Magnetar UDP900 MKII Review – Reference-Class Performance for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Super Audio CD and High-end Stereo Playback

In many parts of the consumer market, physical media has long since been pushed aside by streaming. In serious home cinema and dedicated HiFi systems, however, discs continue to hold a very different status. Carefully curated film libraries, concert recordings worth revisiting, and music collections built around CD, DVD-Audio or Super Audio CD are not viewed here as relics from a former era, but as media with enduring value. That is precisely why a truly capable universal disc player still matters. It is not simply a transport. It can be the central source component in a system, the gateway to an archive, and the anchor point in a setup built around quality rather than convenience alone.

The real challenge today is not explaining why such a device can still be relevant. The challenge is finding one that fulfils the promise properly. Magnetar Technology Co. Ltd. belongs to the small number of manufacturers still taking this category seriously, and the Magnetar UDP900 MKII makes that ambition abundantly clear. This is a product designed not just to play 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray at a high level, but to serve as a genuinely premium source across a wide spectrum of video and audio applications.

Key Facts

• Universal Disc Player for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, AVCHD, Super Audio CD and CD
• completely newly developed audio section with two ESS9038PRO DACs
• analogue stereo outputs via Cinch and balanced XLR
• 7.1 Cinch outputs for analogue multichannel applications
• dedicated HDMI audio output with TMDS re-timing
• XMOS USB Audio with support for Linear PCM up to 32 Bit and 768 kHz as well as DSD512
• revised USB 3.0 system with isolated power supply and additional hub chip
• high-quality internal copper cabling as well as upgraded JST and Amphenol connections
• Roon Ready certification
• Control4 support, Crestron support and Wake-up on LAN
• Price: € 3.790,00

More than a conventional universal player

The Magnetar UDP900 MKII enters the stage with a very clear sense of purpose. It does not present itself as a disc player that happens to support a wide list of formats, but as a component meant to excel in several roles at once. It is expected to reproduce 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray movies with authority, handle concert Blu-rays and legacy music formats with equal confidence, and also integrate high-resolution audio via USB and network playback in a way that feels fully considered rather than merely added for specification value.

This broader ambition is what defines the product. It is built for users who do not want a separate answer to every task, but one machine that can credibly serve as a premium video source and a genuine HiFi source at the same time. In that respect, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII is not merely an updated version of its predecessor. It positions itself as a more complete and more mature interpretation of the concept.

A universal disc player with genuine high-end intent

It takes very little time with the Magnetar UDP900 MKII to understand that it has been conceived as more than a refined video player. Yes, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray playback sits at the centre of its mission, and support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and modern HDMI integration makes it immediately relevant for ambitious home cinema use. But the truly distinctive aspect of this machine lies in how clearly Magnetar treats it as a serious audio source as well.

That matters because the audience for such a product is increasingly underserved. There are still enthusiasts who maintain both film libraries and music libraries on physical media, who care about CD and Super Audio CD playback, who want to connect high-resolution USB sources, and who also expect network-based media playback to be part of the package. Few products are built to address all of that without compromise. The Magnetar UDP900 MKII aims to be exactly that kind of device.

Design and build quality

Visually, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII behaves like a true high-end component. Its appearance is substantial, purposeful and free of decorative theatrics. At 445 x 321 x 133 mm and 15,4 kg, it immediately conveys that this is a machine built around mechanical stability, low resonance and long-term substance. The aluminium chassis with double shielding reinforces that impression and underlines that Magnetar has approached the player as a serious engineering project rather than a lifestyle product.

More interesting still is the fact that this attention to detail does not stop at the enclosure. Magnetar has also invested in the internal signal path, using high-quality copper wiring and upgraded PCB connections based on components from JST and Amphenol. On paper, those may look like minor refinements. In a product of this class, however, they are precisely the kind of details that separate a merely expensive player from one that feels convincingly thought through. Stability, signal integrity and reliability are not treated as side notes here. They are part of the design philosophy.

Technology in focus

At the heart of the Magnetar UDP900 MKII sits a fully reworked audio section built around two ESS9038PRO DACs. This single fact already lifts the player above a large portion of the universal-disc market. The ESS9038PRO is a DAC platform associated with high-end ambitions, and Magnetar uses it not as a marketing badge, but as the foundation for a player clearly intended to perform far beyond basic disc transport duties.

For analogue integration, the player offers 2-channel Cinch outputs, balanced XLR outputs and full 7.1 Cinch connections. That alone reveals a lot about the intended use case. This is not simply a device for sending everything via HDMI to an AV receiver. It is also meant to serve directly as a premium source in high-quality stereo systems and analogue multichannel environments.

On the digital side, the specification remains just as ambitious. The dedicated HDMI audio output uses TMDS re-timing in order to improve signal integrity and reduce jitter. XMOS USB Audio support extends compatibility to Linear PCM up to 32 Bit and 768 kHz as well as DSD512. This gives the player real relevance for users who want more than disc playback and see it as part of a wider digital-audio ecosystem.

Advanced image and audio processing technology

Magnetar makes a strong point of the UDP900 MKII’s evolved image and audio processing, and that claim proves meaningful in practical use. The player does not feel like a product assembled around a long feature list. It feels like a system whose drive, video engine, audio circuitry and output architecture have been tuned to work as a coherent whole.

That becomes especially apparent with demanding material. Modern blockbuster productions with fast edits, intense contrast changes, dense visual effects and large-scale sound design expose weaknesses very quickly in lesser players. Here, the Magnetar remains composed. The benefit is not merely sharpness or formal compatibility with the latest picture standards. It is the way the entire presentation remains stable and believable, the way dynamics are handled without nervousness, and the way complex audiovisual information stays organised rather than becoming strained or artificially heightened.

Exceptional audio-visual experience

In video playback, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII delivers a refined, calm and highly resolved picture. Well-authored Blu-rays and particularly 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays benefit from a presentation that feels stable and well balanced. Colours appear nuanced rather than exaggerated, contrast is cleanly rendered, and fine detail remains intact without the image tipping into a processed or over-sharpened character.

The audio side is even more distinctive. The combination of a fully redesigned audio platform, two ESS9038PRO DACs, a substantial analogue stage, XMOS USB Audio support and TMDS re-timing on the HDMI audio output results in a presentation that sounds composed, precise and fully grown-up. What matters here is not just technical ambition on a specification sheet, but the fact that those technical decisions become audible in practice. The UDP900 MKII does not merely suggest quality. It demonstrates it.

Versatile compatibility

One of the strongest arguments in favour of the Magnetar UDP900 MKII is its breadth of compatibility. That begins with the wide support for optical disc formats, but it extends much further. Magnetar has revised the USB 3.0 architecture, added an extra hub chip and redesigned the USB power supply with isolated delivery. The goal is not theoretical complexity for its own sake, but improved compatibility with USB storage devices, greater transmission stability and more dependable real-world performance.

That matters because the buyer of a universal player in this segment expects far more than reliable disc reading. External drives, archived media files and mixed-source libraries are all part of modern use. The Magnetar UDP900 MKII embraces that reality. It is not a nostalgia machine built only for silver discs. It is a contemporary source component capable of handling different media paths in a manner that feels credible and practical.

USB Audio and digital flexibility

The upgraded USB Audio section deserves special attention. Support now extends to Linear PCM up to 32 Bit and 768 kHz as well as DSD512, which pushes the player well beyond the boundaries of the classic universal disc player role. Anyone wishing to integrate high-resolution audio files into a premium system will find that the Magnetar offers a platform that is clearly aligned with modern expectations.

Equally important is the way Magnetar has approached implementation. The revised USB 3.0 structure, isolated power supply and additional hub chip are intended to improve compatibility, stability and data integrity. That may sound technical, but the practical consequence is easy to understand: high-resolution music and video files demand dependable transfer conditions if a player of this calibre is to reveal its strengths consistently. In day-to-day use, that engineering effort makes sense.

Roon Ready and system integration

The Magnetar UDP900 MKII is certified as Roon Ready, which is especially relevant for users who organise music playback in a structured, cross-platform environment rather than relying on ad hoc network playback alone. Roon allows bit-perfect audio delivery, sophisticated library management and elegant multi-device integration. The fact that the UDP900 MKII can become part of such an ecosystem without awkward workarounds adds substantially to its appeal as a modern audio source.

Magnetar also supports Control4, Crestron and Wake-up on LAN. That opens the door to more advanced installations in which image quality and sound quality are only part of the equation. Clean integration into an existing control environment matters greatly in custom installations and luxury home cinema setups, and the UDP900 MKII shows that it has been developed with this context in mind.

Connectivity and supported formats

The Magnetar UDP900 MKII covers almost the entire classic spectrum of premium optical media. Supported formats include 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, AVCHD, Super Audio CD, CD, Kodak Picture CD, CD-R/RW, DVD±R/RW, DVD±R DL and BD-R/RE. On the analogue side, it offers 7.1 Cinch, 2-channel Cinch and balanced XLR outputs. Digital connectivity includes S/PDIF optical, S/PDIF coaxial and HDMI. Via HDMI Audio, the player supports up to 7.1-channel Linear PCM at 192 kHz, up to 5.1-channel DSD and Bitstream.

Test environment and real-world use

For this review, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII was evaluated in a setup designed to reflect both premium home cinema use and serious two-channel HiFi listening. Video duties were handled via a Samsung 77 Zoll OLED, while film playback was complemented by a Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX. To assess the player’s quality as a music source, it was also integrated into a dedicated stereo system consisting of a Musical Fidelity M8xi Integrated Amplifier and a pair of KEF Blade loudspeakers.

The range of media used during the test was deliberately broad. Conventional audio CDs were part of the programme, but so were K2HD CDs, DVD-Audio titles and numerous Super Audio CDs. Unsurprisingly, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray also played a central role, not only with feature films but especially with concert recordings. Those are particularly revealing because they place simultaneous demands on image stability, fine detail retrieval, dynamic range, spatial layering and the clean organisation of complex sonic events.

In addition, the player also had to prove itself in network playback. It was therefore not limited to functioning as a transport for physical media, but also served as a source for video files streamed directly from a central NAS via its UPnP server. That is an essential discipline in daily use, because a modern universal player is expected to do more than simply read a disc.

Operation and everyday usability

During the review period, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII impressed with very dependable operation. The user interface is sensibly structured, and the operating logic often feels intuitive and self-explanatory. That is already noticeable during initial setup and remains true in daily use. This should not be underestimated, because universal disc players can easily become awkward through sheer feature density. The Magnetar takes a far more agreeable route and offers extensive functionality without burdening the user with unnecessary complication.

In everyday use, the platform feels mature. Menu structures are coherent, command execution is reliable, and the overall impression is one of consistency rather than occasional brilliance. Network playback via UPnP also proved stable in the test, with content from the NAS reproduced cleanly and without drama. That contributes strongly to the sense that the UDP900 MKII is a thoroughly finished product.

A feature set shaped by clear priorities

The Magnetar UDP900 MKII is very deliberately not designed as an all-purpose streaming hub for the living room. Integrated streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV are absent altogether. Formally, that can be viewed as a limitation. In practice, however, it matters far less than one might initially assume. Most current televisions handle these services directly, comfortably and in a far more regularly updated manner, so a specialised universal disc player does not necessarily benefit from duplicating that task and inheriting the associated software complications.

There is also no dedicated app. Again, that may initially appear to be a missing convenience feature, but in daily use the absence is surprisingly easy to accept. The supplied remote control allows the player to be operated cleanly, logically and effectively, and at no point during the review did the lack of an app become a serious frustration. In fact, avoiding an extra software layer almost feels consistent with the broader design philosophy. Magnetar seems to have concentrated on direct, classic control rather than turning the player into yet another app-dependent device.

The same logic applies to networking. The Magnetar UDP900 MKII does not offer WiFi, relying exclusively on RJ45 for network access. In the typical installation scenario for a player of this class, that is hardly a meaningful weakness. Anyone integrating such a machine into a serious HiFi or AV rack will generally prefer a wired network connection anyway, not least for stability and reliability.
The bundled remote control, incidentally, is functionally sound and entirely practical, though it does not quite match the luxurious feel of the player itself. It is made of plastic rather than more premium materials. That is not a serious flaw, but it is one of the few areas where the tactile experience does not fully mirror the ambition of the main unit.

Loading times and drive noise

Loading times for optical media are entirely acceptable. Like virtually all complex universal transports in this class, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII is not an especially fast starter. That simply needs to be judged realistically. A platform built to support many formats and a sophisticated internal architecture is unlikely to behave like a stripped-down, single-purpose deck. In daily use, however, the pace never became irritating.

What is more noticeable is the drive noise. When the transport spins up, its activity is clearly audible, and in general the mechanism is not especially discreet acoustically. This is not a major issue and certainly not unheard of in the category, but very sensitive users may still take note of it. In a player of this level, it is only fair to mention that the transport is not silent in operation. It is not crude, but neither is it whisper-quiet.

Picture quality in home cinema

In home cinema use, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII leaves a very strong impression. The image is calm, detailed, clean and stable. Fine structures are rendered with confidence, subtle light gradations remain visible, and layered visual compositions are reproduced with a degree of control that gives the entire presentation authority. In other words, this is a player that handles picture information with composure rather than showmanship.

Another important point is HDMI stability. HDMI CEC is well known as an area in which different television brands often behave unpredictably, sometimes with frustrating consequences in daily operation. In this review, there was no reason for criticism whatsoever. The HDMI chain remained stable, system interaction was reliable, and the player behaved exactly as a premium component should: unobtrusively and dependably.

Sound quality in a HiFi context

As impressive as the Magnetar UDP900 MKII is in home cinema, its most distinctive side emerges in a dedicated HiFi system. It very quickly becomes obvious that this is not simply an excellent video player with respectable audio capability on the side. It is a source component developed with a genuine audiophile mindset.

Signal processing is faultless, and the high-grade DAC section gives the player exactly the kind of ease and authority one expects from an ambitious HiFi source. This becomes especially convincing with music on physical media. Standard audio CDs are already a pleasure, K2HD CDs benefit from the player’s calm and structured presentation, DVD-Audio is handled with notable confidence, and Super Audio CD playback in particular is a real highlight.

This is where the Magnetar fully reveals its strength. Tonal colours are differentiated, dynamic swings are delivered without strain, and even denser recordings remain well organised and believable. Once connected via its analogue stereo outputs to a high-quality amplifier and loudspeaker chain, the UDP900 MKII makes a compelling case for itself as a serious source rather than an auxiliary function hidden inside a universal video product. That is, ultimately, its strongest argument.

Not the most logical choice for every film-focused buyer

At a price of € 3.790,00, it must also be said clearly that the Magnetar UDP900 MKII is not the right product for everyone. Anyone using it purely for movies and feeding everything digitally via HDMI into a home cinema chain will only exploit part of what this machine has to offer. Its real distinction lies not only in high-level 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray playback, but in the exceptional analogue section and the ability to function as a premium source for CD, K2HD CD, DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD and other physical audio media.

That dual identity is what defines the product. The Magnetar UDP900 MKII is not just a very strong video player. It is a deliberately uncompromising source component for users who want to continue enjoying physical media in both video and audio form at a very high level. That also explains why it may not be the most economically rational solution for purely film-driven users, while remaining deeply attractive for those who value both sides of its personality.

All advantages at a glance

• exceptionally broad format support for film and music
• completely newly developed audio section with two ESS9038PRO DACs
• very strong picture quality with calm, stable signal processing
• high-quality audio section with clear HiFi suitability
• balanced XLR outputs and 7.1 Cinch
• convincing playback of CD, K2HD CD, DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD
• TMDS re-timing on the HDMI audio output
• revised USB 3.0 system with isolated power supply
• XMOS USB Audio up to 32 Bit and 768 kHz as well as DSD512
• high-quality internal copper cabling and upgraded JST/Amphenol connections
• reliable operation in daily use
• logical, intuitive operation
• stable HDMI integration including trouble-free HDMI CEC communication in the test
• network playback via UPnP sensibly integrated
• Control4 support, Crestron support and Wake-up on LAN
• Roon Ready certification

FAQ on the Magnetar UDP900 MKII

Price and availability

The Magnetar UDP900 MKII is offered at € 3.790,- and therefore positions itself clearly in the upper premium segment. Given its distinct dual role as both a home cinema source and a serious HiFi component, that positioning can nevertheless be regarded as entirely fair. This is not a product for the mass market. It is aimed at buyers who are deliberately searching for a specialised and uncompromising solution.

Conclusion

The Magnetar UDP900 MKII belongs to a product category that has become genuinely rare. It is not content with being a Universal Disc Player in the narrow sense, but presents itself as a serious high-end source for very different tasks. In home cinema, it convinces with strong picture quality, stable HDMI behaviour and reliable everyday usability. In a HiFi environment, it reveals even more clearly why it occupies a special place: the audio section is not an accessory argument, but a central part of the machine’s identity.

The completely newly developed platform with two ESS9038PRO DACs, TMDS re-timing on the HDMI audio output, the upgraded USB section, XMOS USB Audio up to 32 Bit and 768 kHz as well as DSD512, and the extensive construction effort down to the internal cabling all make clear that Magnetar has not delivered a superficial facelift here, but a substantial technical advancement. The transport is not completely discreet acoustically, and that deserves to be mentioned. It is equally clear that purely movie-focused users will not automatically make the most rational buying decision with this player, because its real class lies in the combination of home cinema authority and unusually strong analogue audio performance.

Yet exactly there, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII is profoundly convincing. It is therefore an unreserved recommendation for anyone who still wants to enjoy physical media at the highest level while also expecting a modern and versatile source for premium home cinema and HiFi systems. Magnetar Technology Co. Ltd. delivers precisely that with the Magnetar UDP900 MKII.

Technical Data

The Magnetar UDP900 MKII is a first-class Universal Disc Player that combines home cinema and hi-fi at an unusually high level and demonstrates its special class above all as a high-quality audio source for physical media.

Test Environment

• Samsung OLED 65-inch TV
• Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Max
• Musical Fidelity M8xi Integrated Amplifier
• KEF Blade
• Roon NUCLEUS+
• Signal cable from Wireworld Inc.
• Power cable from Wireworld Inc.
• Speaker cable from Wireworld Inc.