Mercury Recording D Series AM16D 500 Series Microphone Amplifier Module

The Mercury AM16D is a D Series / 500 Series version of the original American, modular, transistor type preamplifier built in the 1960s. The AM16 is well known for being very musical overall, 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 AM16D Features include: Gain Control (0-50dB, 0 = Line Input), Phantom (48V), Polarity (Phase Reverse), an Output Control (Fader), a newly designed Direct Input featuring the Mercury FDI Circuit, and comes with a Peak Indicator that allows you to see quickly which channel is receiving ‘hot’ signals.

The Mercury AM16D has transformer coupled inputs and outputs with custom wound transformers that are modeled after the originals. These transformers are the same transformers we used in our older 2U 19" version, the Mercury AM16. The amplifier gain is set at 50dB like the original "AM16 R" high gain setting. We have added features that make the Mercury AM16D more flexible than the original, or even a modern rack solution of vintage modules.

We have worked with many of the vintage AM16 modules in the past. At Marquette Audio Labs we have been racking and modifying modules since 1994 and the ‘vintage Langevin’ 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 AM16D 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 its goal with the Mercury AM16D: to make it possible to use the amplifier to its original, full potential. The Mercury AM16D can be used as a microphone amplifier (mic pre) and you can also use it as a line amplifier (booster) by using the Input Gain and Output Fader controls, Note: You can set at 0dB to accept Line Level inputs and or increase gain and turn down Output for ‘musical break up.’ You can use it to warm up tracks or as a front end of your G8 Sum-It Mixer. The Direct Input on the Mercury AM16D was designed for direct recording of bass and electric guitar as well as keyboards and drum machines, etc... The Mercury FDI Direct Input on the Mercury AM16 is very full sounding. There is more mid range and low end presence than most DIs as well as an open and airy top end that the AM16 is famous for.