As a natural skeptic, I tend to question things that receive a lot of hype. The Mercury X from Meris, a company known for creating high-end guitar pedals, was no exception. However, after using it, I must admit that the Mercury X surpasses all the buzz surrounding it. Priced at $599, it may be expensive, but it is undeniably the best reverb pedal available.
The build quality of the Mercury X is top-notch, with sturdy footswitches, potentiometers, and encoders, as well as various connectivity options like stereo ins and outs, MIDI, expression pedal jack, and USB-C. But the real standout feature of this pedal is the variety and quality of its reverb algorithms, ranging from standard spring and hall reverbs to more unique options like Ultraplate and Gravity. Regardless of the setting, the sound produced is incredible.
The spring reverbs on the Mercury X are particularly impressive, offering a convincing and lush sound even at subtle settings. Algorithms like 78 Room, 78 Plate, and 78 Hall, borrowed from the Chase Bliss collaboration CXM 1978, recreate the iconic Lexicon 224 sound with a modern twist. Other algorithms like Ultraplate and Cathedral from the Mercury 7 pedal provide epic and vast reverb effects.
The Mercury X also introduces two new algorithms, Prism and Gravity, which offer unique and out-of-the-box reverb options. Prism creates dense reflections in geometric rooms, while Gravity smears sound over infinity, making it ideal for ambient melodies. Overall, the Mercury X lives up to its hype and delivers exceptional reverb effects that make it a standout in the market.
