Detail 01
Active circuit
Buffers high-impedance pickups, so passive bass and acoustic piezo signals keep their top end over long cable runs.
Product detailSKU #1273887997577
BSS AudioAR-133 Active DI Box
1/2
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.
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.
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
- 01No cables included — you supply the XLR and the instrument cable
- 02Keep a fresh 9V PP3 alkaline on hand; don't assume one ships
- 03Confirm the desk sends phantom to that input before relying on it
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.
4 detailsConnections & power
- Output
- Transformer Balanced
- Max Output Level
- +8dBu into 600 ohms or greater
- Connector
- XLR3-32 or equivalent
- Phantom Power
- +20 volts DC to +48 volts DC
2 detailsSize & weight
- Weight
- 650
- Overall Dimensions
- 59 mm x 124 mm x 143 mm (2.3 inch x 4.9 inch x 5.6 inch)
1 detailsIn the box
- Main Standby Battery
- 9 volt PP3 type, preferably alkaline.
1 detailsOther
- Current Drain
- on phantom - less than 7.5mA, on battery - less than 2mA
