BSS Audio AR-133 Quick Manual

Active Direct Box
AR-133
Why do I need
a DI Box?
Signals from electronic instru-
ments such as guitars, keyboards
and similar sound sources gener-
ally have a low level, high im-
pedance output, which will not
interface with the low impedance
balanced input found on
professional sound mixing con-
soles. Furthermore these signals
cannot be driven up long cable
lengths without serious loss of
level and degradation.
The DI box converts this signal to
a more suitable form without
interfering with or modifying the
signal at the instrument source,
and should provide freedom from
ground and power line related
problems.
Passive DI boxes have limited
applications as they will inevita-
bly affect the signal source for
guitar type applications, and can
also have an insertion loss of
around 20dB.
The only safe and predictable
way to provide direct feeds from
instruments or other sources is by
using an Active DI box utilising
an input amplifier driving an
output transformer.
The AR-133 fulfills all the
requirements of an active DI and
more.
• Switchable input
attenuation
0dB for guitar-type
pickups
-20dB for line level
signals
-40dB for speaker
feeds
• Matches the level and imped-
ance with unity gain without
loading the source
• Can drive signals up long cable
lengths
• Powered from console
phantom power or internal
battery
• Automatic switchover to bat-
tery if phantom power fails
Parallel Link Jack output to feed
•
amplifiers directly
Parallel XLR input for
•
converting unbalanced out-
puts to balanced lines
The audio signal path of the
AR-133 is an enhanced design
based upon the long established
BSS AR-116, now regarded by
many as a reference unit.
The sound quality, particularly
on acoustic guitar and bass
guitar pick-ups, is recognised as
outstanding.
The uses, however, are not
limited to guitars or keyboards.
The AR-133 is suitable for use
whenever it is critical to match
levels and impedances, sources
need isolation or long cables are
used.