Blu-ray Players / Magnetar UDP900 MKII vs Sony UBP-X700U
Magnetar UDP900 MKII vs Sony UBP-X700U
Magnetar UDP900 MKII
The flagship disc player — dual ESS DACs, every format, EISA award winner.
Wins overall by 2.3 points
Quick Verdict
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII takes this by a clear 2.3 points. The flagship disc player — dual ESS DACs, every format, EISA award winner. The Sony UBP-X700U only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII and Sony UBP-X700U are both current-generation blu-ray Player models, and the Sony UBP-X700U is $3,000 cheaper than the Magnetar UDP900 MKII ($299.99 vs $3,299.99). On Connectivity, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads (10.0 vs 6.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options. On Build Quality, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads (10.0 vs 6.5/10) — chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish. On Features, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads (8.0 vs 5.0/10) — streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback. Overall, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 9.1/10 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 UDP900 MKII | Sony UBP-X700U |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3299.99 | $299.99 |
| 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, 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, 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 output, plus Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding to 7.1 channels |
| HDMI Outputs | 2 — including a dedicated HDMI audio output with TMDS retiming, the most thorough implementation of this feature available | 2 |
| Analog Outputs | 7.1-channel RCA, balanced stereo XLR and stereo RCA, plus optical and coaxial digital | None — one coaxial digital output only |
| Streaming Apps | None, but Roon Ready with USB HDD support | None — Sony deliberately removed them from this generation |
| Upscaling & Processing | Refreshed MKII video engine with colour, contrast and upscaling optimisation | 4K upscaling up to 60p |
| Network | Ethernet with expanded networking in the MKII; Wi-Fi is not confirmed | Ethernet only — no Wi-Fi, and the LAN port is essentially for firmware updates |
| 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 7.5 — a 2.0-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 UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 7.5 — a 2.5-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 UDP900 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 UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 6.5 — a 3.5-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 UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 6.0 — a 4.0-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 UDP900 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 UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.0 — a 2.5-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 UBP-X700U does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Sony UBP-X700U leads clearly here, 7.5 against 5.5 — a 2.0-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…
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 10.0/10 here (HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options).
- • Build Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 10.0/10 here (chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish).
- • Features matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 8.0/10 here (streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback).
- • Audio Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 10.0/10 here (DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support).
- • 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).
Choose the Sony UBP-X700U if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $3,000 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
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 UDP900 MKII or Sony UBP-X700U 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 Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores higher on Connectivity (10.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options.
Which is better for Build Quality, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII or the Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores higher on Build Quality (10.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish.
Which is better for Features, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII or the Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores higher on Features (8.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — streaming apps, tone mapping controls and network playback.
Which is better for Audio Quality, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII or the Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores higher on Audio Quality (10.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support.
Is the Magnetar UDP900 MKII worth the price difference over the Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Sony UBP-X700U is the cheaper option at $299.99 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 Sony UBP-X700U is the better fit for 4k-uhd.
What's the warranty on the Magnetar UDP900 MKII vs the Sony UBP-X700U?+
The Magnetar UDP900 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
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.