The Magnetar UDP800 is a universal 4K Blu-ray player capable of reading virtually all physical audiovisual sources. The ideal player if you want to fully utilize the display capabilities of the best 4K TVs and 4K projectors on the market, it can also play digital video files up to 4K HDR. The Magnetar UDP800 is also an excellent audio player for CDS, SA-CDs and Hi-Res music files. How does it stack up against its direct rival, the Reavon UBR-X200?
Magnetar UDP800: accessories
The Magnetar UDP800 comes in a large cardboard box, secured in a polystyrene case and protected by a black fabric cover. It comes with a backlit remote control (with batteries) and a power cable. The manufacturer also supplies an A4-size user manual.
Magnetar UDP800: presentation
An elegant, high-end design
The Magnetar UDP800 is one of the most visually appealing 4K Blu-ray players on the market with its two-toned brushed aluminum front panel. Its sturdy metal chassis has a two-layer structure to drastically reduce vibrations. The laser pickup and power supply are protected separately in a metal box to eliminate any risk of electromagnetic interference.
The power supply uses a custom low-noise transformer and Japanese Rubycon electrolytic capacitors to ensure a high transient response. This is ideal for preserving all the dynamism and energy of movie soundtracks and high resolution audio recordings. It ensures stable, silent operation of the player, and its isolation preserves audio and video quality.
4K HDR player
The Magnetar UDP800 4K Blu-ray player is compatible with the HDR10/HDR10+ and Dolby Vision standards. It can play video DVDs, HD and 3D Blu-rays, as well as 4K UHD Blu-rays. It also supports H.365 and H.264 video files, which can be played from a USB storage device and over the local network (DLNA, SMB). The Magnetar UDP800 can also upscale HD Blu-rays and DVDs to UHD 4K for optimal viewing conditions.
The optical drive supports Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats, as well as Dolby Atmos and DTS-X. Once connected to an AV receiver, this player guarantees the best possible sound spatialization to provide a truly immersive experience.
High fidelity audio player
As a high fidelity audio player, the Magnetar UDP800 is compatible with CDs, audio DVDs and SA-CDs. It can also read DSD (64/128), AIFF, ALAC, APE, FLAC and WAV (PCM 192kHz/24-bit) digital audio files. Note that to provide the best possible music playback quality, the Pure Audio mode can be switched on to deactivate the video circuits.
The stereo audio section of the Magnetar UDP800 is particularly well designed, and benefits from a symmetrical layout. Two Burr-Brown PCM 1795 DACs convert digital signals into analog, each processing the left and right channels respectively. The signals are then routed to OP MUSES8920 amplifiers, which boast very low harmonic distortion and extremely low noise levels to guarantee audiophile sound quality.
Double HDMI, XLR, RCA, USB
Regarding the connectors, the Magnetar UDP800 4K Blu-ray player is equipped with two HDMI outputs (video+audio and audio only) and two digital audio outputs (one optical, one coaxial). Also present are two stereo analog audio outputs (balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA). The player also features an Ethernet port (RJ45) and two USB ports to play multimedia files. Lastly, an RS232 port allows you to add this player to a smart home system.
Magnetar UDP800: key specifications
- UHD 4K Blu-ray, HD Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray
- CD and SACD playback
- UHD 4K upscaling
- HDR10 and Dolby Vision compatible
- Double HDMI output
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatible
- USB and DLNA playback
- Pure Audio feature
- RCA and XLR stereo audio outputs
Magnetar UDP800: configuration
For our review, we connected the Magnetar UDP800 to an LG OLED65G3 television using an Audioquest Cinnamon HDMI cable. In order to test its audio qualities, we also connected the Atoll IN200 Signature amplifier to its RCA outputs using NorStone Skye RCA cables. The amp powered a pair of Sonus faber Lumina I speakers that were placed on NorStone Stylum 2 stands and supported by a Rel Acoustics T/9x subwoofer. All these elements were powered by the Taga Harmony PF-2000 filtered power strip.
We’ll have the opportunity to revisit the use of this Blu-ray player in a true home theater configuration in future tests, since the Magnetar UDP800 will be our reference model for some time to come.
Magnetar UDP800: our impressions
4K playback (4K Blu-ray & USB)
With the movies Unforgiven and Mission: Impossible Fallout on 4K Blu-ray, the Magnetar UDP800 delighted us with an extremely detailed, precise and natural picture. 4K HDR content provided high contrast and lots of nuance on screen. The realistic color photography of Christopher McQuarrie’s film was perfectly rendered, as were the warmer hues of Clint Eastwood’s film.
Via USB, the movies were loaded quickly and playback was smooth, both in HD and UHD 4K. Our only regret is that DTS audio tracks are not supported by the built-in media player.
Blu-ray and DVD upscaling
With HD Blu-rays, the Magnetar UDP800 provided excellent upscaling. With Drive, the picture was fine and detailed, without noise or visible artifacts. The textures were effectively reproduced, whether it was the actors’ skin texture or the car bodywork. The colors were natural.
With DVDs, however, the player didn’t perform any miracles. Even though the player’s efforts were admirable (slightly sharper contours, better precision on close-ups), the overall definition remained poor, with a rather pixelated image. However, the colors were bright and intense, be it with Jim Henson’s Dark Crystal or Moulin Rouge! by Baz Luhrmann.
Audio playback
This player’s sophisticated audio section provides audiophiles with a premium solution for playing audio CDs, SA-CDs and hi-res audio files. With Pink Floyd’s album The Dark Side of the Moon on CD, the sound was beautifully expansive. The width and depth of the soundstage were convincing, with a pleasant sense of verticality. The same applies to our CD of Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories. The energy and lively rhythm of “Lose Yourself to Dance” was preserved. Furthermore, we benefited from excellent definition and a balanced sound, with smooth highs, full-bodied mids and energetic, tight bass. Despite its 16-bit/44.1kHz encoding, the CD remains a relevant medium when entrusted to a player of this caliber.
In USB audio playback, all our FLAC HD and DSD/DSF files were played without difficulty. The Magnetar UDP800’s integrated converters did an excellent job, offering a greater level of detail and more texture than with our CDs. We felt closer to the artists, who seemed to materialize in front of us. The lows were more intense, the vocals more lively, and the highs sounded remarkably clear.
Regrettably, this player does not support gapless playback. Hopefully, a future update will correct this.
Magnetar UDP800: compared to the Reavon UBR-X200
The Reavon UBR-X200 has pretty much the same features as the Magnetar UDP800, but differs with its wider range of connectors, which include RCA 7.1 outputs. Although it is sold for €200 less, the Magnetar UDP800 benefits from a more rigorous design, with quieter drive mechanics. It has a more solid, heavier chassis, and offers complete isolation of the power supply and disc transport sections. Its two PCM1795 DACs also have better specs than the Reavon’s PCM1690 DACs, particularly regarding distortion and signal-to-noise ratio. As a result, it is even more committed to its audiophile aspirations, and performs better in both CD and digital playback. In terms of image quality, it is on a par with the Reavon UBR-X200.
Magnetar UDP800: who is it for?
The Magnetar UDP800 will delight movie lovers and audiophiles looking for optimal image and sound quality for their high-end system. Perfect for making the most of HDR 4K Blu-rays and digital video files, it will also improve the picture of Full HD Blu-rays thanks to its particularly effective upscaling. Its particularly sophisticated audio section allows it to replace the CD/SACD player in a hi-fi installation, and to be connected to the amplifier via a balanced, unbalanced or digital connection.
Magnetar UDP800: conclusion
A newcomer to the 4K Blu-ray player market, the Chinese company’s Magnetar UDP800 is a premium model that has no cause to be envious of its rivals. A serious alternative to the Panasonic DP-UB9000 EG1, it competes directly with the Reavon UBR-X200, offering comparable features and quality at a lower price.
Ideal for getting the best performance out of a UHD 4K TV or UHD 4K projector, it provides remarkable picture quality with HDR 4K and Dolby Vision content, whether it’s 4K Blu-rays or digital files on a USB device. It also proves highly effective at optimizing the display of 1080p HD Blu-ray films, thanks to its high-quality upscaling.
The audio section is also excellent. It truly enhances audio CD playback and provides an impressive USB player for hi-res tracks.
We liked
- The image quality with HDR 4K movies
- The effective HD to 4K upscaling
- The ease of use
- The audio playback quality (CDs and digital files)
- The backlit remote control
We would have liked
- DTS compatibility during USB playback
- Better upscaling of DVDs
- Gapless audio playback via USB
