Hong Kong electronics brand Magnetar announced a couple of new high-end 4K Blu-ray players in September, and they’re now available to buy in the U.K., Europe and the U.S.
The new models are known as the Magnetar UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII, and they’re designed to support virtually every physical and digital media form, including regular Blu-ray discs, 4K Blu-ray and SACD, as well as networked and stored media, the company said. They’re also big upgrades on the company’s older models.
Magnetar launched the UDP900 and UDP800 Blu-ray players in April 2023, and they were generally considered to be the best that money could buy, and certainly among the most modern offerings of their kind. They received rave reviews, earning praise for both their video playback and audio quality.
The MKII models build on that foundation but they come with a more powerful video processing engine that enhances everything from colour accuracy to brightness and contrast, while improving noise reduction and upscaling too. They also offer an upgraded sound system architecture that’s said to deliver a cleaner signal path and reduced distortion, ensuring more accurate reproduction of high-resolution audio formats.
Moreover, the UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII come with upgraded USB 3.0 ports that feature an isolated power supply and dedicated hub chips, which will translate to improved compatibility and stability of external devices, the company said. In addition, the optical drive has also been re-engineered with improved sound dampening capabilities, which will lead to superior noise reduction and read accuracy. The new players look the part too with their reinforced aluminium chassis featuring a dual-layer electromagnetic interference shield.
In terms of the differences, the major one is that the UDP900MKII features a superior audio architecture, with dual ESS 9038 PRO DACs. The HDMI audio outputs also have transition-minimised differential signaling that “virtually eliminates” all jitter, ensuring crystal clear sound quality, the company promised. Digital formats of up to 768 PCM/512 DSD are supported, and it also boasts broader networking functionality than the older model.
As for the UDP800MKII, this comes with seven OPA1602 op-amps, more precise HDMI jitter correction, superior EMI shielding and there is an improved optical read mechanism and copper wiring. Magnetar says this all adds up to better signal integrity with a smoother playback and audio experience.
Both of the new models support SACD playback, Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for surround sound.
Blu-ray aficionados will welcome the launch of the new models, mostly because it’s a sign that the market for physical media is not yet done and dusted. While spinning discs are no longer as popular, due to the rise of video streaming, there’s still enough demand for Magnetar to make a real effort.
The launch of the new models comes following a wake of exits. Brands including LG Electronics, Oppo, Pioneer and the French company Reavon have all quit the Blu-ray player market, citing a lack of demand. However, Magnetar, Sony and Panasonic all still sell Blu-ray players, with Sony notably launching a slightly refreshed model earlier this year.
Magnetar is going for the high-end of the market though. The UDP900MKII will cost £2,500, while the UDP800MKII will set you back around £1,350.
