I’m a 4K Blu-ray disc fan, and these pricey new players are a big step-up from my bargain basement Sony

Magnetar MKII series in a luxurious-looking room

(Image credit: Magnetar)

Second-generation versions of the acclaimed UDP800 and UDP900
Designed to play virtually every physical and digital format
$1,799.99 / $3,299.99; Black Friday discounts currently live

Back in September, we reported that Magnetar was upgrading two of the best 4K Blu-ray players: the MKII versions of the UDP900 and UDP800. And now the new players are available to buy.

This is big news, because we picked the UDP800 as the best Blu-Ray player for audiophiles thanks to its SACD support and wide-ranging audio capabilities.

The new players are called the UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII respectively, and Magnetar says they're "purpose built to support virtually every physical and digital format – including 4K, UHD, Blu-ray, SACD and networked/stored media". And the new versions come with across-the-board improvements for both picture and audio quality.

Magnetar UDP900MKII 4K Blu-ray player lifestyle image — (Image credit: Magnetar)

Magnetar MKII series: key features and pricing

Both models feature a more powerful version of Magnetar's video processing engine, with improvements to color accuracy, contrast, brightness handling, noise reduction and upscaling. And their upgraded audio architecture delivers cleaner signal paths and lower distortion for more accurate reproduction of hi-res formats.

The redesigned USB 3.0 ports have isolated power supplies and dedicated hub chips for greater stability and compatibility with external devices, and the newly engineered, sound-dampened optical drive promises improved read accuracy and noise reduction. Both players are encased in a reinforced aluminium chassis with dual-layer EMI shielding.

The flagship UDP900MKII has an overhauled audio architecture built around dual ESS 9038 PRO DACs, paired with TMDS retiming on the dedicated HDMI audio output to "virtually eliminate" jitter. It supports digital formats up to 768 PCM / 512 DSD and has wider networking capabilities than before.

The UDP800MKII features seven OPA1602 op-amps, precision HDMI jitter correction, enhanced electromagnetic shielding and an upgraded chassis, while internal improvements to the disc mechanism and copper wiring deliver what Magnetar says is smoother operation, increased durability and better overall signal integrity.

The Magnetar UDP900MKII is available now from Magnetar and its distributors for a recommended retail price of $3,299.99 (around £2,500 / AU$5,000). The UDP800MKII is also available now, with an MSRP of $1,799.99. If you're quick you can save $300 and $200 respectively: Magnetar's Black Friday deals are still live.

The best 4K Blu-ray players for all budgets

➡️ Read our full guide to the best 4k Blu-ray players
1. Best overall
Panasonic DP-UB820
2. Best budget
Sony UBP-X700
3. Best premium
Panasonic DP-UB9000

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

Contributor

Writer, broadcaster, musician and kitchen gadget obsessive Carrie Marshall has been writing about tech since 1998, contributing sage advice and odd opinions to all kinds of magazines and websites as well as writing more than twenty books. Her latest, a love letter to music titled Small Town Joy, is on sale now. She is the singer in spectacularly obscure Glaswegian rock band Unquiet Mind.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.