The Sontronics MERCURY is a flagship large-diaphragm valve condenser microphone that represents the absolute pinnacle of British audio engineering and design. Conceived by Sontronics' founder Trevor Coley and meticulously beta-tested by top producers and engineers at Abbey Road Studios, this microphone is lovingly hand-built in the UK. Constructed with premium-grade electrical components—many boasting an incredibly low tolerance of less than 1%—and equipped with a hand-selected, European-made ECC81/12AT7 vacuum tube, the MERCURY delivers the sublime warmth, depth, and character of vintage masterpieces while maintaining pristine modern clarity.
The centerpiece of this microphone's incredible versatility is its dedicated SPS-2 power supply, which features a continuously variable polar pattern control. Instead of relying on fixed switch positions, users can seamlessly sweep from an omnidirectional pattern, through a classic cardioid, all the way to a figure-of-eight, discovering the absolute sweet spot for any room and sound source. Furthermore, the power supply houses intuitive switches for a -10dB attenuation pad and a 75Hz low-cut filter, providing immediate tactile control over your signal before it ever reaches the preamp.
Despite its classic valve design, the Sontronics MERCURY boasts an incredibly low self-noise figure of under 12dB (A-weighted), a remarkable achievement that ensures your recordings are free from the hiss usually associated with tube microphones. Heralded as a modern classic, it performs flawlessly across an array of demanding applications, from stunningly intimate lead vocals and rich grand pianos to expansive orchestral arrays and drum overheads. The microphone is supplied complete with its power supply, a proprietary multi-pin cable, a custom shockmount, and a premium flight case.
KEY FEATURES
- Flagship valve condenser microphone, completely designed and hand-built in the UK
- Fitted with a hand-selected, premium European-made 12AT7/ECC81 vacuum tube
- Continuously sweepable polar pattern control (from omni through cardioid to figure-of-8)
- Constructed with ultra-high-quality components with extremely low tolerance limits
- Features a switchable -10dB pad and a 75Hz linear low-cut filter on the power supply
- Remarkably low self-noise for a tube microphone, providing exceptional dynamic range
- Developed in collaboration with elite engineers, including those at Abbey Road Studios
- Supplied with the SPS-2 power supply, custom shockmount, 8-pin cable, and a flight case
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Microphone Type: Variable-pattern valve/tube condenser
- Tube / Valve: European-made 12AT7 / ECC81
- Polar Pattern: Fully sweepable (Omnidirectional to Cardioid to Figure-of-eight)
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
- Sensitivity: 18 mV/Pa (-33 dB ±1.5 dB, 0 dB = 1V/Pa @ 1 kHz)
- Impedance: ≤ 200 Ohms
- Maximum SPL (for 0.5% THD @ 1 kHz): 125 dB
- Equivalent Noise Level: < 12 dB (A-weighted)
- Pad: 0, -10 dB
- Low-Cut Filter: Linear, 75 Hz
- Power Requirements: 115/230V SPS-2 power supply included
- Microphone Dimensions: 250 × 90 × 80 mm
- Microphone Weight: 1.05 kg (1.45 kg with shockmount)
- Power Supply Weight: 1.95 kg
