Mercury Recording Equipment Company
M72s MKIV
Studio Microphone Amplifiers, Valve, Mono & Dual Mono
The new Mercury M72s [Mk. IV] is our flagship, valve Studio Microphone Amplifier. The M72s is based on the most sought after vintage amplifier module—the Telefunken/Siemens V72s—which is most famous for being installed in REDD.37 consoles, used on all the early Beatles recordings by George Martin at Abbey Road Studios in London, England.
MERCURY M72s - STUDIO MICROPHONE AMPLIFIERS (2CH. DUAL MONO)
You may notice the new Mercury M72s was stripped of a few vintage inspired, aesthetic extras of the MK II [which is still available as the M72s-CSV, custom shop version] but is still loaded with the same exact tone and warmth utilizing the same exact circuit, same quality parts and same transformers we have used since we started building the first M72s at Mercury Recording Equipment.
The Mercury M72s is based on the module used in consoles which are very rare due to a minimal amount made. The more common V72 amplifier modules (not marked with the lower case s, i.e. V72s) were later modified and have been sold for many years as outboard preamplifiers all over the world. Neither of these amplifier modules have been available new for more than 50 years. So, working units have become extremely rare, very expensive and in some cases are now in need of much repair. Regardless of cost, the uniquely musical tonal characteristics of these amplifiers has made them the prized possession of many engineers lucky enough to get the vintage modules, and a "secret weapon" for many studio musicians.
MERCURY M72s/1 - STUDIO MICROPHONE AMPLIFIERS (1CH. MONO)
Mercury Recording Equipment is proud to have a faithful reproduction in the M72s. We have 20+ years of experience with the amplifiers and feel we have captured not only how the units behave, but how they sound overall. We are confident with the addition of modern features, making the M72s much more versatile, without sacrificing the most important feature: Musicality.
“After building hundreds of Vintage V72 packages at Marquette Audio Labs it is nice to know we can continue a tradition that we have been providing for over 10 years now. We are very proud of the Mercury M72s Studio Microphone Amplifiers at M.A.L. and I am personally very pleased with this product which has actually exceeded my expectations.”
Mercury M72s Features
The Gain of the Mercury M72s is variable from 28dB to 58dB, in 3dB increments, controlled with a high quality rotary switch. Also, there is an option of a selectable Input Pad of -16dB or -28dB for even more control. Additionally, when the -28dB pad is engaged and it is set at the lowest gain setting (28dB) you can run signal through the M72s to add warmth and tonality to any tracks, mixes, keyboards, drum machines, samples etc... There are also all the modern features we expect on a new piece of equipment: Phantom Power (on/off) , Phase (Polarity) Reversal, and our amazing sounding FDI (FET Direct Input) circuit per channel.
The Mercury FDI (FET Direct Input) is a proprietary J-Fet circuit, based on a class-A tube topology. The Mercury FDI is designed to reproduce every nuance of a direct recording, while the circuit lets the tube or solid-state character of the amplifier determine the overall tone. The instrument DI signal is sent through the entire microphone preamp circuitry, including Mercury’s custom, massive input transformers, so that the individual character of each preamp comes through.
The Mercury M72s has the rich lows and punchy mids giving you that 'instant' vocal tone, or assisting with a realistic acoustic guitar tone, punch to bass guitar. The same reaction to instruments or source as the vintage module but with slightly more open high end and openness. The Mercury M72s Studio Microphone Amplifier has that "vintage" tone and break up like the original circuit but it is a bit more musical over all (not cleaner, but more musical—there is a huge difference).
FAQ: Mercury M72s vs. M76m, Whats the difference?
Both are multipurpose tools for making music. But they do sound very different.
Tone
The Mercury M72s is warm and punchy. The M72s has a thick bottom end, a great push in the mid range and a open airy top end. The M72s performance is great on vocals, bass, drums, acoustic and electric guitars as well as room and overhead applications.
The M76m is warm, open and airy. Compared to the M72s, the M76m is overall more evenly "EQ'd", meaning there is not a push in the low or mids. The M76m shines on vocals, bass and guitars, giving you an amazing control to shape the amplifier's tone. Also, the M76m opens up your room and overhead mics. With 70dB (+/-) of total gain and the choice between high and low input impedance—ribbon mics love the M76m.
Gain
The M72s has 28dB to 58dB with -16 and -28dB input pad, and the M76m has nearly 70dB, with 60dB input gain, plus level control and low impedance selected (+6dB).
“Having used the Mercury M72s I now see no need to scour Eastern Europe to search for the last of the original units.”
Specifications
Mic Input Impedance: Approx. 2k
Suggested Source Impedance: Approx. 200 ohms
Input Impedance with -28dB Pad: Approx. 4k
DI Input Impedance: 2M ohms
Internal Output Impedance: 30-50 ohms (depends on gain setting)
Suggested Minimum Load: 500 ohms
Max. Mic Signal Input Level (@ 20 Hz): +34dBu with -28dB Pad engaged / +6dBu with Pad not engaged
Max. Output Level: +22dBu
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 0.5dB
Harmonic Distortion: All musically related low orders of harmonics, with no significant order above 5th. **
Mercury Recording Equipment products are not hybrid circuits, emulations of circuits, or "clones". We get the same sound, same tone and same musicality because we use the highest quality parts, all the tubes, and especially all the transformers in our products — like the vintage circuits we are paying homage to.
** The actual % of distortion depends on Gain setting. We feel that T.H.D. is not a specification that correlates well with actual "sonic niceness" although there are other types of lab tests that seem to fair better in that regard. Anyway, besides the typical (and not so typical) instrumentation lab measurements, we feel that a U.Y.E. (use your ears) test is a very valid approach to achieving our goal.
The MERCURY M72s Studio Microphone Amplifiers are a Faithful recreation of “Telefunken V72s Modules (similar to the above photo). David Marquette and Mercury used 30 years of experience repairing and custom racking the vintage modules at MAL. https://www.MarquetteAudioLabs.com
“ While the vintage V72 modules are historic and one of the holy grails of tube mic preamps… in my opinion the Mercury M72s is the best tube preamp, of its type, ever made. More, the vintage modules are Sixty years old and are not flexible nor easy to operate without a MAL Rack and MAL modification. The the Mercury M72s and M76m are by far the best way to go. Mercury offers the same tone, and craftsmanship in a rock solid package with modern features and a better PSU. The Mercury are repairable and built to last 50+ Years like the originals.” - David Marquette, Marquette Audio Labs Inc.
Pricing:
Mercury M72s
Dual Channel Studio Microphone Amplifier (2U)
LIST PRICE: $5,699.00
US STREET PRICE: $5,248.00
Mercury M72s/1
Single Channel Studio Microphone Amplifier (2U)
LIST PRICE: $3,329.00
US STREET PRICE: $2,998.00
Mercury M82 - 8:2 Passive Summing Mixer (1U)
LIST PRICE: $1,199.00
US STREET PRICE: $18.00
Use the Mercury M72s or M76m with the Mercury M82 8:2 Passive Summing Mixer to have your own “Beatle Console”!
“After using vintage V72s for years, plugging into the Mercury M72s brought me right back that same comfort zone. The Mercury M72s makes tracking vocals a dream. I have to say it’s my favorite when it comes to tube units... by leaps and bounds.”