Blu-ray Players / Magnetar UDP800 MKII vs Sony UBP-X700U
Magnetar UDP800 MKII vs Sony UBP-X700U
Magnetar UDP800 MKII
Plays every disc format there is, Roon Ready — but dealer-only, not on Amazon.
Wins overall by 1.8 points
Quick Verdict
A 1.8-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 UBP-X700U are both current-generation blu-ray Player models, and the Sony UBP-X700U is $1,500 cheaper than the Magnetar UDP800 MKII ($299.99 vs $1,799.99). On Build Quality, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads (9.5 vs 6.5/10) — chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish. On Features, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads (8.0 vs 5.0/10) — streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback. On Disc Format Support, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads (10.0 vs 7.5/10) — how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio. Overall, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 8.6/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.8/10 for the Sony UBP-X700U. 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 UBP-X700U |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1799.99 | $299.99 |
| 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 | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, SACD, DVD and CD. No DVD-Audio. Blu-ray 3D support differs between Sony's US and European specification sheets and is unresolved |
| HDR Formats | HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision; HLG is not confirmed | HDR10 and Dolby Vision. No HDR10+, which Sony has never supported. HLG is not listed on the US sheet |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | Yes |
| SACD Playback | Yes | Yes |
| 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 output, plus Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding to 7.1 channels |
| HDMI Outputs | 2 — separate HDMI video and HDMI audio outputs | 2 |
| 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 — one coaxial digital output only |
| Streaming Apps | None, but it is Roon Ready and supports DLNA and SMB network playback | None — Sony deliberately removed them from this generation |
| 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 | 4K upscaling up to 60p |
| Network | Ethernet only — no Wi-Fi | Ethernet only — no Wi-Fi, and the LAN port is essentially for firmware updates |
| 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 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 Sony UBP-X700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Quality
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony UBP-X700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Disc Format Support
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 7.5 — a 2.5-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 UBP-X700U 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 Sony UBP-X700U 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 Sony UBP-X700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 8.0 against 5.0 — a 3.0-point margin on streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony UBP-X700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Upscaling
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.0 — a 2.0-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 UBP-X700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Sony UBP-X700U leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.0 — a 1.5-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…
- • Build Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 9.5/10 here (chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish).
- • Features matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 8.0/10 here (streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback).
- • 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).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 8.0/10 here (HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options).
- • Upscaling matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores 9.0/10 here (how well it improves DVD and Blu-ray on a 4K display).
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 UBP-X700U
Pros
- +SACD playback and dual HDMI outputs at $300 is a genuinely strong audiophile value
- +The newest mainstream disc player on the market, and actually in production
- +Dolby Vision support, which Panasonic reserves for its more expensive models
- +Decodes Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio internally to 7.1 channels
Cons
- −No Wi-Fi, no streaming apps, no Spotify Connect and no screen mirroring — all removed from the previous generation
- −No HDR10+, so HDR10+ discs fall back to HDR10
- −No analog audio outputs
- −Sony's US and European specification sheets disagree on whether it plays Blu-ray 3D
- −In some markets it launched above the old X700's street price for fewer features
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or Sony UBP-X700U 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 Build Quality, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or the Sony UBP-X700U?+
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 Features, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or the Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores higher on Features (8.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback.
Which is better for Disc Format Support, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or the Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII scores higher on Disc Format Support (10.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII or the Sony UBP-X700U?+
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 Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Sony UBP-X700U is the cheaper option at $299.99 versus $1,799.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Build Quality.
What's the warranty on the Magnetar UDP800 MKII vs the Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII ships with a 12-month warranty; the Sony UBP-X700U 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-UB420-K — $297.99
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.