Blu-ray Players / Magnetar UDP900 MKII vs Magnetar UDP800 MKII
Magnetar UDP900 MKII vs Magnetar UDP800 MKII
Magnetar UDP900 MKII
The flagship disc player — dual ESS DACs, every format, EISA award winner.
Wins overall by 0.5 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.5-point gap makes the Magnetar UDP900 MKII the straightforward choice here. The flagship disc player — dual ESS DACs, every format, EISA award winner.
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII and Magnetar UDP800 MKII are both current-generation blu-ray Player models, and the Magnetar UDP800 MKII is $1,500 cheaper than the Magnetar UDP900 MKII ($1,799.99 vs $3,299.99). On Connectivity, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads (10.0 vs 8.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options. On Audio Quality, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads (10.0 vs 9.0/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. On Picture Quality, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads (9.5 vs 9.0/10) — disc playback quality and HDR handling. Overall, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 9.1/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 8.6/10 for the Magnetar UDP800 MKII. 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 UDP900 MKII | Magnetar UDP800 MKII |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3299.99 | $1799.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2025 |
| Disc Formats | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, AVCHD, SACD and CD, plus recordable variants | 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 |
| HDR Formats | HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision; HLG is not confirmed | HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision; HLG is not confirmed |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | Yes |
| SACD Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, LPCM, DVD-Audio, SACD and Blu-ray Audio; HDMI audio to 7.1-channel 192kHz PCM and 5.1-channel DSD; USB to 768kHz PCM and DSD512 | 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 |
| HDMI Outputs | 2 — including a dedicated HDMI audio output with TMDS retiming, the most thorough implementation of this feature available | 2 — separate HDMI video and HDMI audio outputs |
| Analog Outputs | 7.1-channel RCA, balanced stereo XLR and stereo RCA, plus optical and coaxial digital | Balanced stereo XLR at 4.2Vrms and stereo RCA at 2.1Vrms. No 7.1 analog — that is the UDP900's role |
| Streaming Apps | None, but Roon Ready with USB HDD support | None, but it is Roon Ready and supports DLNA and SMB network playback |
| Upscaling & Processing | Refreshed MKII video engine with colour, contrast and upscaling optimisation | 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 |
| Network | Ethernet with expanded networking in the MKII; Wi-Fi is not confirmed | Ethernet only — no Wi-Fi |
| Region Free | Not explicitly confirmed for the MKII | The original UDP800 was region-free for both Blu-ray and DVD without modification; MKII status is not explicitly confirmed |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, Silver | Black, Silver |
Category Scores
Picture Quality
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 9.5 against 9.0 — a 0.5-point margin on disc playback quality and HDR handling. If that is what you are buying for, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Quality
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 9.0 — a 1.0-point margin on DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. If that is what you are buying for, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII does not close the gap elsewhere.
Disc Format Support
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII and Magnetar UDP800 MKII are level here, at 10.0/10 each. how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Build Quality
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 9.5 — a 0.5-point margin on chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish. If that is what you are buying for, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 8.0 — a 2.0-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 Magnetar UDP900 MKII and Magnetar UDP800 MKII are level here, at 8.0/10 each. streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Upscaling
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII 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 Magnetar UDP800 MKII leads clearly here, 6.0 against 5.5 — a 0.5-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Magnetar UDP900 MKII if…
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 10.0/10 here (HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options).
- • Audio Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 10.0/10 here (DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support).
- • Picture Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 9.5/10 here (disc playback quality and HDR handling).
- • Build Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 10.0/10 here (chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish).
- • Upscaling matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 9.5/10 here (how well it improves DVD and Blu-ray on a 4K display).
Choose the Magnetar UDP800 MKII if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $1,500 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is 4k-uhd.
Pros & Cons
Magnetar UDP900 MKII
Pros
- +Dual ESS 9038 PRO DACs and 130dB signal-to-noise over XLR — the best measured audio of any disc player
- +TMDS retiming on the dedicated audio HDMI output genuinely addresses jitter, not just marketing
- +Complete disc format support including SACD and DVD-Audio
- +EISA Award for Best Home Theater Disc Player 2025-2026, and a 34lb chassis that explains why
Cons
- −Not sold on Amazon — Magnetar distributes through authorised dealers only, so there is no affiliate link
- −$3,299 is more than most people spend on the TV it feeds
- −No streaming apps and no confirmed Wi-Fi
- −34lb means it needs a serious shelf
- −Region-free status is not confirmed for the MKII
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
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Magnetar UDP900 MKII or Magnetar UDP800 MKII better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Magnetar UDP900 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 Connectivity, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII or the Magnetar UDP800 MKII?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores higher on Connectivity (10.0/10 vs 8.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options.
Which is better for Audio Quality, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII or the Magnetar UDP800 MKII?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores higher on Audio Quality (10.0/10 vs 9.0/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support.
Which is better for Picture Quality, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII or the Magnetar UDP800 MKII?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores higher on Picture Quality (9.5/10 vs 9.0/10) — disc playback quality and HDR handling.
Which is better for Build Quality, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII or the Magnetar UDP800 MKII?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores higher on Build Quality (10.0/10 vs 9.5/10) — chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish.
Is the Magnetar UDP900 MKII worth the price difference over the Magnetar UDP800 MKII?+
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII is the cheaper option at $1,799.99 versus $3,299.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Connectivity.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII is the better fit if you mainly care about audiophile or home-theater. The Magnetar UDP800 MKII is the better fit for 4k-uhd.
What's the warranty on the Magnetar UDP900 MKII vs the Magnetar UDP800 MKII?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII ships with a 12-month warranty; the Magnetar UDP800 MKII 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-UB9000P1K — $1199.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.