Mercury AM16/1 Studio Microphone Amplifier

The Mercury AM16 is a 19" rack mountable version of
the original American, modular, transistor type
preamplifier built in the 1960's. The AM16 is well
known for being over all very musical, open and airy
on the top end and having a tube-like "air"
characteristic not found in most amplifiers of the
same type. The Mercury AM16 is available in both
two channel and
one channel (AM16/1) versions. Features
include: Input Pad (-24dB) as well as a Adjustable
Input (Pad) Attenuator (-0, -6, -12, -18 and -24dB),
Phantom (48V), Phase Reverse (Polarity), an Output
Control (Fader) and a newly designed FET Direct Input,
per channel. The Mercury AM16's internally mounted
power supply uses a toroidal transformer and is
regulated for super low noise and stable performance.
In addition each amplifier channel is locally
regulated to eliminate cross talk between channels.
The Mercury AM16 is housed in a beautiful, gray hammer
finish, steel chassis and the aluminum front (control)
panel has a custom powder coated finish giving the
Mercury AM16 the look and feel of the "vintage"
original.

The inputs and outputs of the Mercury AM16 are coupled
through custom wound transformers that are modeled
after the originals . The Amplifier gain is set at
50dB like the original "R" high gain setting. We have
also added features that make the Mercury AM16 more
flexible than the original or even a modern rack
solution.
We have worked with many of the vintage AM16 modules.
At Marquette Audio Labs we have been racking and
modiifing modules since 1994 and the AM16 has always
been a personal favorite. We have always had
continuous great feedback from clients about the
musical characteristics of the AM16. But the original
modules have not been made for some 30+ years and
supply is not able to meet demand. The Mercury AM16
solves that problem with the same fully discrete,
"transistor type" circuitry and more importantly the
same musical quality and performance of the original
modules.
The Original AM16 Amplifier Literature stated: "The
AM16 is primarily a microphone pre-mixing amplifier
(mic pre). However, its performance also qualifies it
for use as a post-mixing (booster) and as a low-level
program amplifier. Of special note is the low noise
generation figure." Mercury recording Equipment has
achieved it goal with the Mercury AM16. This goal was
to make it possible to use the amplifier to its
original, full potential. The Mercury AM16 can be used
as a microphone amplifier (mic pre) and you can also
use it as a line amplifier (booster) by using the
combination of the -24dB pad and the Input Attenuator
(Pad) and Output Fader control. This gives you the
option to run your mixes through the Mercury AM16 or
use for additional (musical) gain on another device,
when needed. Thirdly, you have the option of the
Direct Input on the Mercury AM16, which was added for
uses for direct recording of Bass and Electric guitar
as well as keyboards and drum machines etc... The FET
Direct Input on the Mercury AM16 is very full
sounding. There is more mid range and low end presence
than most D.I.s as well as an open and airy top end
that the AM16 is famous for.
MERCURY AM16/ 1 - Microphone Preamplifier (1 Ch)
LIST PRICE: $1250.00
US STREET PRICE: $1095.00
MERCURY AM16 - Microphone Preamplifiers (2 Ch) more info
LIST PRICE: $2300.00
US STREET PRICE: $1949.00
Please call Dave at (510) 581-3817 for more information.