Blu-ray Players / Magnetar UDP900 MKII vs Panasonic DP-UB820-K
Magnetar UDP900 MKII vs Panasonic DP-UB820-K
Magnetar UDP900 MKII
The flagship disc player — dual ESS DACs, every format, EISA award winner.
Wins overall by 0.7 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.7-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 Panasonic DP-UB820-K are both closely matched blu-ray Player models, and the Panasonic DP-UB820-K is $2,750 cheaper than the Magnetar UDP900 MKII ($549.99 vs $3,299.99). On Disc Format Support, the Magnetar UDP900 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 5.5/10) — performance and features relative to price. On Build Quality, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads (10.0 vs 7.5/10) — chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish. Overall, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 9.1/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 8.4/10 for the Panasonic DP-UB820-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 UDP900 MKII | Panasonic DP-UB820-K |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3299.99 | $549.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2018 |
| 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 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, 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 and DTS:X bitstream out, Dolby Digital and TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS-HD High Resolution |
| HDMI Outputs | 2 — including a dedicated HDMI audio output with TMDS retiming, the most thorough implementation of this feature available | 2 — one for AV and one dedicated audio-only output |
| Analog Outputs | 7.1-channel RCA, balanced stereo XLR and stereo RCA, plus optical and coaxial digital | 7.1-channel analog plus stereo analog and optical digital |
| Streaming Apps | None, but Roon Ready with USB HDD support | Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video, plus a web browser |
| Upscaling & Processing | Refreshed MKII video engine with colour, contrast and upscaling optimisation | HCX processor with 4K Direct Chroma Upscaling, 4K upscaling at 24p/25p/50p/60p, and HDR Optimizer |
| Network | Ethernet with expanded networking in the MKII; Wi-Fi is not confirmed | Both Wi-Fi 5 and Ethernet |
| Region Free | Not explicitly confirmed for the MKII | No — Region A and Region 1 as sold |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black, Silver | Black |
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 Panasonic DP-UB820-K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Quality
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 8.5 — a 1.5-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 UDP900 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 UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 7.5 — a 2.5-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 Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 9.0 — a 1.0-point margin on HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB820-K 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 UDP900 MKII does not close the gap elsewhere.
Upscaling
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII and Panasonic DP-UB820-K are level here, at 9.5/10 each. how well it improves DVD and Blu-ray on a 4K display is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Value
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K leads clearly here, 8.5 against 5.5 — a 3.0-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…
- • Disc Format Support matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP900 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 UDP900 MKII scores 10.0/10 here (chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish).
- • Audio Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 10.0/10 here (DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 10.0/10 here (HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options).
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).
- • You want to spend less — it's $2,750 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
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 UDP900 MKII or Panasonic DP-UB820-K 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 Disc Format Support, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII or the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Magnetar UDP900 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 UDP900 MKII or the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K scores higher on Value (8.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — performance and features relative to price.
Which is better for Build Quality, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII or the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores higher on Build Quality (10.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish.
Which is better for Audio Quality, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII or the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores higher on Audio Quality (10.0/10 vs 8.5/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support.
Is the Magnetar UDP900 MKII worth the price difference over the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Panasonic DP-UB820-K is the cheaper option at $549.99 versus $3,299.99. 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 UDP900 MKII is the better fit if you mainly care about audiophile or home-theater. The Panasonic DP-UB820-K is the better fit for 4k-uhd.
What's the warranty on the Magnetar UDP900 MKII vs the Panasonic DP-UB820-K?+
The Magnetar UDP900 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
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.