While it seems like some are saying goodbye to the 4K Blu-ray player market, Magnetar is stepping up its efforts to become the big player in the 4K market with news that the company has received THX certification for its two newest players.
After receiving Roon Ready certification in early 2026, UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII have now been certified by THX and have passed hundreds of detailed tests to ensure they can transmit the original signal to displays and other devices.
These tests cover the audio and ensure there is no distortion and that multi-channel and stereo mixes are represented correctly. According to the manufacturer, color, contrast as well as black and white values are tested with a very “tight tolerance”. THX pageto ensure the images correspond to the “colors, luminances, blacks and gamma values in the filmmaker’s studio.”
The UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII aren’t exactly what you’d call “affordable”: the UDP900MKII retails for $3,399 / £3,299 and the UDP800MKII retails for $1,899 / £1,899. But these two players represent the high-end performance that enthusiasts expect from their home theater set, because they’re designed to support “virtually every physical and digital format,” including 4K UHD, SACD and networked media.
With rumors that Sony may be exiting the physical 4K UHD market and indications that the company will have a strong focus on digital media in the future, Panasonic would be the only major brand left from the original lineup. Samsung, LG and Oppo all launched 4K UHD players many moons ago, and in recent years they have all exited the market.
But Magnetar signaled renewed interest in the 4K UHD market with its 1st generation 4K players, and cheaper models from lesser-known names like Krovatar followed suit with the launch of its 2nd generation players in 2025.
Although there is less choice and competition than before, Magnetar’s continued push with its 4K UHD players shows that there is still a market for the best 4K UHD experience at home. Finally, 4K Blu-ray is better than streaming; and this THX certification confirms that the players are built to exacting standards.
Commenting on the announcement, Rob Jones, President of Magnetar North America, said: “THX certification is an important independent validation that enthusiasts and integrators look for when building reference systems. We are proud that both MKII models receive their certification. It reflects the engineering and feedback from customers and dealers that went directly into the development of the MKII series and gives customers additional confidence that these players will deliver the performance they expect, whether in a dedicated home theater or a dedicated home theater Living room.”
