Magnetar

Yes that is correct, they both use Sabre dac chips but the Magnetar uses a lesser version for the surround output. Also one review I read on the Magnetar was that the volume level does not show up on the units display, only if headphones are plugged in or if the tv is on then the volume level would show on the tv screen. I use my Oppo 205 as a dac preamp and the volume display is a must for me. 

The surround channels are less important, mainly for ambience and movie effects like helicopters flying, so one could justify using a lesser chip in those channels, but it seems chintzy to do so, especially considering that this is not a budget player 

With the growth of mult-channel streaming perhaps it might be time to reconsider the notion of surround sound as only a home theater sound effects concept going forward?

Perhaps.

I listen primarily to Classical.  Most labels that specialize in multichannel use surrounds for ambience.  The rears try to emulate the reflections that one might experience in the concert hall from walls, seats and ceiling behind the listener.  There is at least one German based label-Tacet- that says the heck with that, and plunks the listener in the middle of the orchestra or chamber ensemble.  For a Tacet disc, I would want the same chip in all channels 

^ I don’t know where the future is going. Time will tell.