Magnetar UDP800: One-minute evaluation
The Magnetar UDP800 is a reference grade 4K Blu-ray participant with audiophile trappings. It delivers very good picture readability from Extremely HD discs, and can be suitable with SACD and DVD-Audio legacy music discs. Construct high quality is spectacular, and contains the weird provision of balanced XLR stereo outputs, fed by a 32-bit, 192kHz Burr-Brown PCM 1795 stereo DAC.
The title might not be acquainted, however the Magnetar UDP800 is a heavyweight disc spinner that deserves the eye of significant cinephiles. Hailing from the identical secure as Reavon and Zappiti, this Chinese language-made participant combines battleship construct high quality with high-end efficiency to create completely top-of-the-line 4K Blu-ray gamers, in case you’ve bought the case to spare.
Streaming could have the higher hand on the subject of residence leisure as of late, however the UDP800 might properly persuade you there’s one other (tried and examined) option to amuse your self – supplied you’ll be able to afford the asking worth. Particularly in case you’re into audiophile disc codecs too, as a result of that is the place this actually distinguishes itself over a number of the competitors.
Should you simply want one thing that performs films at an especially excessive stage to indicate off on top-of-the-line TVs and finest 4K projectors, the Panasonic DP-UB9000 is possibly a greater possibility at round a 3rd decrease in worth – however for individuals who need to unlock elite audio choices in addition to video, it is wonderful.
Magnetar UDP800 evaluation: Worth & launch
- Launched December 2022
- $1,599 / €1,332 (round £1,140)
Occupying a worth level as soon as dominated by AV royalty, within the US the UDP800 sells for $1,599. In Europe it retails for €1,332. At present there’s no UK distribution for the UDP800, however UK consumers can order one direct from France, with free transport.
That is far larger than most individuals will spend on a Blu-ray participant, in fact, however this is not made for most individuals. Its high-end audio parts and building are made for individuals who need the perfect efficiency, and pays for it.
Nonetheless, it is “solely” about 50% higher-priced than the Panasonic UB9000, although it lacks streaming options. It is positively one for audiophiles and the house theater hardcore, although.
Magnetar UDP800 evaluation: Specs
| HDR assist | HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Imaginative and prescient | Row 0 – Cell 2 |
| Audio assist | Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Grasp Audio, DTS-X | Row 1 – Cell 2 |
| Music assist | SACD, DVD-A, DSD64/128, 192kHz/24-bit PCM | Row 2 – Cell 2 |
| Connectivity | 2 x HDMI, digital optical/coaxial output, stereo phono/XLR output | Row 3 – Cell 2 |
| Dimensions | 430 mm x 300 mm x 90 mm | Row 4 – Cell 2 |
| Weight | 8kg | Row 5 – Cell 2 |
Magnetar UDP800 evaluation: Options
- Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10+ assist
- SACD and DVD-A suitable
- Audiophile stereo DAC
It’s a good guess that if it is spherical and glossy, the Magnetar UDP800 will play it. Along with 4K Extremely HD Blu-rays, and each common and 3D Blu-ray, it spins DVD, AVCHD, SACD, CD, and a raft of recordable codecs. Laserdisc is out, although, sorry.
The Magnetar additionally helps all mandated HDR codecs for recorded media, together with dynamic metadata rivals HDR10+ and Dolby Imaginative and prescient.
The deck can perform as a self-contained content material hub, with assist for exterior HDD drives as much as 16TB, which makes for a sizeable library by any measure. It’ll additionally stream from linked NAS units, utilizing DLNA and SMB.
There’s no assist for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth although. You’ll have to hardwire all the things. And apps are conspicuous by their absence – this isn’t a streaming hub. Get your self an Apple TV 4K (2022) or one thing for that.
Like many high-end disc gamers, there is a huge give attention to sound right here. The parts are audiophile grade. Beneath the lid lurks a 32-bit, 192kHz Burr-Brown PCM 1795 stereo DAC. A four-layer PCB sports activities a high-quality op-amp for the deck’s Pure Audio mode, with a high-power, customized 60W transformer and Japanese Rubycon electrolytic capacitors.
There’s no scarcity of the way to combine the UDP800 right into a sound system: rear connections embody a stereo XLR gold-plated balanced output, in addition to a regular stereo RCA phonos. In fact, for comfort, many customers will merely persist with HDMI – there are two right here, for flexibility.
Magnetar UDP800 evaluation: Efficiency
- Glorious picture readability
- Excessive-grade audio efficiency
- Common disc assist
Disc loading instances are comparatively quick. A Sherlock Holmes (2009 classic) UHD Blu-ray went from tray to Warner Bros brand in 30 seconds, whereas a Goldfinger Blu-ray travelled from tray to essential menu in 40 seconds.
The UDP800 makes use of a quad-core system Media Tek MT8581 chipset, which boasts enviable audio video decoding.
Image efficiency is classy. The aforementioned Man Ritchie 4K Sherlock disc opens with a closely shadowed slow-motion motion set piece with Robert Downey Jr. The deck delivers element down to close black, with out apparent noise or artefacts being launched.
A 4K take a look at disc that includes impeccably polished musical devices conveys all of the luster and close to three-dimensional texture you’ll hope for. The featured devices reveal refined thumbprints and the minuscule patina of use.
Mockingly, the place premium Blu-ray decks such because the UDP800 actually shine just isn’t a lot by video, however audio. This deck is an absolute pleasure to take heed to.
A 96khz 24bit 7.1 (Japanese) recording of The Earth overture, by Kosuke Yamashita, in linear PCM sounds very good, with crystal readability and massively dynamic fanfares. It is like sitting amidst the orchestra.
The deck’s stereo efficiency is equally involving. Jazz SACD Bluesmithby Tommy Smith, is a revelation (significantly if, like me, you spend an excessive amount of time listening to good audio system). This two-channel DSD 2.8MHz recording reveals astounding depth of tone and readability.
Clearly, the UDP800 does all of the immersive audio stuff too – with bitstream assist for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Motion pictures and music are equally spectacular. It will take advantage of any of the perfect TVs, finest 4K projectors, and no matter elite sound system you could have accessible to you.
Magnetar UDP800 evaluation: Design
- Formidable construct high quality
- Versatile connectivity
- Button-heavy distant management
The UDP800 will be thought of old-school good-looking for AV followers. Weighing in at 8kg, it feels just like the type of gear that may nonetheless be going robust in a decade or two.
The participant itself includes a double-layer chassis construction, 1.6mm thick, with a 3mm metal plate for further rigidity.
The entrance fascia has a premium hairline end, damaged solely by the center-mounted disc loading tray and LED show. To the left is a hid USB port, whereas to the proper are transport and management buttons.
Rear connections comprise two HDMIs, certainly one of which is audio solely, a USB 3.0 port, and two digital audio outputs, one coaxial and the opposite digital optical. The deck additionally has a stereo analog audio output, with each RCA phono and XLR choices.
There’s an Ethernet port for networking, however no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Sensible residence system management is obtainable by way of an RS-232C port.
Equally suggestive of instances previous is the IR distant, which is festooned with tiny buttons. Why navigate a menu whenever you can provide just about each possibility its personal button? Fortunately, usability in observe is much less intimidating.
Magnetar UDP800 evaluation: Worth
- Constructed to final
- Excessive-end componentry
- Unapologetically costly
Let’s be clear: the Magnetar UDP800 is a distinct segment product. Nobody goes to slap this type of money down on a whim, but when you have already got a giant funding in bodily discs, be they Blu-ray, 4K UHD, discs, CDs or SACD/DVD-As, then its punchy worth begins to make much more sense.
The worth tag is commensurate with the Magnetar’s construct and specification – it isn’t double or triple the worth of the Panasonic UB9000, but it delivers an actual feast for audiophiles.
Then again, it does not have streaming apps, so it could actually’t be your all-in-one film and music hub. Whereas that is technically a knock towards its worth, we count on that the audience has no drawback selecting up a high-quality streamer too.
