Blu-ray discs won’t last forever, but this new beast of a 4K Blu-ray player might
It’s true that the arrival of one of the best streaming companies has rendered disc codecs like Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray pointless for some. But studios proceed to subject motion pictures each new and previous on disc on a common foundation, and there are a lot of unbiased labels that license obscure and cult titles from studios for launch in deluxe packaging with masses of extras.
Put merely, Blu-ray is right here to remain for the foreseeable future, and we couldn’t be happier about that. But whereas there’s nonetheless a regular provide of new discs, one of the best 4K Blu-ray gamers have turn into scarce, with most AV producers ceasing to make new gamers, or limiting manufacturing to a single mannequin.
That’s why it’s at all times nice to listen to concerning the arrival of a new 4K Blu-ray player available on the market. Magnetar launched its first player, the UDP800, in 2022, and has now adopted up with a new flagship mannequin, the UDP900. At €2,500 euros (round $2,700 / £2,200 / AU$4,100), the UDP900 is priced round $1,000 greater than the UDP800, making it the most costly player we all know of.
What does the Magnetar UDP900 have happening inside to justify its excessive worth? In this case, it’s not simply what’s inside, but additionally what’s outdoors. According to the corporate, the UDP900 has an “all-aluminum alloy body and a reinforced double layer chassis structure.” Its inner parts are additionally independently shielded by metallic casing to cut back vibration and noise, and twin 60W toroidal transformer energy provides are onboard for the player’s analog audio output.
Such rugged construct high quality could be the explanation Magnetar’s player measures 17.5 x 5.2 x 12 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 34 kilos. In the dwindling world of 4K Blu-ray gamers, the UDP900 is an utter beast.
Inside the UDP900 is an ESS9038PRO digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for the player’s analog stereo XLR output and ESS9028PRO DAC for its 7.1-channel analog RCA output. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ excessive dynamic vary codecs are supported, and the UDP900 can play SACDs and common CDs together with Blu-ray, 4K Blu-ray, and DVD discs.
In addition to its twin HDMI outputs (one video/audio and one audio-only), the UDP900 additionally has a USB type-B DAC enter to attach a pc for audio playback.
Analysis: Why purchase a Blu-ray player, particularly a high-priced one?
There’s no dispute that streaming is handy, and that a lot of the world has opted to go that route for its film and music consumption. But the Blu-ray disc format stays viable, with new common Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray discs being launched on a weekly foundation. Some of these are deluxe editions geared toward collectors comparable to Criterion’s current 4K remaster of Terry Gilliam’s The Fisher King from 1991. But others are current motion pictures comparable to Best Picture Oscar Nominees All Quiet on the Western Front and Triangle of Sadness.
If you might be a Blu-ray collector, it is smart to personal one of the best disc player attainable to make sure you’ll have a dependable, ruggedly constructed machine to play your discs on effectively into the long run. That’s why I don’t essentially flinch on the Magnetar UDP900’s sky-high worth, although there are extra fairly priced high-performance player choices such because the Panasonic DP-UB900.
What the UDP900 brings to the desk, except for unassailable construct high quality, is a concentrate on each audio and video efficiency. Along with help for each Dolby Vision and HDR10+ excessive dynamic vary codecs, it has a balanced analog XLR output and devoted toroidal transformer energy provide for every stereo channel. That means it needs to be an excellent player for Compact Discs together with Blu-rays and 4K Blu-rays, and it additionally helps the audiophile SACD format.
One of my treasured AV possessions is an Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, which was the last mannequin that Oppo made earlier than shutting down its Blu-ray player manufacturing operation, reportedly as a result of the ability was wanted to provide telephones for the Indian market.
The Oppo Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray gamers had been rugged and dependable, and their glorious construct high quality and efficiency justified their greater price in comparison with different gamers. And whereas Magnetar’s ask for the UDP900 is undoubtedly excessive, I even have little doubt that it’s the sort of player you’ll nonetheless be utilizing many years from now.
