SPL Mercury

SPL Mercury Mastering D/A Converter

The SPL Mercury is the first mastering DA-converter in 120V technology. It offers seven digital stereo input sources, all of which can be synchronised with each other or with a word clock. The additional variable output qualifies Mercury as a monitor controller.

SPL Mercury Mastering D/A Converter Details

SPL Mercury provides connections for a total of seven digital stereo input sources. For each digital source there is a dedicated and illuminated tactile switch for quick selection and quick comparison. The detected sample rate is shown in the display. One USB input and two coaxial, two optical and two AES/EBU inputs are available. AES input 2 also supports Dual-Wire (DW) mode.

The display shows the synchronisation status and the detected sampling rate. Any source except USB can be synchronised to another source or to an external Word Clock. If the sync “Source” is selected in the display, each source uses its own sync code embedded in the signal.

Holding the Sync button for more than two seconds Mercury will change to the 0dBfs display. SPL Mercury offers all reference levels in dBu corresponding to a 0 dBfs (full scale) digital signal: +14, +15, +16, +17, +18, +20, +22 and +24 dBu.

The FIX OUT is an analogue balanced stereo output which can be calibrated to all common reference levels (see 0 dBfs). SPL Mercury offers a variable analogue balanced stereo output. This output provides the same signal as the FIX OUT, but the level is continuously adjustable. Thus, SPL Mercury can also be used as a state-of-the-art monitor controller.

This analogue potentiometer is used to control the level of the VAR OUT output. We use the ALPS RK27 “Big Blue” potentiometer with a nice “spoon in honey” feel and excellent channel tracking. So not only the auditory but also the haptic experience of volume control is at the highest level.

Digital Inputs

  • AES/EBU, PCM sample rates 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192 kHz
  • Coaxial SPDIF, PCM sample rates 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192 kHz
  • Optical SPDIF (Toslink F06), PCM sample rates 44.1/48/88.2/96/with Glass fibre <1 m: 176.4/192 kHz
  • USB (B), PCM sample rates 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192/352.8/384/705.6/768 kHz
  • USB (B), DSD over PCM (DoP), sample rates 2.8 (DSD64), 5.6 (DSD128), 11.2 (DSD256) MHz
  • 0 dBfs calibrated to 15 dBu

Specifications

  • Maximum input & output gain 32.5 dBu
  • Input impedance 20 kΩ
  • Output impedance 75 Ω
  • Common mode rejection -82 dBu
  • Frequency range (-3 dB) 4 Hz – 300 kHz
  • Crosstalk (1 kHz) -108 dBu
  • THD (0 dBu, 1 kHz) 0.000992 %
  • Noise (A-weighted) -102.5 dBu
  • Dynamic range 135 dB

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The details provided above are drawn from historical documents like advertising brochures or user manuals. They’re shared without bias or review. This info is given solely for your consideration, helping you gauge its usefulness to you.

SPL Mercury

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Nice and slick

By John McPhearson

Sound Quality 100%
Build Quality 100%
Usefullness 100%
Mojo/Funk 50%
Reliability 100%

I have not had it long, but I can say this is a totally transparent sounding DA converter. Build quality like all SPL gear I have used, is excellent, the switches all feel great, and it looks a million dollars.

Used it? Leave your rating and review.

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