Magnetar UDP900 Review: The Ultimate 4K Blu-ray Player Tested
Les 3 points à retenir
- 1Transport
- 2Audio Section
- 3Video Section
The Challenger from China
The Magnetar UDP900 is a 4K Blu-ray player that shouldn't exist at this price. For approximately $1,200, this little-known Chinese brand offers a device that directly rivals the Panasonic DP-UB9000 ($800–$1,000) on video and the Reavon UBR-X200 ($1,500–$1,800) on audio — combining the strengths of each in a single chassis.
How? Like Reavon, Magnetar was founded by former Oppo engineers — the legendary brand that defined the universal player standard before exiting the market in 2018. The UDP900 is their vision of what a no-compromise modern player should be.
After three months testing with over 200 discs, here's our verdict.
Design and Build
The Magnetar UDP900 is a beautiful object. The 8mm-thick machined aluminum chassis weighs 24 lbs empty — a fortress designed to eliminate vibration and electromagnetic interference. The front panel features a minimalist design with an OLED display showing the current playback format.
The loading tray is remarkably smooth — opening and closing with watchmaker precision, no vibration, no parasitic noise. The rear reveals the device's ambition: dual HDMI output, 7.1 analog outputs, balanced XLR stereo outputs, coaxial and optical digital outputs. It's the most complete connectivity on the market.
Internal Architecture
Transport
The disc mechanism uses a three-point clamping system that minimizes vibration. The multi-layer chassis isolates the transport from the rest of the electronics, and power supplies are separated for digital and analog sections.
The result: absolute silence during operation. Ear pressed against the player, you can barely perceive the disc spinning. This level of mechanical refinement rivals the Reavon UBR-X200.
Audio Section
The UDP900 features an ESS ES9038PRO DAC — the same chip found in dedicated audiophile DACs costing $2,000 and more. This is not a basic Blu-ray player DAC: it's a reference converter capable of 32-bit/768kHz resolution with a 140dB signal-to-noise ratio.
The balanced XLR outputs let you connect the UDP900 directly to a preamplifier, bypassing the HDMI chain entirely. For two-channel music listening — SACD, Blu-ray Audio, CD — the difference versus standard HDMI is immediately audible: wider soundstage, finer detail, more natural dynamics.
Video Section
The video processor supports Dolby Vision (TV and projector profiles), HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG. The dual Dolby Vision + HDR10+ support is a notable advantage — covering both Samsung and LG/Sony TV ecosystems.
Video Quality
HDR Processing
The UDP900's tone mapping is intelligent and well-calibrated. In Dolby Vision, results are excellent — the player faithfully transmits dynamic metadata to your display. HDR10 content is also handled skillfully with automatic tone mapping that adjusts to each disc's effective dynamic range.
Upscaling
Upscaling of 1080p Blu-rays and 480p DVDs is among the best on the market. The processing is natural and precise — no over-sharpening, no halos, no scaling artifacts.
Sharpness
4K disc sharpness is exemplary. On Dune: Part Two, individual sand grains are visible, Fremen costume fibers reveal their weave, and actors' skin pores are rendered with almost unsettling realism.
Audio Quality
Via HDMI (Bitstream)
The UDP900 passes Dolby TrueHD Atmos and DTS:X bitstream flawlessly. Excellent compatibility with all tested AV receivers.
Via Analog Outputs
This is where the UDP900 distinguishes itself from virtually all competitors except the Reavon. The ESS ES9038PRO DAC, combined with balanced XLR outputs and separated power supplies, delivers remarkably pure sound.
In stereo listening (SACD, Blu-ray Audio, CD) via XLR, the UDP900 performs like a dedicated high-end CD/SACD player. The soundstage is vast and three-dimensional, instruments are precisely separated, voices are natural and present.
In multichannel analog (7.1 RCA), performance is also excellent. Multichannel SACD soundtracks are rendered with spatial coherence that surpasses HDMI bitstream decoded by a receiver.
Speed and Compatibility
Loading times are fast: 18–25 seconds for a 4K disc to the main menu. Over 200+ discs tested, we encountered one playback issue — a defective Warner pressing that also failed on the Panasonic. Near-perfect compatibility.
The UDP900 plays all physical formats: 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, CD, SACD, DVD-Audio. A true universal player.
Complete Connectivity
- 2 HDMI outputs (1 video+audio, 1 audio-only)
- Balanced XLR outputs (stereo)
- 7.1 analog outputs (RCA)
- Coaxial and optical digital outputs
- 1 Ethernet port
- Built-in Wi-Fi
- 2 USB 3.0 ports
The Verdict
The Magnetar UDP900 is the most complete 4K Blu-ray player on the market. It combines the Panasonic DP-UB9000's video quality, the Reavon UBR-X200's audio performance, and adds exhaustive connectivity — all for less than the Reavon and barely more than the Panasonic.
It's the player home theater enthusiasts have been waiting for: a no-compromise device that does everything, and does it remarkably well. If your system can benefit from high-end analog outputs, the UDP900 is an obvious purchase. It's our new reference player.
Final score: 9/10 — The most complete 4K player on the market, at a price that defies logic.
À propos de l'auteur
Sophie Laurent
Experte high-tech & audio
Ingénieure de formation, Sophie décrypte les technologies audio et vidéo pour vous aider à choisir le meilleur équipement selon votre budget.
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