Why OPPO Leaving the Market Created a Gap
For years, OPPO universal disc players were the reference standard for enthusiasts who wanted one machine to handle everything. They played virtually every disc format, delivered stunning 4K video, and treated audio with the seriousness of a dedicated source component. When OPPO stepped away from the disc player business, a great many owners were left wondering where to turn for the same combination of build quality, format support, and long term reliability. Nothing quite replaced them, and a real gap opened for people who still treasure physical media.
That gap mattered because universal disc playback is not a solved problem elsewhere. Many players cut corners on SACD, DVD-Audio, or high resolution video processing. OPPO owners had grown accustomed to a level of thoroughness that was hard to find once new units were no longer available.
How Magnetar Filled the Void
Magnetar is the continuation of that story. The engineers who helped design the OPPO universal players brought their expertise directly into Magnetar, so these machines are not a distant imitation. They are the modern successor to the OPPO line, carrying the same design philosophy forward with current hardware and refined execution. If you loved what OPPO stood for, Magnetar is where that lineage lives on.
We hold OPPO in high regard, and we think it is fair to say that Magnetar honors what came before rather than departing from it. The result is a pair of players that feel immediately familiar to anyone who owned an OPPO, while offering the benefits of newer components and thoughtful refinement.
The Two Models AEA Carries
At All Elite Audio we carry two Magnetar universal disc players, and they map cleanly onto the two OPPO models that enthusiasts most often ask us to replace.
Magnetar UDP800 MKII
The Magnetar UDP800 MKII is the natural successor for anyone who owned or wanted the OPPO UDP-203. It delivers reference video performance and full universal disc playback in a package aimed at the enthusiast who prioritizes a flawless picture and comprehensive format support. If you were an OPPO UDP-203 owner, this is the model that continues that experience.
Magnetar UDP900 MKII
The Magnetar UDP900 MKII is the successor for the OPPO UDP-205, the model prized for its serious analog audio stage. This is the choice for the listener who wants a disc player that doubles as a high performance audio source, with the same emphasis on sound quality that made the OPPO UDP-205 so beloved. If you are an OPPO UDP-205 owner looking to step forward, the UDP900 MKII is built for you.
Universal Disc and SACD Playback
Both Magnetar players earn the word universal. They handle 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, standard Blu-ray, DVD, and CD, along with the high resolution audio formats that matter most to collectors, including SACD and DVD-Audio. For anyone with a treasured SACD library, this thorough format support is exactly what made OPPO players so hard to give up, and it is precisely what Magnetar preserves.
This breadth means one machine can serve your entire physical media collection. There is no need to keep an older player around for a specific format, and no need to compromise on how any given disc is presented.
Video Quality
On the video side, both models bring meticulous 4K playback with careful handling of HDR content, clean upscaling of standard definition and high definition sources, and the kind of image stability that reference viewers expect. The UDP800 MKII already sets a very high bar, and the UDP900 MKII shares that same commitment to picture quality while adding its more ambitious audio hardware on top.
Audio Quality
Audio is where the two models diverge most clearly. The UDP800 MKII delivers excellent digital output and clean sound, which suits systems where an outboard processor or receiver handles the heavy lifting. The UDP900 MKII takes things further with a more elaborate analog output stage, making it the stronger choice when you want the player itself to serve as a genuine high fidelity audio source feeding a two channel or reference system directly.
Which Should You Buy
If you owned an OPPO UDP-203
Choose the Magnetar UDP800 MKII. It continues the strengths you already valued, with reference video and full universal disc support, and it slots neatly into a home theater built around an AV receiver or processor.
If you owned an OPPO UDP-205
Choose the Magnetar UDP900 MKII. Its enhanced analog audio stage carries forward the very quality that made the OPPO UDP-205 a favorite among music listeners, so it is the right successor for a system where sound quality comes first.
If you are building a dedicated home theater
The UDP800 MKII is an outstanding match. Let your processor or receiver do the decoding while the player focuses on a superb picture and dependable universal playback.
If you are a serious music listener
The UDP900 MKII is the clear pick. Its analog output makes it a proper source component for a high resolution audio system, including a substantial SACD collection.
Come Listen for Yourself
All Elite Audio is an authorized Magnetar dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Our demo units rotate, so the best way to experience these players is in person. Contact us to arrange a listen and we will help you hear the difference for yourself and choose the model that fits your system.