Blu-ray Players / Magnetar UDP800 MKII vs Sony BDP-S1700U
Magnetar UDP800 MKII vs Sony BDP-S1700U
Magnetar UDP800 MKII
Plays every disc format there is, Roon Ready — but dealer-only, not on Amazon.
Wins overall by 3.2 points
Quick Verdict
A 3.2-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 Sony BDP-S1700U are both current-generation blu-ray Player models, and the Sony BDP-S1700U is $1,685 cheaper than the Magnetar UDP800 MKII ($114.99 vs $1,799.99). On Disc Format Support, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads (10.0 vs 4.0/10) — how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio. On Audio Quality, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads (9.0 vs 5.0/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. On Connectivity, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads (8.0 vs 4.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options. Overall, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 8.6/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 5.4/10 for the Sony BDP-S1700U. 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 | Sony BDP-S1700U |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1799.99 | $114.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2025 |
| 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 | Blu-ray, DVD, VCD and CD, plus recordable variants. No 4K UHD Blu-ray and no SACD |
| HDR Formats | HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision; HLG is not confirmed | None — this is a 1080p SDR player |
| 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 TrueHD and DTS lossless support; Atmos and DTS:X passthrough is not confirmed |
| 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 — coaxial digital audio only |
| Streaming Apps | None, but it is Roon Ready and supports DLNA and SMB network playback | Wired streaming apps are present, but Sony does not publish the app list |
| 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 | DVD upscaling to near-1080p |
| Network | Ethernet only — no Wi-Fi | Ethernet only — no Wi-Fi |
| Region Free | The original UDP800 was region-free for both Blu-ray and DVD without modification; MKII status is not explicitly confirmed | No — Blu-ray Region A and DVD Region 1 as sold |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, Silver | Black |
Category Scores
Picture Quality
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 9.0 against 5.5 — a 3.5-point margin on disc playback quality and HDR handling. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Quality
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 9.0 against 5.0 — a 4.0-point margin on DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Disc Format Support
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 4.0 — a 6.0-point margin on how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Build Quality
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 9.5 against 6.0 — a 3.5-point margin on chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 8.0 against 4.0 — a 4.0-point margin on HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 8.0 against 4.5 — a 3.5-point margin on streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Upscaling
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 9.0 against 6.0 — a 3.0-point margin on how well it improves DVD and Blu-ray on a 4K display. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Sony BDP-S1700U 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).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 8.0/10 here (HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options).
- • Picture Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 9.0/10 here (disc playback quality and HDR handling).
- • Build Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 9.5/10 here (chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish).
Choose the Sony BDP-S1700U if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $1,685 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is budget.
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
Sony BDP-S1700U
Pros
- +The cheapest way to play discs from a brand that still supports its hardware
- +Boots in under a second, which sounds trivial until you use a slow player
- +Genuinely tiny and draws almost no power
- +Replaced both the BDP-S3700 and the old UBP-X700 in Sony's line
Cons
- −1080p only — no 4K UHD Blu-ray support at all
- −No Wi-Fi, so streaming needs a cable
- −Single HDMI output with no separate audio out
- −No SACD or DVD-Audio
- −Sony does not publish which streaming apps are included
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or Sony BDP-S1700U 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 Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores higher on Disc Format Support (10.0/10 vs 4.0/10) — how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio.
Which is better for Audio Quality, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores higher on Audio Quality (9.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores higher on Connectivity (8.0/10 vs 4.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options.
Which is better for Picture Quality, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores higher on Picture Quality (9.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — disc playback quality and HDR handling.
Is the Magnetar UDP800 MKII worth the price difference over the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Sony BDP-S1700U is the cheaper option at $114.99 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 or home-theater. The Sony BDP-S1700U is the better fit for budget.
What's the warranty on the Magnetar UDP800 MKII vs the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII ships with a 12-month warranty; the Sony BDP-S1700U 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.
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.