DP-UB820-K
Magnetar UDP800 MKII vs Panasonic DP-UB820-K
Magnetar UDP800 MKII
Plays every disc format there is, Roon Ready — but dealer-only, not on Amazon.
Wins overall by 0.2 points
Quick Verdict
This is close. The Magnetar UDP800 MKII edges ahead by 0.2 points, but that margin is inside the noise — the Panasonic DP-UB820-K is a defensible pick on its own terms. Both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, plus HDR Optimizer — the enthusiast default.
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII and Panasonic DP-UB820-K are both closely matched blu-ray Player models, and the Panasonic DP-UB820-K is $1,250 cheaper than the Magnetar UDP800 MKII ($549.99 vs $1,799.99). On Disc Format Support, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads (10.0 vs 7.0/10) — how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio. On Value, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads (8.5 vs 6.0/10) — performance and features relative to price. On Build Quality, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads (9.5 vs 7.5/10) — chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish. Overall, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 8.6/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 8.4/10 for the Panasonic DP-UB820-K, though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. 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-UB820-K |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1799.99 | $549.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2018 |
| 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+, Dolby Vision and HLG — all four |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | Yes |
| 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 out, Dolby Digital and TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS-HD High Resolution |
| HDMI Outputs | 2 — separate HDMI video and HDMI audio outputs | 2 — one for AV and one dedicated audio-only output |
| Analog Outputs | Balanced stereo XLR at 4.2Vrms and stereo RCA at 2.1Vrms. No 7.1 analog — that is the UDP900's role | 7.1-channel analog plus stereo analog and optical digital |
| Streaming Apps | None, but it is Roon Ready and supports DLNA and SMB network playback | Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video, plus a web browser |
| 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 Direct Chroma Upscaling, 4K upscaling at 24p/25p/50p/60p, and HDR Optimizer |
| 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 as sold |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, Silver | Black |
Category Scores
Picture Quality
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII and Panasonic DP-UB820-K are level here, at 9.0/10 each. disc playback quality and HDR handling is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Audio Quality
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Disc Format Support
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 7.0 — a 3.0-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-UB820-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Build Quality
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.5 — a 2.0-point margin on chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.0 — a 1.0-point margin on HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options. If that is what you are buying for, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback. If that is what you are buying for, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII does not close the gap elsewhere.
Upscaling
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 9.5 against 9.0 — a 0.5-point margin on how well it improves DVD and Blu-ray on a 4K display. If that is what you are buying for, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.0 — a 2.5-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).
- • Build Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 9.5/10 here (chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish).
- • Audio Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 9.0/10 here (DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support).
Choose the Panasonic DP-UB820-K if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores 8.5/10 here (performance and features relative to price).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores 9.0/10 here (HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options).
- • You want to spend less — it's $1,250 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-UB820-K
Pros
- +The only player near this price that supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ — Sony never does HDR10+
- +HDR Optimizer lets you tune tone mapping to your display, which matters enormously for projectors
- +A dedicated audio-only HDMI output plus full 7.1 analog outputs
- +Best-regarded video processing in the category
Cons
- −The user interface is dated and slow by current standards
- −No SACD or DVD-Audio playback
- −2018 hardware with no successor announced
- −Panasonic's own US store currently lists it as sold out, so this is late-life supply rather than fresh production
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or Panasonic DP-UB820-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-UB820-K?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores higher on Disc Format Support (10.0/10 vs 7.0/10) — how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio.
Which is better for Value, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores higher on Value (8.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — performance and features relative to price.
Which is better for Build Quality, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores higher on Build Quality (9.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores higher on Connectivity (9.0/10 vs 8.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options.
Is the Magnetar UDP800 MKII worth the price difference over the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K is the cheaper option at $549.99 versus $1,799.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Disc Format Support.
What's the warranty on the Magnetar UDP800 MKII vs the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII ships with a 12-month warranty; the Panasonic DP-UB820-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
Sony UBP-X700U — $299.99
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.