What it is
Rega flagship preamp launched November 2025; designed and hand-built Southend, UK. Most electronically complex Rega product ever made. Circuit lineage traces back to Rega Elicit (~1990).
Built-in DAC (twin Wolfson WM8742 chips, derived from Saturn Mk3 / Isis CD player) — to PCM 192/24, DSD64. Discrete headphone amp. Full-colour IPS display.
I/O: 4 RCA + 1 XLR inputs; 1 RCA + 1 XLR outputs. CRITICAL: Rega specifically recommends RCA-RCA connection — the core circuit is single-ended. XLR is provided for connectivity but adds noise vs RCA.
Who it comes up against
10 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2 keeps the slot decisively.
With the Audio Note P1 SE, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Whest Audio 60Se Pro, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Rega Mercury is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Audio Note P1 SE gives up quietness at rest under the Silent Path weighting.
had not heard a better preampStereophile (Art Dudley) — Baby Reference V1 review
had not heard a better preampStereophile (Art Dudley) — Baby Reference V1 review
9 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Anchored brief, the Audiolab 9000Q keeps the slot clearly.
With the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units), the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Rega Mercury is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.
S/N exceeding 112dB A-weighted, THD <0.002%Audiolab 9000P/Q HomeTheaterReview specs + Audio Tailor review
S/N exceeding 112dB A-weighted, THD <0.002%Audiolab 9000P/Q HomeTheaterReview specs + Audio Tailor review
8 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, PRaT, Reference
Against the Anchored brief, the NVA P50SA MKII keeps the slot clearly.
With the Longdog Audio P6100M (pair), the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Rega Mercury is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Longdog Audio P6100M (pair) gives up quietness at rest under the Anchored weighting.
pin sharp clarityNVA owner consensus (P50SA)
pin sharp clarityNVA owner consensus (P50SA)
4 lost · Cavity-Native, Characterful, Romantic
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Leema Neutron keeps the slot decisively.
With the Leema Hydra II, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the Rega Mercury is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Leema Hydra II gives up vocal presence under the Cavity-Native weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the preamplifier position.
rhythmic drive and punchWhat Hi-Fi? 2025
2 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) keeps the slot decisively.
With the EAR Yoshino 890, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
On its own merits the Rega Mercury is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the EAR Yoshino 890 gives up midrange truth under the Intimate weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the preamplifier position.
868L line preamp, Tim de Paravicini valve designEAR Yoshino 868L + multi-decade Stereophile heritage
2 lost · Artisan, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the Exposure 3510 Preamplifier keeps the slot decisively.
With the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units), the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Rega Mercury is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units) gives up quietness at rest under the Artisan weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the preamplifier position.
1 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the Audio Note M2 Phono keeps the slot decisively.
With the Audio Note P1 SE, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
On its own merits the Rega Mercury is the stronger preamplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Audio Note P1 SE gives up midrange truth under the Intimate weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the preamplifier position.
Audio Note pre with onboard phono, classic SET-friendly voicingAudio Note M2 Phono + Stereophile heritage