Design and Build

In a word, Mystere engineering can best be described as “minimalist.”  For instance, the integrated amps and preamps have only an input selector and volume control. There is no remote! Why? As you turn the volume knob, you will feel it lock into a series of notches (or detents, in engineering terms), 24 in all. It’s called a “stepped attenuator.” Each “step” has a single resistor per channel for the signal to pass through.  Each contact is constructed with heavy silver plating. They are quite labor intensive to manufacture, but sonically, vastly superior. Hand-trimming and mounting 46 resistors is a feat in itself. Then make 48 perfect solder joints, all in the name of purity and left/right signal tracking, that is as exceptional as one could hope for.

Engineering and build exemplified by this type of volume control would be equated to cost-no-object products like the fabulous  Lamm Audio  LL-1 pre-amp.  But that beauty retails for over $42,000.  The Mystere pre-amp? Less than ten percent of that.

Look inside the chassis of any Mystere component and you will see other examples of their exquisite engineering; some of the finest point-to-point wiring workmanship in the world; even the internal wiring is dressed in silk.  More labor-intensive to build, but designed and crafted to last a lifetime. In paying homage to the enduring standards of old, you will find only one circuit board inside the Mystere:  The proprietary Adaptive AutoBias , a  Durob Audio exclusive.  This ingenious innovation reduces distortion by up to 50% by continuously monitoring each tube and constantly tweaking it to it’s optimum performance point. And with this circuit, you never have to bias or adjust the tubes–it’s all done automatically. Finally, the circuit allows you to use a huge variety of different tubes to match your musical tastes or changes in your room dynamics, speakers, or other gear.  And the circuit is passive, meaning it is not directly in the signal path.

Lastly the finish.  An industry expert said it best: “That finish is enough to make the paint on my Porsche blush.”  There’s a reason for that:  It is hand-rubbed and epoxy-based.  So years from now it will shine like new with a minimum of care.  The comments are common.  “Like black glass.” “I saw the pictures, but they can’t capture how nice it is.”  “How did you guys do it?”

We’re not telling... but we know you’ll feel the same.