When OPPO Digital bailed on the Blu-ray player market, plenty of people wrote the obituary for physical media. But while the streaming crowd sharpened their shovels, brands like Reavon and Magnetar kept showing up to the wake with new hardware.
Magnetar’s latest proof that Blu-ray isn’t six feet under is the MKII Series: the UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII universal media players. These aren’t warmed-over reissues — they’re precision-tuned updates built with home theater integration front and center.
Building on the original UDP900 and UDP800, the MKII models bring tangible upgrades in both engineering and performance. The refinements aren’t just cosmetic; they push feature sets, audio/video fidelity, and system control further than before. For anyone who still wants the best possible playback from discs — and doesn’t buy the “physical media is dead” sermon — Magnetar just handed you your next player.
Next-Generation Blu-ray: Magnetar UDP900MKII & UDP800MKII Universal Players
The UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII cover just about every format still in circulation — 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, SACD, plus stored and networked media — with updated video processing and audio performance designed for reference-level playback.
The proprietary Magnetar video engine has been refreshed for the MKII Series, bringing more accurate color, improved contrast, smarter noise reduction, and better upscaling. The goal is straightforward: cleaner, more consistent picture quality across all supported formats.
Audio hasn’t been ignored either. Both models use an upgraded architecture that reduces distortion, improves signal integrity, and handles high-resolution formats with greater precision.
Connectivity and integration are stronger this time around. USB 3.0 ports now include isolated power supplies and dedicated hub chips, improving compatibility and stability with external devices.
Build quality is equally deliberate: a newly engineered, sound-dampened optical drive for quieter and more accurate disc reads, a reinforced aluminum chassis with dual-layer EMI shielding, and upgraded internal wiring with copper-core conductors paired with JST/Amphenol connectors. The result is better interference resistance and more reliable connections.
Physical media may not dominate the conversation anymore, but the MKII Series makes a solid case that it’s far from obsolete.
From Rob Jones, President, Magnetar North America: “With the new MKII Series, we’ve raised the standard for universal media playback while honoring the passion of integrators and enthusiasts who continue to value physical and high-resolution media,…These players bring unmatched performance, reliability, and integration flexibility to the table, reaffirming Magnetar’s role as the go-to choice for premium home theater systems.”
UDP900MKII
The UDP900MKII sits at the top of Magnetar’s lineup as the new flagship. Its audio section is built around dual ESS 9038 PRO DACs, paired with TMDS retiming on the dedicated HDMI audio output to cut jitter and preserve fine detail.
On the digital side, advanced XMOS USB audio playback handles formats up to 768kHz PCM and DSD512, making it well-suited for high-resolution libraries without compromise. Networking has also been expanded, and the player is now prepped for Roon Ready certification, giving it stronger integration with modern streaming setups.
Recognition hasn’t been slow to follow: the UDP900MKII was recently named Best Home Theater Disc Player 2025–2026 by the EISA Awards — a reminder that, in a supposedly “dead” category, Magnetar’s flagship is still earning top honors.
UDP800MKII
The UDP800MKII is the more accessible sibling to the flagship 900MKII, but it holds its own with a strong technical package. The redesigned 2.0 audio stage uses seven OPA1602 op-amps for low-noise, high-precision output, supported by HDMI jitter correction and enhanced EMI shielding for cleaner performance.
A new sound-dampened chassis reduces vibration for quieter operation, while upgraded disc mechanics and copper wiring improve stability and long-term reliability. Like the 900MKII, networking has been refined, with support for Roon Ready certification included.
The UDP800MKII is positioned as the choice for those who want reference-level playback and integration but don’t need every flagship feature.
Pro Tip: Full specifications for both the 900MKII and 800MKII are still pending.
The Bottom Line
With support for every major disc format, hi-res codecs, Roon Ready certification, 4K UHD playback, and advanced upscaling, Magnetar’s MKII players are built for performance and long-term reliability. Their robust chassis design, upgraded wiring, and precision optical drives make them true reference-level components in a market where choices are getting thin.
For those sitting on large disc collections, the landscape really comes down to three paths: a Kaleidescape movie server system, an entry-level player like Panasonic’s DP-UB820, or a high-end universal Blu-ray player such as Magnetar’s UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII. The entry-level solution gets the job done, but the top-tier options deliver superior video, cleaner audio, and the simple fact that — unlike streaming — you actually own the movies.
Price & Availability
The Magnetar UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII are expected to ship in Q4 2025 Magnetar’s authorized dealer and distributor network. MSRP for the UDP900MKII is $3,299 and MSRP for the UDP800MKII is $1,799.
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