Rega's Mercury and Solis pre/power amplifiers are finally here, promising no compromise. The brand has been showcasing these top-of-the-range amplifiers at trade shows for the past year, with the first glimpse at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show. Now, Rega confirms that these high-end pre/power amps are ready for shipping to UK retailers.
Each amplifier costs £6950, and they can be purchased as a pair for £13,900. The Mercury Pre-amplifier and Solis Power amplifier offer a range of features, including ample connectivity options. The Mercury preamp boasts five RCA line level inputs, a record input/output set, pre-out RCA, and balanced XLR inputs. Digital connectivity includes two coaxial and two optical inputs, as well as an asynchronous USB type B input. Additionally, there's a discrete headphone amplifier stage with a 6.3mm headphone socket on the front panel.
Rega utilizes Wolfson DACs in the Mercury preamp, capable of handling up to 24-bit/192kHz PCM and DSD64 files. Despite the older vintage of Wolfson DACs, Rega emphasizes their engineering and sonic capabilities, ensuring the best sound performance. It's important to note that the Mercury preamp does not include a phono stage; it is designed to be used with Rega's standalone Aura MC phono stage, which is recommended to be paired with the Rega Naia turntable.
The Solis power amplifier features fully symmetrical discrete circuitry, promising to drive even the most demanding speakers with minimal distortion. Rega's engineering team spent four years developing and fine-tuning the circuit for optimal performance. Inside the Solis, you'll find two low-noise, custom-designed 330VA toroidal transformers and twelve 130-watt 15A high-frequency output transistors, all in Rega's signature green color. The Solis outputs 168W per channel into 8 ohms, extending to 305W into 4 ohms.
Both amplifiers are designed and hand-built in England, housed in minimal-looking CNC-machined aluminum casings with extensive protection circuits. They feature IPS LCD displays and ample heatsinks on the power amp. The Rega Mercury and Solis amplifiers are available in a single black finish. Review samples are expected to arrive soon, so stay tuned for a comprehensive review.
For more information, check out our Rega Naia review, learn about Rega's Roy Gandy winning the Outstanding Contribution Award, and explore the pros and cons of integrated vs. pre/power amplification.
