Amplifier Ayon Mercury II
Mercury, single-ended class A tube giant in its elite segment managed to attract the attention of music lovers. This two-channel amplifier complete the whole idea of repeating flagship integrated amplifier Ayon Crossfire, but it turned out at the same time more accessible. Second-generation model looks like an almost exact copy of the Sunfire, she has the same body and advanced layout, and instead of the general safety net - four separate screw-bolts grill. In addition, Mercury II weight by up to 45 kg - of a large transport case alone it already and do not pull it off.
Chassis done flawlessly. It is collected from the powerful aluminum parts anodized in black color and carefully adjusted to each other. Antiresonance legs protect the body from vibration, and he is well and distributes the heat dissipation in excess produce powerful output transistors.
The front panel of Mercury II emblazoned company logo Ayon with ruby light. There is an input selector and potentiometer for manual or motorized remote volume control (other functions at the control panel is not). In the upper plane, in addition to tube sockets, embedded throughout the ammeter to monitor the current output tubes. Next to them, you will find trimmer, but not in a hurry to turn them - they need to balance the glow in the event that the amplifier output will be the background. More important for sound quality adjustment bias produced trimmers on the rear panel.
In the apparatus six pairs of jacks RCA, one of which is the output from the pre-section, with a separate speaker terminals to connect 4 or 8-ohm load (wired with different windings of the output transformer). It is also worth to mention the double grounding scheme, which is activated by a toggle switch on the rear panel and reduces the 50-hertz background, inevitable in amplifiers with variable fervor, as well as the presence of the indicator phase power.
The power supply system - already tricky in the first version of Mercury - in the second model has become even more refined. Such attention to this node is not a coincidence. Single-ended amplifiers are extremely sensitive to the quality of the anode voltage. The novelty apply two separate low-noise transformer (a conventional Mercury was only one), which are fully shielded and is not affected by electromagnetic fields at radio tubes. Improved and features stabilizer - in the description of the amplifier is said that it is "an innovative system with a high rate of delivery of energy".
Each amplifier stage - a private supply system. Here, the developers did not go to even the slightest compromise. Output transistors are powered by a high-power diode rectifier through a huge choke, which favorably affects the dynamics of sound. Anode voltage is preliminary and driver stage is rectified and stabilized rectifiers 5U4GB. In addition to the primary circuit has a total cut filter radio frequency interference, penetrating to the mains. Needless to say, in the amplifier and provides a solid capacitive buffer, and the function of soft "start" for heating lamps, and automatic soft shutdown.
In a fundamentally different way realized the audio path - there is full minimalism. The developers tried to make the signal path was extremely short, and used the scheme that does not require a negative feedback. If any modern audiophile power represented in the form of a complex with a mass of clockwork gears, the Mercury II on the background will look like, probably as tough a direct transfer. There is no general environmental protection or local chains - this is an amplifier with zero feedback.
And the high performance achieved in the circuit design tricks it is not, namely, a good consistency and quality of each item. All passive radio components, including capacitors - only audiophile grade. The printed circuit board has a gold-plated track signal wiring is performed silver-copper mono-residential. Tube sockets with contacts made of beryllium bronze specially manufactured to specifications Ayon. Of course, gets to the path of each pair of input and Driver lamps (respectively, 12AU7 Philips and 6H30EP Sovtek). A directly heated triode output 52B at all is made to order with your company ayonovskoy marking. This handmade from Europe is of high purity vacuum, precision assembly and minimal scatter parameters. In addition to the 52 in the Mercury II can be used as transistors and AA32V 300V-S.
The most crucial part of the tube audio section, output transformers - massive, broadband, low-loss and multiple sectioning. They are also placed in a protective screen and filled antiresonant compound. In general, wherever you look - and nowhere is there a hint of compromise. This High End - in both form and content.
The first discovery proved sensitive amplifier is not so much to the quality of the power cord, as to the trigger point. If you have two audiophile-grade cable for Mercury II is better to take the one that is easier to integrate it directly into the wall without any extension cords or "pilot". Make sure that the rear panel is not illuminated red light - it signals the wrong phase. But more advanced cable should be powered source for which, incidentally, is also imperative to find the correct polarity. It is easy to identify by ear - the scene takes on the scale and order.
If the amplifier is new, as in our case, will have to be patient. During the "warm-up" this odnotaktnika takes at least several days. The fact that it has reached the desired condition, it will be clear on the nature of the upper band. We amplifier "out of the box" trebles dry, monotonous and even some transistor. But then things go callous notes, playback becomes accurate, unobtrusive, well detailed. Shutter speed will be generally at every turn. Warming up before the advent of sound in the column takes about one minute, and to a normal state of melodious - at least ten to fifteen. Not a bad idea, by the way, at the end of this period, make sure the settings are correct bias currents - most likely they upolzut towards smaller values of the "cold" setting. But for the patience you will be rewarded with a special sound.
I do not remember a single tube amp (and even more single-cycle) in this price segment, which could so delicately control the lower range. Bass is realistic, well structured, has a rapid attack and fundamental support in the field of infra-low. Place the bass in the middle of the transition is also formed flawlessly - no hint of boominess or spineless. That is why at the stated 23 W output Mercury II sounds subjectively much more dynamic. So do not even too sensitive acoustics for it will not be a difficult load.
Second endearing quality Mercury II - Stage sound. It's not even a scene in the usual audiophile sense, and clearly divided the space where you "see" not only every instrument, but also the walls of the concert hall or studio, feel all its acoustic nuances and "breathe" its atmosphere. While this amp extracts accurate and plausible spatial information from virtually every track - even recorded with imperfect quality.
In the middle register at the Mercury II can catch "The Family" features a single-cycle amplification. The vocals sound sincere, instrumental compositions, even very complex timbral combinations transmitted ornate and beautiful. The sound seems to be somewhat embellished the even harmonics, but not to such an extent that the cost to a violation of musical balance. Additionally path has a really high resolution because the reproduction quality between tracks in CD and HD-Audio difference trapped primarily in the middle range. Standard 44.1/16 sounds a bit brighter and more compress and files 96/24 or 192/24 the quality of virtually no flaws. Sound is open, fast, linear and clean.
You can complain about the nature of the transfer of upper case, because the Mercury II does not sound quite "canonical" for tube single-ended Less beautiful "silver-crystal" is not felt almost triode harmonic warmth. But with the clarity and legibility of the full order. And all this, remember, in conjunction with very specific bass and live mid! Go and find this machine a competitor ...
