Look No Further! Magnetar UDP-900 4K UHD Blu-ray Player Review

Shane reviews the Magnetar UDP-900 4k bluray player with support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, DTSX, HDR10, HDR10+, SACD, DVD Audio. Is it better than the UDP-800 or Oppo players from the past? Let's find out.

YouTube Channel Membership with perks:

0:00 Specs
3:44 Settings
6:51 File Playback
8:42 Disc Playback
11:51 Wrap-Up
========================================
*PATREON*
========================================
🚨 *ATMOS VIEWER* 🚨
========================================
========================================
*RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL SYSTEM*
Marantz Cinema 50:

*Equipment used for reviews*
🛒*VIDEO*
🛒*AUDIO*
McIntosh MC255
McIntosh MC257
🔈SPEAKERS:
🔊SUBWOOFERS:
*SOURCES*
Panasonic UB9000:
*ACCESSORIES*

🛒*2 CHANNEL SYSTEM*

MORE EQUIPMENT:
========================================
Follow Us:

Listen to our podcast here:
========================================
For sponsorship, product reviews, and collaboration, you can email me here:
========================================
#hometheater #4k #projector
========================================
DISCLAIMER: This video and description may contain affiliate links, in turn I may earn from qualifying purchases.

[therealshanelee]

*WAS JUST INFORMED THAT REGION FREE AND NETWORK FILE PLAYBACK CAPABILITIES DO NOT COME STANDARD OUT OF THE BOX IT'LL BE $99 TO GET THE FIRMWARE UPDATE. The disc drive is also very quiet while spinning*

[mywhitenoise_]

I'm glad I bought an Oppo UDP-203 for $550 back when they came out, these prices are insane.

[martinaxiak]

I still prefer my Panasonic ubp 9000 for the HDR optimiser making picture quality much better than even todays newer players. If it weren’t for your fantastic reviews I would have never owned one, keep up the great work👍

[psbarrow]

Reading through the comments, it’s apparent that many do not understand what market the Magnetar UDP-900 is trying to capture. It’s trying (like the Reavon UBR-X200) to fill the audiophile vacuum left by the Oppo UDP-205 and to come the closest to the Oppo’s audio capabilities in a single universal disc player. It’s for audiophiles who want SACD and DVD-A playback with stereo XLR and multi-channel analog outputs, along with all the other 4K video stuff that other brands have. Price comparisons to Panasonic 9000 models are irrelevant if you don’t play those discs, or want hi-fi music quality.


This is a niche product for those audiophiles who missed out on buying an Oppo-205, but who don’t want to pay the (now crazy) prices for a used one. All that being said, as a “niche” person myself who paid AUS$2, 468 for a region-free Oppo-205 back in 2017 (which has turned out to be a bargain), I agree with the general sentiment that the Magnetar UDP-900 is indeed overpriced.

[MarkTallen]

As far as video processing goes, The Panasonic ub9000 can play 4K SDR content in the correct bit depth of 10 bit, all other mediateck chip players (including Magnetar), play it back incorrectly at 8 bit. The Magnetar player is great but nothing beats the Panasonic for video processing. The scaling on the Panny is superior too, spears and munsil test patterns confirm this. In real world content it might be hard to see unless pixel peeping is carried out under a microscope. No doubt for file playback and analogue audio, the Magnetar would come out on top. For me though, my 4k player is about picture quality and audio via hdmi, so it's the Panasonic ub9000 for far less money.

[MikeMargolis-jf]

Gotta say.... I'm an avid home theater buff, but after going through a Cambridge Audio CXUHD, which was basically a rebadged Oppo 203 without the analog outputs (it developed a weird ticking noise when only playing DVDs, and the repair center couldn't fix it even after I sent it back three times under warranty), and now a Panasonic UB9000 with a ridiculously loud cogging/vibration "bump" noise that can be heard from our listening/viewing distance of 12 feet when the disc drawer closes (not when it opens), I'm convinced that these premium, all-metal spinners don't necessarily equate to dead silent, high end operation.

[badgastein]

My UDP-900 arrived this morning - the Postman struggled with the weight - this is a beast! The build quality is just superb - this player will still be running 100 years from now. Thanks for the review, Shane, this inspired me to buy this and at £2, 800 in the UK, you really do get what you pay for.

[brianhorrorfan]

I am more than happy with my oppo 203. I know this unit is not directed towards me, but that is still pricey. the mental gymnastics i would have to do to justify spending $3000 on a uhd disc player instead of $1000 or $425 would be insane lol. If money wasn't an factor hell yeah.

[BLMife]

Best review I’ve seen in a while. Great job thinking about upgrading.

[jamiejwaters]

It's a gorgeous, capable unit, but based on the price, it's a hard sell. Sure, the 4k Oppo units are beginning to show their age, but that unit that stopped selling in 2018 was also selling for $500. The obvious choice for that niche of users who want both physical DVD and SACD playback would still be better in almost every way with the Panasonic DP-UBB9000. I would also be very surprised if it could stand toe to toe graphically with the Panasonic as even the Panasonic had begun to edge out the Oppo.

[Scorpion-king-cq]

with UB9000 as option it hard to justify the 3K price. my Oppo and Pioneer LX500 still doing great. they know UHD player is niche market hence more geared towards high end market as target.

[mrneworleans]

My 1500$ Oppo 205 makes me smile more and more each UDP player review

[jb.]

Great review Shane. We use three physical hi-resolution formats: Blu-ray pure audio, DVD Audio, and SACD’s to play some of our favorite music. We prefer the multichannel auromatic up mixing of music to a 7.2.6 system using Auro 3D. This player may replace out Marantz someday which does 99% of what we need. McIntosh just discontinued its Blu-ray players this year so it’s nice to see other options especially since Oppo has disappeared. Great to see SACD support too. I like the look. Which HDMI version is listed in the spec? Love your vids buddy. Keep ‘em’ coming my friend.

[droidx]

I am thankful I have an Oppo. Nice that some others are continuing to make similar devices.

[RonWillemsen]

I have 2 somewhat older Oppo's in house, and a new Panasonics Flagship player under my A95K, so I think I'm good. Although the Magnetar is a good looking device, but maybe a bit on the expensive side.

[ubacow]

I wish magnetar would send one to Vincent Teo at HDTV test for benchmarks and measurements

[veganelduderino]

I got my Panasonic ub820 brand new for 300$ canadian, and I'm more than happy with it.

[kennethlui]

Overpriced. But I am sure many people have money to burn. Oppo made their 4k players affordable five or six years ago. The cheapest Magnetar is $1600. Why couldn’t Magnetar make it affordable. Higher price with less features. I do know that used Oppo in eBay asks for three to four times their original price. Is that the reason why Magnetar costs so much?

[ASwiss]

The Setup Menu still looks the same as the oppo-203/205 so its just another "copy" as the rest of the players that came out in the last 3 years - and the price range is very high, even its well built.
as long as my 203 is working, no reason to change.

[carlosbucio]

I think I’ll stick with my OPPO UDP-205. It might be an older 4k player but it hasn’t given me any playback issues whatsoever. In my eyes it looks better than the Magnetar. But that’s just me.