After years of anticipation and multiple show prototypes, Rega Research has officially launched its flagship separate components: the Mercury pre-amplifier and Solis power amplifier. Priced at £6,950 each (£13,900 for the pair), these hand-built, British-made separates mark Rega’s most ambitious assault on the high-end reference market since the legendary Osiris integrated. First production units are shipping immediately to dealers worldwide.
The celestial naming reflects their symbiotic relationship – Mercury, the planet closest to the sun, and Solis (Latin for “sun”) – perfectly encapsulating the pre/power dynamic where the power amplifier serves as the system’s energy source.
Key Specifications at a Glance
Rega Mercury pre-amplifier
- Fully discrete symmetrical circuitry
- Built-in high-performance DAC (USB galvanically isolated, S/PDIF, up to 32-bit/192kHz PCM & DSD64)
- Discrete “mini-Solis” headphone amp (2.5W into 33Ω), full-colour IPS display
- Alps Blue Velvet volume control
- Balanced & unbalanced I/o
- Custom backlit Orbit remote
- Standby mode
Rega Solis power amplifier
- Fully symmetrical circuit
- Triple high-current output stage (12 x Sanken 130W transistors)
- Dual 330VA toroidal transformers
- 40,000µF reservoir capacitance
- Balanced inputs
- Extensive protection circuitry
Engineering Philosophy: Four Decades in the Making
Rega openly states that the core circuits trace their lineage back to the original Elicit from 1990, refined through the Elex, Aethos, and Osiris eras. Yet the Mercury/Solis represent a significant evolution – what the company calls its “future topology.”
- Fully symmetrical, discrete Class-A driver stages throughout the signal path
- Unbalanced core design (Rega maintains RCA connections deliver the purest performance; balanced circuitry is provided but with the caveat that it adds inherent noise/distortion)
- Separate chassis isolation of low-level pre-amp circuitry from high-current power sections for ultra-low noise
- Surface-mount technology perfected over 15 years, combined with hand-selected premium components
The Mercury’s built-in DAC features galvanic isolation on USB and a dedicated power supply, while its headphone amplifier is essentially a “mini-Solis” – using identical symmetrical common-base driver stages for genuine high-end personal listening.
The Perfect Partners in Rega’s Reference Ecosystem
Paired with the Naia turntable, Aphelion 2 cartridge, and Aura MC phono stage, the Mercury/Solis complete what Rega describes as a “fully symmetric, discrete system from source to speaker.” Early listening sessions at UK events (including the recent Acoustica Chester show and upcoming demonstrations) have reportedly left attendees stunned by the combination’s effortless dynamics, black backgrounds, and musical authority.
Rega emphasises that these are not merely “more powerful Aethos separates” – the Mercury/Solis are said to surpass even the flagship Osiris integrated in resolution, control, and sheer scale.
Availability & Final Thoughts
First customer units are arriving in stores this week, backed by Rega’s lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. For enthusiasts who have long wished Rega would return to true reference-level separates, the wait is over. At £13,900 for the pair, the Mercury and Solis are not inexpensive – but in the context of genuine British hand-built high-end amplification capable of driving the most demanding loudspeakers with finesse and authority, they represent a compelling statement from one of hi-fi’s most respected names.
