The Mercury 666 is a hybrid solid-state and valve (tube) studio limiting amplifier inspired by the Fairchild 666 compressor. It offers unparalleled flexibility, modern features, and exceptional sound quality.

Advanced Hybrid Design

The Mercury 666 utilises the new Mercury SSGRE (solid-state gain reduction element) for precise gain attenuation, followed by a 12BH7 valve-based gain makeup amplifier and a custom Cinemag output transformer. This design achieves a quieter operation and an expanded feature set compared to its predecessor, the Fairchild 666.

Enhanced Features for Modern Recording

The original Fairchild 666 needed more flexibility for contemporary recording. The Mercury 666 addresses this by incorporating easily accessible compression, gain, input level, and threshold controls. These modern enhancements make it a highly versatile tool for professional studios.

Comprehensive Control Layout

The Mercury 666 features a link switch with an LED indicator, allowing users to use a standard 1/4" (TS) cable to link two units for stereo operation. Meter controls include a zero control knob for easy meter calibration and a meter select switch to toggle between gain reduction and output level monitoring. The threshold control has an 11-position pot for precise and easily recallable settings. The attack release switch offers 11 attack/release settings, including vintage Fairchild 660 modes and additional flexible options, providing comprehensive control over the compression characteristics.

Additional Key Features

The output gain control allows users to adjust the makeup gain after compression. The DC adjust feature lets users fine-tune the compression start point, similar to a knee control, with an 11-position pot for easy recall ability. The side chain filter switch is a three-position rotary switch that filters out low-end frequencies at 90Hz or 150Hz before the signal reaches the limiting amplifier. The insert on/off switch controls the sidechain insert connections without disconnecting from the patch bay.

The Baxandall EQ provides a two-band equaliser with wide Q curves for natural sound adjustments and minimal phase distortion. The bypass on/off switch and the mix control allows for hard bypass and flexible wet/dry signal blending, enabling parallel compression for more refined control over the audio output.

Rear Panel Connections

The rear panel of the Mercury 666 includes an AC socket compatible with 115V or 230V AC. Gold-pin XLRs are used for line input and output, ensuring high-quality connections. The insert, send and return connections feature combination jacks for versatile connectivity. The stereo link connector, a 1/4" (TS) jack, also links two Mercury 666 units for stereo operation.