Best Stereo Reverb??: Meris Mercury X or Chase Bliss CXM 1978 //  

Interestingly I just released a deeper dive on these two in more of a “no dry” context. This with guitar, but it’s something to check out! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5-YQH1A-8_Y.htmlsi=DmAsMRrUUmXcs3Eo

Happy to do it! Gives a basic comparison. I’ll try and dive in deeper later for people who may not have both or either and are considering them 😎

Hey thanks! There are ways to get the other clock speeds on the X. I made another video going deeper into it. May still not be what you’re after but know that it’s there :) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5-YQH1A-8_Y.html

Moving sliders are cool. I love that they’re automated but it’s more neat than anything else the way I’m using it. Both are solid reverb pedals!

The CXM is straight forward with no menus. It does have a large footprint though. The Mercury X can cover most of the CXM sounds and a whole lot more. Both are amazing no doubt! I haven’t gotten into all the functions of the Mercury X yet on a video, but I can tell you one thing the Mercury X has that I was was on the CXM: Freeze. The Mercury has the ability to infinitely freeze what you’re playing and you can assign it to the far right foot switch, the Hold Modified, as either a momentary or latching foot switch. Plus, while I’m freeze, anything you continue to play still gets affected by the reverb! It’s incredible. Sonically you can’t go wrong with either!

Thank you so much for your kind words. Happy to keep these videos coming! First, you may be absolutely right about the modulation. This is where the settings landed in my ears, but a more discerning listener could absolutely hear differences! As for trails/spillover, both the 1978 and the X have that available so you can’t go wrong with either!

Hey thanks so much! Honestly I’m not sure if the cxm sums to mono. I ended up keeping the MercuryX as it has the 3 algorithms in the CXM

Happy to do a deep dive! I’ll add it to my list :) You’re 100% correct about no menu diving on the CXM! I love that about it! So simple and elegant! If you have the LVX then the Mercury X is the same in its menu function. There are menus but I don’t mind it. It’s pretty straightforward. I keep mine on the Text View and it’s makes sense to me. No sub-menus or folders. As for the clock. That’s the difference that I can find. There is no clock options on the Mercury X. I think I read someone say it’s all hi-fi but I can’t confirm. The other arcade buttons on the CXM (Diffusion, Mod) are covered but not the clock. At least not easily. You can probably get there with some of the other modules. There’s even a “lo-fi” module, but that does more of a tape wow/flutter thing so not the same as the clock. I just mean that there is a lot of tweakability on the Mercury X so you can probably get it where you want it. Thanks for the question! Cheers!

Here to confirm that the 78 versions on the MX are the hifi only, it does not include the CXM standard or lofi variations. Low diffusion on the hall is ‘sparse mode’ according to the manual but I don’t hear increased noise, my assumption is fewer taps in the reverb shell. Hazy is a lofi module from the modulation block, and filter and dynamics blocks can also alter the reverb but there is no clock control like the CXM.

@Telorchid yes you are correct! 🙌

I have tried a few different reverb pedals, but nothing has done the 3D spatial presence like the CXM. Does the Mercury X have the same spatial feel? I always find it hard to tell through a RU-vid video.

@alistairshaw4845 the Mercury X and CXM have the same base algorithms in the hall/plate/room, which makes them quite similar. The differences are subtle, so I think the only way to tell for sure is to A/B them in person if even in stereo, my RU-vid videos are too compressed (thank you RU-vid 🤦🏻‍♂️)

Absolutely! It’s on my list of things to make!

I’m not sure what you’re wanting. Can you be a little more specific? Either way I’m here for it! 😎

​@@thepedalcollaborativespecific may be an understatement, doesn't have to be "straight" forward. Right?

@JohnnyADi I’m with ya! Happy to be of service

​@@thepedalcollaborative maybe a collar jingle will sneak through a vocal cut.

@JohnnyADi collar jingle asmr!

I love everything you said here! They’re both amazing reverbs so it really does boil down to functionality (and space & cost). Either way you can’t go wrong, so get the one that lets you keep on living! 🙌

Yes they are! The Meris folks have done an amazing job with both!

Hey thanks for the kind words! Happy to do these types of videos for everyone’s benefit! The only control you can’t find on the X that the CXM has is the clock. There’s no adjustment within the reverb. You could probably get there with the Dynamics or other lo-fi modules bit that’s a definite distinction between the two

TBH I didn't notice a difference between them in that regard. To be fair though, I haven't noticed a lot of noise out of either individually either. I know that doesn't help :(

🤦🏻‍♂️ you know you’re absolutely right!!! I definitely should have. Here’s the 3 algorithms 1: “Black 2” is the “Room” algorithm on the CXM1978 and “78 Room” on the Mercury X. 2: “Green 4” is the “Plate” / “78 Plate” 3: “Red 2” is the “Hall” / “78 Hall” Thanks so much for calling it out!!!

I’ve not tried the Golden or True Spring, so I can’t compare. Honestly Spring reverb isn’t much of a thing to me so I’m not the best person to ask. But based on my quick listen to the X, Spring isn’t the most robust of the algorithms within

@@thepedalcollaborative appreciate the reply. Do you find it to be transparent?

@EJH-jn6mo to my ears it’s very transparent. Very hi-fi.

Heyo! I don’t mind at all…but to get the full picture let me share what my typical routing is in general: Guitar > channel 1 of Audient Sono > Benson Chimera VST by Mixwave > out channel 3 of Audient Sono > input of first pedal > rest of pedal chain > stereo L/R into digital inputs 3/4 of the Audient Sono via a Berhinger Ultra Gain 8-channel > ProTools. That it. That’s how I do it pretty much every time! So from the end of the pedals it’s straight into Pro Tools! If you have questions let me know. I’m happy to share!

For as long as you want it!

Not that I’ve noticed!

If anything it sounded like CXM dry tone is robbing highs.

Interesting!

@@thepedalcollaborative I might be crazy tho!!!! Any thoughts?

We could all be crazy! 😜 I’ve noticed differences in the EQs that various pedals out in things. “Warm” is just really a reduction in high frequencies.

BAM is really really awesome! This was more aimed towards foot pedals as opposed to desktop units

Mayhaps! Both are incredible, and it could very well just be the way I have them set here 🤷🏻. But yes, there’s something uniquely special about that CXM!

Like what?

It sounds like he’s trying to do an Asmr/gear video. I’ve never had a voice trigger misophonia this badly before.

@joeyjojojr.shabado5143 I think he’s just talking 🤷‍♂️

Bob ross

Here’s a tree

Valid point. This one was definitely run and gun. I don’t script any of the ones I do but I do see your point. Thanks for the critique!

Nice one! Do you use the CXM to control the Mrc X via MIDI?

@silentguitarplayer6430 no I don’t. Currently don’t have MIDI connected on either. I’m pretty low-maintenance with my MIDI and only use it as a master clock. How would you suggest using it in this setup?

Ahaha, no, you don't:) You just make so clever two-finger switching, that I thought you were only pressing the CXM footswitch, and it in turn was switching the MercX preset in and out lol!

@silentguitarplayer6430 I blame years of piano and practicing octaves…that and my secret life as a sleight of hand magician. But seriously though, Meris released a video when their LVX was released and used the LVX to send PC changes to the CXM and the Preamp Mkii, so there is some MIDI control trickery in the Mercury X I’m sure!