Magnetar has pulled back the curtain on the Magnetar ULTIMA, a reference-grade universal media transport that the brand calls its most ambitious project to date. Unveiled at CEDIA Expo 2026 in Denver, the Magnetar ULTIMA is built around a dedicated DC power stage — a first for the luxury transport category — and is designed to do one job without compromise: preserve source integrity from disc to display or external processor.
A Dedicated DC Power Stage at the Heart of the Magnetar ULTIMA
Rather than rely solely on traditional AC-supplied power, the Magnetar ULTIMA features dedicated BYD lithium-based power stages that isolate the critical transport, clocking and signal pathways from the noise, fluctuations and contamination common to conventional power environments. Magnetar says this DC architecture creates a stable, low-noise operating environment for precision playback while setting a new benchmark for the universal media transport category.
Complementing that power architecture is a synchronized master clock system anchored around a unified 10 MHz reference, which keeps timing consistent across the player for stable transmission to downstream components such as external processors and DACs. The result, according to Magnetar, is improved system stability, tighter timing consistency, significantly reduced total phase noise and better disc playback consistency overall.
Built on the Award-Winning MKII Platform
The ULTIMA builds on Magnetar’s award-winning MKII platform (read our earlier coverage of the Magnetar MKII Series launch) and more than two decades of engineering experience. It supports UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, CD, SACD and DVD-Audio playback, DSD/DoP via AES/EBU, USB media, and high-resolution network playback, along with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ passthrough — broad enough compatibility that a single ULTIMA can replace multiple disc players or file transports within one system.
A massively reinforced chassis minimizes vibration and suppresses resonance during operation, while internally isolated components shield sensitive circuits from unwanted interference. Meticulously controlled grounding and power distribution further reduce electrical interaction between subsystems, and Magnetar says the transport mechanism itself has been refined to the same standard, improving disc read stability and data integrity.
“With ULTIMA, we set out to answer one question: what does a universal media transport solution look like when every possible limitation is challenged?” said Rob Jones, President of Magnetar North America. “At a time when manufacturers are turning away from reference-grade physical media playback, Magnetar is doubling down. ULTIMA is our definitive statement piece.”
Remote Control and Everyday Operation
The Magnetar ULTIMA ships with a dedicated backlit remote control for everyday transport and menu navigation, keeping day-to-day operation straightforward despite the reference-level engineering underneath.
Pricing and Availability
The Magnetar ULTIMA is now shipping and available through Magnetar’s authorized dealer and distributor network at an MSRP of $12,000. The transport is on display at CEDIA Expo 2026 in Denver, booth #4103.
Key Specifications
Key specifications for the Magnetar ULTIMA include:
- Dedicated BYD lithium-based DC power stage
- Synchronized master clock system, unified 10 MHz reference
- Disc support: UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, CD, SACD, DVD-Audio
- DSD/DoP playback via AES/EBU, USB media support
- High-resolution network playback
- Dolby Vision and HDR10+ passthrough
- Massively reinforced, internally isolated chassis
- Backlit remote control included
- MSRP: $12,000
More information is available at magnetarusa.com.
