By: Dipin Sehdev

In the spring of 2021, a new player entered the high-end Blu-ray market: Reavon. A French company, Reavon launched two universal UHD Blu-ray players, the UBR-X100 and UBR-X200, at a time when major brands like Oppo and Samsung had exited the space. The company aimed to fill the void for enthusiasts who sought dedicated disc playback without streaming distractions.

The two models offered distinct features for different price points:

• UBR-X100: A digital-only player with dual HDMI outputs, HDR10, and Dolby Vision support. It lacked SACD and analog outputs.

• UBR-X200: The flagship model, which included DVD-Audio and SACD support, along with full 7.1-channel analog outputs and premium Burr-Brown DACs.

Both players were praised for their performance and build quality, with the UBR-X100 earning an 85% CE Critic Score and the UBR-X200 slightly higher at 86% CE Critic Score. However, their design had some flaws, including a less-polished interface, slower disc trays, and the absence of HDR10+ or streaming apps.

Unanswered Questions and the End of an Era

Despite initial praise, issues with Reavon's players and support began to surface. Users reported long startup times, random lockups, and an outdated update process that required a USB stick, even though the players had an ethernet port. Critically, attempts to contact Reavon for support went unanswered, leading to frustration among customers.

The company's end was confirmed in an email directly to CE Critic:

"We kindly inform you that all of our Reavon players are discontinued worldwide. No plans for replacement models at this time due to lack of specific components on the market."

This announcement left many unanswered questions for owners, particularly regarding warranty coverage and firmware updates. With no local support or official presence, warranty claims are effectively null, and without new firmware files, the players are frozen in their current state. Any fixes or feature enhancements that might be needed are simply not coming.

Given the high price of these players, owners are now faced with the reality that their devices are no longer supported. This situation underscores the difficulty of the high-end Blu-ray player market, which caters to a niche but loyal group of enthusiasts who value physical media fidelity.

The Future of High-End Blu-Ray

With Reavon’s departure, Magnetar is now the only company making high-end Blu-ray players at the highest level. Its UDP-800 (93% CE Critic Score) player has become the default option for enthusiasts who require SACD compatibility, robust analog outputs, and continued firmware support.

Reavon's brief history highlights the challenges of this market. While the company succeeded in providing a quality product for a short time, its eventual collapse shows that catering to this niche audience requires more than just great build quality—it requires a sustainable business model and long-term support. For collectors, Reavon's players may live on in their collections, but their maker is gone, leaving behind a cautionary tale about the fragility of the high-end physical media market.