Magnetar’s UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII have earned THX Certification, adding independent lab validation to the universal media players at the top of the company’s disc-playback lineup. The Magnetar UDP900MKII UDP800MKII certification follows testing and evaluation in THX’s own laboratories, and arrives less than a year after the MKII Series launched at CEDIA Expo 2025 with revised video processing, reworked analog circuitry and dedicated HDMI audio outputs.
“THX Certification is a critical independent validation that enthusiasts and integrators look for when building reference-grade systems,” said Rob Jones, President of Magnetar North America. “We’re proud to see both MKII models earn their certification. It reflects the engineering and feedback from customers and dealers that went directly into the creation of the MKII Series, and it gives customers added confidence that these players will deliver the performance they expect, whether that is in a dedicated home theater or a living room.”
What THX Certification Means for Magnetar UDP900MKII UDP800MKII Owners
THX Certification is a pass/fail evaluation carried out at THX’s own labs, covering picture and sound performance against standards the organization has maintained since the 1980s for cinema and home playback equipment. For a universal disc player, that means scrutiny of video processing, HDMI signal integrity, and audio output quality under controlled test conditions, rather than marketing claims alone. “Magnetar is a strong force in premium disc playback, and the UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII earned THX Certification after our extensive testing and evaluation in the THX labs,” said Steven P. Martz, vice president of global technology partnerships at THX Ltd. “These media players are built for those who care deeply about seeing and hearing entertainment the way creators intended, which is the founding mission of the THX Certification program.”
Engineering Behind the MKII Series
The UDP900MKII leans into analog flexibility, pairing two ESS ES9038PRO DACs across separate stereo and multichannel output sections, with balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA stereo connections alongside 7.1-channel RCA outputs. Magnetar specifies OPA1602 operational amplifiers, a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator, and isolated power supplies for the digital and analog sections, plus a dedicated 60W toroidal transformer for the analog stage. Its XMOS USB Audio interface handles PCM up to 768kHz and DSD512, letting the player double as an external USB DAC.
The more compact UDP800MKII keeps a stereo-focused architecture built around two Burr-Brown PCM1795 DACs, with balanced XLR and RCA outputs and a redesigned audio board carrying seven OPA1602 op-amps. Both models add TMDS retiming on their dedicated HDMI audio connection to reduce interface jitter, and both completed Roon Ready certification earlier in 2026, adding RAAT network playback alongside UHD Blu-ray, DVD-Audio, SACD and CD support.
From Disc Playback to Reference Transport
The certification lands as Magnetar keeps building on the MKII platform. At CEDIA Expo 2026, the company introduced the $12,000 ULTIMA media transport, which carries the same disc-playback philosophy into a flagship tier with BYD lithium-based DC power stages and a 10MHz clock reference. Together, the THX-certified MKII pair and the ULTIMA transport reflect Magnetar’s continued focus on dedicated hardware for owners of physical media collections, at a moment when most manufacturers have moved away from disc playback entirely.
Pricing and availability
The THX Certified Magnetar UDP900MKII ($3,399.99 MSRP) and UDP800MKII ($1,899.99 MSRP) are available now directly from Magnetar and through its network of authorized dealers and distributors.
Key specifications
- THX Certified following independent lab testing, both models
- UDP900MKII: dual ESS ES9038PRO DACs, 7.1-channel + stereo analog outputs, 60W toroidal transformer
- UDP800MKII: dual Burr-Brown PCM1795 DACs, stereo XLR/RCA outputs, seven OPA1602 op-amps
- Roon Ready (RAAT) certification on both players
- TMDS HDMI retiming for reduced interface jitter
- Format support: UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD, CD; Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X via HDMI bitstream
- MSRP: UDP900MKII $3,399.99; UDP800MKII $1,899.99
