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Rega Mercury Reference Preamplifier
Local Delivery
£6,950.00
The main development objective for the Mercury was to create a no compromise audio pre-amplifier. The Mercury is hand crafted to reveal the true potential of your hi-fi system thanks to an ultra-low noise floor which delivers exceptional dynamic range. The Mercury pre-amplifier, like the Solis, is the culmination of almost four decades of Rega electronics engineering experience in solid-state amplifier development.
Key Features
- Fully discrete symmetrical circuitry in the core signal path
- High performance DAC with S/PDIF and USB inputs
- Galvanically isolated asynchronous USB input
- Discrete headphone amplifier
- Full colour IPS display
- Custom backlit Orbit remote control
- Standby mode
- Lifetime warranty against manufacture defects
- Rega Mercury Instructions
Capturing the detail in a quiet performance is key to delivering an engaging sound. A well-engineered “clean” pre-amplifier preserves all those subtle details instead of masking them with unwanted noise. This fully featured reference pre-amplifier offers great flexibility and usability with the convenience of a high-performance DAC, discrete headphone amplifier, and a full colour IPS display.
Amplifier Circuit
Throughout the signal path, the Mercury uses a discrete, differentially driven, fully symmetrical, high linearity and bandwidth common base voltage amplifier. Each stage uses high current drive capability, complementary Class A output stage amplifiers. This form of symmetrical amplifier circuit topology will provide the necessary voltage and current drive to enable the Mercury to perform with the minimum of distortion. Critical amplification stages use Linear Systems ultra-low noise FET (Field Effect Transistor) transistors in the differential quad pair input stages. This is the same circuit topology as used in the second stage of the Aura MC amplifier.
The Mercury uses the Alps Blue Velvet RK27 volume control (as used in the Osiris amplifier), however, this is paired with symmetrical common base driver stage amplifiers. The main outputs are DC coupled to eliminate output coupling capacitors. These outputs are appropriately DC protected by the protection circuitry.
Rega has taken circuit design leads from the Rega reference range and Saturn CD player’s post DAC analogue filter stages and implemented this topology using the symmetrical common base driver stage circuitry. This means the signal path from the analogue output of the DAC's ICs to the output of the pre-amplifier is entirely symmetrical.
Power supply
The Mercury uses a generously rated toroidal transformer feeding a linear power supply. The power supply is a discrete, symmetrical tracking power supply, using fast diodes and low noise voltage reference. Each stage has its own localised capacitance, multiplier power supply and LED referenced current generators for voltage references. To maximise headroom, the Mercury uses a higher-than-normal power supply voltage, which is 60% higher than normally found in such a pre-amplifier.
Signal Path
The pre-amplifier uses the Alps Blue Velvet RK27 volume control. The balanced inputs and outputs both use the symmetrical, common base, discrete driver circuitry. High-quality relays and Polypropylene/audio-grade capacitors are used throughout the signal path.
Headphone Amplifier
A great deal of care has been taken around the integration of the headphone circuit. The headphone amplifier operates like a mini-Solis power amplifier as it uses the same symmetrical common base driver stage circuitry. This has a high voltage and current drive capability enabling the headphone output to drive both low and high impedance headphones with ease.
Digital Input circuitry
The asynchronous USB input is galvanically isolated using its own dedicated power supply, with extensive re-clocking of both the PCM and DSD clocks and data which is recovered from the USB input. The USB input has two high stability oscillator modules providing low jitter clocks for both professional and domestic sample rates. The S/PDIF input uses a Wolfson digital interface receiver and PLL, recovering low jitter data and clocks from the incoming S/PDIF data. Careful attention has been paid to clock and data integrity in both PCM and DSD modes throughout the DAC input circuitry.
The recovered PCM and DSD data feeds two parallel connected Wolfson DACs which then in turn feed the post DAC symmetrical analogue filter and amplifier stages – as mentioned in the analogue amplifier circuitry section. The analogue amplifier/filter uses Linear Systems ultra-low noise FET (Field Effect Transistor) transistors in the differential pair input stage.
Wolfson DACs were chosen for their engineering and sonic capabilities. Although they are of a legacy nature, they still offer the best sonic performance. Wolfson were careful to balance both technical and sonic performance.
Who is Rega?
Rega is a specialist hifi manufacturer based in Essex, UK and is renowned for developing and constructing some of the most highly regarded turntables (cartridges and tonearms), electronics and loudspeakers available on the hifi market today. Rega was founded in 1973, and has honed their craft over many years of being a leading brand in every category it put a product to
Technical Specifications
- INPUT - S/PDIF Co-ax and Optical
-
16-24 bit @ 32/44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192kHz
- INPUT - USB
-
16-32 bit @ 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192kHz PCM or DSD64 (DoP), Asynchronous, Power Consumption 0W (<0.5mA)
- PRE-AMP - THD+N
-
Typically 0.001% @ 1kHz 2V Unbalanced or 4V Balanced 0dB gain
- PRE-AMP - Frequency Response
-
8Hz (-0.5dB point) to 28kHz (-0.5dB point) at 0dB gain Balanced Input/ Output
- DAC - THD+N
-
Typically 0.0045% @ 1kHz 0dBFS 2V Pre Out
- HEADPHONE AMP - Max Level 33Ω
-
9V / 2.5W @ 0.1% THD+N (230V/120V)
- HEADPHONE AMP - Max Level 240Ω
-
10.85V / 0.5W @ 0.1% THD+N (230V/120V)
- HEADPHONE AMP - THD+N
-
Typically 0.0035% @ 1kHz 2V into 240Ω or 33Ω
- Power Consumption
-
50W
- Power Consumption (Standby)
-
0.4W (activated automatically if no signal present after 20 minutes)
- Dimensions W x H x D
-
435 x 97 x 380mm (17 x 3.8 x 15in)
- Weight
-
14kg (31lbs)
UK Delivery
Providing your item is in stock, the order is usually dispatched within 24 hours. Postage and packing is completely free for orders over £99*. Out of stock items will be dispatched as soon as they become available, which can take between 4 to 21 days
UK Delivery orders are sent via our couriers' DPD Local on a next-day-delivery service and usually take between 1 and 3 days.
Local Delivery
Certain manufacturers disallow mail order for their products, however a local delivery may be possible.
We offer a local delivery service for a large number of our products. After your order has been placed, a member of the Hifi Gear team will contact you to arrange a convenient date and time for your local, personal delivery.
Click & Collect
We offer a free ‘Click & Collect’ service on all items. As soon as your order has been completed and is ready for collection a member of our team will be in contact with you. Orders can be collected from our store at 11 King Street, Hereford, HR4 9BW.
Please use this link to find more detailed delivery information or contact us for more details
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