Mercury features two sets of stereo outputs. The backside features classic SPL jack labeling that can be read right side up or upside down, something I’ve always loved about SPL gear. Everything is very instant and smooth, with no fighting or waiting for it to do what you want it to do. Mercury is very responsive to sample rate and source changes with no significant or bothersome lag. It also has a big button to change the clock sync source, and unlike a few other converters I own, you can see the sample rate and additional info on the bright, clear, illuminated screen from a distance, to be sure nothing is amiss. There’s a very thoughtful MUTE button for those who are using this as a monitor controller or guarding against feedback loops when configuring your routing. You can pretty much start using this thing right out of the box without reading the manual (the opposite of another converter/interface I happen to be reviewing right now). There are no confusing menus to scroll through, or special tricks needed to access all the options and features. One thing I love about Mercury is the big and simple buttons for changing what source is feeding the DAC. Mercury makes for a high-quality digital monitoring hub, with two AES/EBU inputs (one of which supports AES dual wire for sample rates up to 384 kHz), two S/PDIF connections, two TOSLINK connections, and USB for use as an audio interface. From an audiophile perspective, Mercury is future proofed for many years to come. Conversion is handled by AKM Velvet-Sound ® technology, with sampling rates up to 32-bit / 768 kHz, and Direct Stream Digital up to DSD4. Mercury is built on the unique 120v DC Audio Rail Technology found in most SPL products, providing the unit with exceptional headroom and dynamic range. It’s designed for use as a main monitoring converter, to listen to various sources in your studio or to feed an analog mastering chain-not at the same time of course, but I tried it in both scenarios, and here’s what I found. To-analog converter with phenomenal German build quality that’s available in red or black. E arlier this year, SPL (Sound Performance Lab) started shipping its new Mercury Mastering DA Converter, a mastering grade digital.
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February 2023
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