Blu-ray Players / Magnetar UDP900 MKII vs Sony BDP-S1700U
Magnetar UDP900 MKII vs Sony BDP-S1700U
Magnetar UDP900 MKII
The flagship disc player — dual ESS DACs, every format, EISA award winner.
Wins overall by 3.7 points
Quick Verdict
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII takes this by a clear 3.7 points. The flagship disc player — dual ESS DACs, every format, EISA award winner. The Sony BDP-S1700U only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII and Sony BDP-S1700U are both current-generation blu-ray Player models, and the Sony BDP-S1700U is $3,185 cheaper than the Magnetar UDP900 MKII ($114.99 vs $3,299.99). On Disc Format Support, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads (10.0 vs 4.0/10) — how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio. On Connectivity, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads (10.0 vs 4.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options. On Audio Quality, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads (10.0 vs 5.0/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. Overall, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 9.1/10 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 UDP900 MKII | Sony BDP-S1700U |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3299.99 | $114.99 |
| 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 | 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, 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 TrueHD and DTS lossless support; Atmos and DTS:X passthrough is not confirmed |
| HDMI Outputs | 2 — including a dedicated HDMI audio output with TMDS retiming, the most thorough implementation of this feature available | 1 |
| Analog Outputs | 7.1-channel RCA, balanced stereo XLR and stereo RCA, plus optical and coaxial digital | None — coaxial digital audio only |
| Streaming Apps | None, but Roon Ready with USB HDD support | Wired streaming apps are present, but Sony does not publish the app list |
| Upscaling & Processing | Refreshed MKII video engine with colour, contrast and upscaling optimisation | DVD upscaling to near-1080p |
| 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 | 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 UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 9.5 against 5.5 — a 4.0-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 UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 5.0 — a 5.0-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 UDP900 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 UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 6.0 — a 4.0-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 UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 4.0 — a 6.0-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 UDP900 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 UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 9.5 against 6.0 — a 3.5-point margin on how well it improves DVD and Blu-ray on a 4K display. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BDP-S1700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Sony BDP-S1700U leads clearly here, 8.0 against 5.5 — a 2.5-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…
- • 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).
- • 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).
Choose the Sony BDP-S1700U if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $3,185 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is budget.
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
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 UDP900 MKII or Sony BDP-S1700U 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 Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Magnetar UDP900 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 Connectivity, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII or the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores higher on Connectivity (10.0/10 vs 4.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options.
Which is better for Audio Quality, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII or the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores higher on Audio Quality (10.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support.
Which is better for Picture Quality, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII or the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores higher on Picture Quality (9.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — disc playback quality and HDR handling.
Is the Magnetar UDP900 MKII worth the price difference over the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Sony BDP-S1700U is the cheaper option at $114.99 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 Sony BDP-S1700U is the better fit for budget.
What's the warranty on the Magnetar UDP900 MKII vs the Sony BDP-S1700U?+
The Magnetar UDP900 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.
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.