Korena
Product detailSKU #1273887997577

BSS AudioAR-133 Active DI Box

BSS Audio
BSS Audio AR-133 Active DI Box
1/8

Independent shopping perspective

The Korena take

Active DI box that converts instrument or line signals to a balanced XLR mic input. For stages, installs and studios standardizing on one DI.

BSS Audio AR-133 Active DI Box product detail
Product studyBSS Audio AR-133 Active DI Box
BSS Audio AR-133 Active DI Box alternate view
Alternate view

Strong match

Who this is for

  • Sending a bass or piezo pickup down a long stage snake
  • House and install rigs where the console always supplies phantom
  • Keyboard and line outputs that overload passive DIs

Consider the trade-offs

When to look elsewhere

  • Players who want a DI that needs no power at all
  • Multi-channel keyboard rigs — cost per input adds up fast
  • Occasional home use where a basic passive box suffices

What matters in use

The specifications, translated

Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.

BSS Audio AR-133 Active DI Box construction detail

Detail 01

Active circuit

Buffers high-impedance pickups, so passive bass and acoustic piezo signals keep their top end over long cable runs.

Detail 02

Phantom power +20V to +48V

Works off desks that supply less than a full 48V, so it isn't limited to big consoles.

Detail 03

9V PP3 battery, standby

Battery covers inputs with no phantom. Under 2mA drain, so an alkaline lasts a long time.

Detail 04

Transformer-balanced output

The transformer breaks the ground path between stage and console, which is what kills hum on long runs.

Detail 05

+8dBu max output into 600 ohms

Enough headroom to take a hot keyboard or line output without the output stage clipping.

Detail 06

59 x 124 x 143 mm, 650g

Small enough to live behind an amp or under a pedalboard and stay put on a cable pull.

Final check

Know before you order

  1. 01No cables included — you supply the XLR and the instrument cable
  2. 02Keep a fresh 9V PP3 alkaline on hand; don't assume one ships
  3. 03Confirm the desk sends phantom to that input before relying on it
BSS Audio AR-133 Active DI Box close-up

Product questions

Before you decide

Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.

01Does it need phantom power?

It runs on +20V to +48V phantom from the console. When phantom isn't available, a 9V PP3 alkaline battery takes over as the standby supply.

02Is it active or passive?

Active. That's the point — the active input buffers passive pickups so long cable runs don't dull the high end the way a passive box can.

03Can I run a keyboard or line output into it?

Yes. Maximum output is +8dBu into 600 ohms or greater, so there's headroom for line-level sources, not just instrument pickups.

04How long does the battery last?

Current drain on battery is under 2mA, so an alkaline PP3 runs a long time. With phantom connected, the battery sits unused as backup.

Reference

Full specifications

The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.

5 detailsOther
Category Source
detail
Tier
new
Korena Special
false
Source Id
site51273887997577
Prop65
WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.