Blu-ray Players / Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K vs Magnetar UDP900 MKII
Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K vs Magnetar UDP900 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 Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K and Magnetar UDP900 MKII are both closely matched blu-ray Player models, and the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K is $2,100 cheaper than the Magnetar UDP900 MKII ($1,199.99 vs $3,299.99). On Disc Format Support, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads (10.0 vs 6.5/10) — how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio. On Value, the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K leads (6.5 vs 5.5/10) — performance and features relative to price. 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 Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K | Magnetar UDP900 MKII |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1199.99 | $3299.99 |
| Release Year | 2019 | 2025 |
| Disc Formats | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD and CD. No SACD. DVD-Audio and Blu-ray 3D support are not explicitly confirmed by Panasonic for this model | 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, AVCHD, SACD and CD, plus recordable variants |
| HDR Formats | HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG | HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision; HLG is not confirmed |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | Yes |
| SACD Playback | No | Yes |
| Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio bitstream | 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 |
| HDMI Outputs | 2 — one AV and one dedicated audio-only output | 2 — including a dedicated HDMI audio output with TMDS retiming, the most thorough implementation of this feature available |
| Analog Outputs | 7.1-channel RCA, balanced stereo XLR and stereo RCA, plus optical and coaxial digital | 7.1-channel RCA, balanced stereo XLR and stereo RCA, plus optical and coaxial digital |
| Streaming Apps | Yes, including Netflix with surround sound | None, but Roon Ready with USB HDD support |
| Upscaling & Processing | HCX processor with 4K upscaling and HDR Optimizer | Refreshed MKII video engine with colour, contrast and upscaling optimisation |
| Network | Both Wi-Fi and Ethernet | Ethernet with expanded networking in the MKII; Wi-Fi is not confirmed |
| Region Free | No — explicitly not region free | Not explicitly confirmed for the MKII |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | 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 Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Quality
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 9.5 — a 0.5-point margin on DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Disc Format Support
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII leads clearly here, 10.0 against 6.5 — a 3.5-point margin on how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio. If that is what you are buying for, the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K does not close the gap elsewhere.
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 Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII is marginally ahead, 10.0 to 9.8. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if HDMI outputs, analog outputs and network options is your priority.
Features
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K 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 Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K and Magnetar UDP900 MKII 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-UB9000P1K leads clearly here, 6.5 against 5.5 — a 1.0-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 Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K scores 6.5/10 here (performance and features relative to price).
- • You want to spend less — it's $2,100 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is 4k-uhd.
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).
- • Picture Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 9.5/10 here (disc playback quality and HDR handling).
- • Audio Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 10.0/10 here (DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support).
- • Build Quality matters most to you — the Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores 10.0/10 here (chassis rigidity, drive mechanism and finish).
Pros & Cons
Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K
Pros
- +Balanced XLR outputs and 7.1 analog make it the most connectable player you can buy on Amazon
- +THX Certified with a genuinely rigid aluminium and steel chassis
- +ESS 32-bit/768kHz DAC and a serious audio section
- +Same excellent HDR Optimizer and dual-format HDR as the UB820
Cons
- −Its video performance is close to identical to the UB820 at more than double the price — you are paying for the audio section and chassis
- −Availability is the real risk: sold out on Panasonic's US store and out of stock at major retailers
- −No SACD
- −Two Amazon listings exist for this model and it is unclear which is canonical
- −Cannot cast from Android
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
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K or Magnetar UDP900 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 Disc Format Support, the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K or the Magnetar UDP900 MKII?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores higher on Disc Format Support (10.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — how many disc formats it actually plays, including SACD and DVD-Audio.
Which is better for Value, the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K or the Magnetar UDP900 MKII?+
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K scores higher on Value (6.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — performance and features relative to price.
Which is better for Picture Quality, the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K or the Magnetar UDP900 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 Audio Quality, the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K or the Magnetar UDP900 MKII?+
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII scores higher on Audio Quality (10.0/10 vs 9.5/10) — DAC quality, analog output stage and bitstream support.
Is the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K worth the price difference over the Magnetar UDP900 MKII?+
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K is the cheaper option at $1,199.99 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 Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K is the better fit if you mainly care about 4k-uhd. The Magnetar UDP900 MKII is the better fit for audiophile or home-theater.
What's the warranty on the Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K vs the Magnetar UDP900 MKII?+
The Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K ships with a 12-month warranty; the Magnetar UDP900 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-UB820-K — $549.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.