Rega Mercury Stereo Pre-amplifier

Rega Mercury Stereo Pre-amplifier

Name: Rega Mercury Stereo Pre-amplifier
Brand: Rega
SKU: REG-AMP-MERCURY-BLK-AUS
Price: 17500.00 NZD
Availability: InStock

$17,500.00

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Product variants

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.

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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
Dimensions W x H x D: 435 x 97 x 380mm (17 x 3.8 x 15in)
Weight: 14kg (31lbs)

The Mercury and Solis combine staggering performance with real world forgiveness in a way that makes it look easy when it really, really isn’t.

Sound Advice

The art of silence

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.

Mercury features fully discrete symmetrical circuitry throughout the core signal path, ensuring exceptional clarity and control. A high-performance DAC with S/PDIF and USB inputs offers versatile connectivity, while the galvanically isolated asynchronous USB input provides superior noise rejection for cleaner digital playback.

It also includes a discrete headphone amplifier for high-quality personal listening, a full-colour IPS display for clear system feedback, and a custom backlit Orbit remote control, all supported by an efficient standby mode for everyday convenience.

High performance amplification

The Rega Mercury pre-amplifier is engineered for exceptional clarity and ultra-low distortion, using a fully discrete, symmetrical circuit design inspired by Rega’s flagship reference components. Its high-linearity, wide-bandwidth amplifier stages deliver outstanding voltage and current drive, while ultra-low-noise Linear Systems FETs ensure incredible detail and precision—technology shared with the renowned Aura MC phono stage. A premium Alps Blue Velvet RK27 volume control, paired with Rega’s symmetrical driver circuitry, provides smooth, accurate level adjustment, and the DC-coupled main outputs maintain signal purity by avoiding additional capacitors in the path. Borrowing design advances from the Saturn CD player’s analogue filter stages, the Mercury keeps the entire signal path—from DAC output to pre-amp output—perfectly symmetrical for maximum transparency, control, and musical honesty.

Power to perform

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.

Engineered for Absolute Signal Purity

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.

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.

The Mercury uses microcontroller based slow start, standby and a power supply supervisory circuit to power-up the generously rated toroidal transformer from standby, thus keeping the in-rush current to a minimum. The supervisory circuit also controls the no-signal standby power down function to comply with current Eco requirements.

Who is this for?

The Rega Mercury Stereo Pre-amplifier is designed for serious music enthusiasts building a high-end separates system where transparency, system synergy, and musical integrity are the top priorities. It suits listeners who want complete control over source selection and volume management without introducing unnecessary coloration or complexity into the signal path.

The Mercury is particularly well suited to systems built around dedicated power amplification such as the Rega Solis, where the goal is maximum resolution and dynamic freedom from premium source components. Its low-noise fully analogue architecture allows fine detail, tonal texture, and spatial information to pass through with exceptional clarity, helping the rest of the system perform at its full potential.

It works beautifully in larger, revealing systems with high-end loudspeakers and premium analogue or digital sources, where subtle improvements in transparency and control become immediately noticeable.

What is the Rega Mercury Stereo Pre-Amplifier designed to do?

The Rega Mercury is Rega's flagship stereo pre-amplifier, designed to provide precise source selection, volume control, and signal management while preserving the integrity of the audio signal. It is intended to partner with the Rega Solis power amplifier in a reference-level hi-fi system.

Is the Rega Mercury a preamplifier or an integrated amplifier?

The Mercury is a dedicated preamplifier. It does not contain a power amplifier stage and must be connected to a separate power amplifier such as the Rega Solis.

What makes the Rega Mercury different from standard preamplifiers?

The Mercury has been engineered as a no-compromise reference component, with a focus on signal purity, ultra-low noise, and maximum transparency. Every aspect of its design is intended to minimise distortion and preserve musical detail.

What is the role of a preamplifier in a hi-fi system?

A preamplifier acts as the control centre of a system, allowing users to switch between sources, adjust volume, and send a clean, controlled signal to a power amplifier.

Can the Mercury be used with power amplifiers from other brands?

Yes. While it is designed to partner with the Rega Solis, the Mercury can be used with many high-quality power amplifiers that offer compatible input connections and gain characteristics.

Does the Mercury support balanced connections?

Yes. It includes balanced XLR connectivity, allowing it to integrate seamlessly into high-performance systems and take advantage of the noise-rejection benefits of balanced signal transmission.

What sources can be connected to the Mercury?

The Mercury can accept a variety of analogue source components, including DACs, streamers, phono stages, CD players, and other line-level audio devices.

Does the Mercury include a phono stage?

No. The Mercury is a dedicated line-level preamplifier. Turntables require an external phono stage such as the Rega Aura or another suitable phono preamplifier.

What type of volume control does the Mercury use?

The Mercury employs a high-precision volume control system designed to maintain channel balance and signal integrity across the full volume range.

How does the Mercury contribute to sound quality?

A high-quality preamplifier can significantly influence system performance. The Mercury is designed to deliver exceptional transparency, dynamic expression, and low noise, allowing the qualities of the source components and power amplifier to shine through.

Is the Mercury suitable for reference-level systems?

Yes. It is specifically designed for high-end and reference-level audio systems where every component is chosen for maximum performance and musical accuracy.

What type of music does the Mercury perform best with?

The Mercury is intended to be neutral and transparent, making it equally capable with all musical genres, from classical and jazz to rock, electronic, and vocal recordings.

Can the Mercury be part of a long-term upgrade path?

Yes. As a flagship preamplifier, it is designed to remain relevant through future upgrades to source components, power amplifiers, and loudspeakers.

How does the Mercury pair with the Rega Solis power amplifier?

The Mercury and Solis were developed as complementary reference components. Together they form a high-performance pre/power combination designed to deliver exceptional control, transparency, and musical engagement.