Open a Sweetwater Card & Earn BonusBucks
Back to results

BSS AR-133 1-channel Active Microphone / Instrument Direct Box

Active DI/Line Balancer
5 Write review Item ID: AR133
$47 Price Drop!
Lowest price in 90 days
$185.00
Save $47.00 (20%) Was: $232.00

Or pay $61.66 for 3 months with Easy Pay

See all payment options

Free
Shipping
Tech Support

Free Sweetwater
Support

Free 2-year
Warranty
In Stock!

Notify me about deals

Ask An Expert

Our expertly trained Sales Engineers are ready to help!

(800) 222-4700
What is a Sales Engineer?
Sweetwater Gear Exchange

Have one to sell?
Check out Sweetwater's Gear Exchange!
Learn More

Most Popular Accessories & Related Items

BSS AR-133 1-channel Active Microphone / Instrument Direct Box
In Stock!
$185.00
Back to navigation

Rugged Construction and A Clear Tone!

Durability and sound quality: the AR-133 direct box is without peer in both categories. The AR-133's metal casing could hold up under a buffalo stampede, and its strong rubber grips ensure it can't be kicked around easily. The sound is low-impedance bliss-clear, powerful and incredibly transparent. The AR-133 will be part of your gear for a long time to come.

Related Videos: AR-133 1-channel Active Microphone / Instrument Direct Box

Warranty Info

Sweetwater's FREE 2-Year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty

Extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

  • Save money with FREE parts and labor
  • Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time
  • Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department
Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage
2 Year Total Confidence Coverage
$23.00
FREE!

Free 2-year Warranty

Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ Warranty gives you extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage
Tools Icon

Save money with free parts & labor!

Fast Icon

Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time.

Award Icon

Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department.

Back to navigation

Tech Specs

  • Type: Active DI
  • Channels: 1
  • Pads: -20dB, -40dB
  • Ground Lift: Yes
  • Inputs: 1 x XLR, 1 x TS
  • Outputs: 1 x XLR, 1 x TS Link output
  • Power Source: 9V battery
  • Height: 2.3"
  • Depth: 4.9"
  • Width: 5.7"
  • Weight: 1.5 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: BSSAR133

What Makes Our Sales Engineers Great?

Sweetwater Sales Engineers are a world-class team of experts dedicated to you. Hand selected from across the globe, each brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the world of music gear to provide you with unparalleled service completely free of charge. Friendly relationships, real trust, and the right gear are only a call or a click away!

(800) 222-4700
Contact Your Sales Engineer
Back to navigation

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5

Customer Added Media

Write your review

Solid workhorse

I'm writing this review because it's the first time i've had to look up where to get a new one. We first put ours to work in 2006…. apart from covid we did 3-4 shows a week every week steady and also for one offs in between.

As far as I know we're still using the same ones but even if they were replaced at some point it would have been at least 6 years ago.

I mention the time because we finally had one that needed to be looked at and i was blown away by how well sealed the internals were.

the included pics were how they looked when i opened them up i diddnt clean or dust them at all.

Im convinced on the design
I think the oversized rubber walls do a lot to isolate the internals from vibration and general wear and tear.

The build quality was fantastic all of the housing sealed up perfectly and all of the screws had a light adhesive to further
isolate wear and tear from being on a stage.

my only hope is that the new ones are built the same
fingers crossed!
by kalei on
Music background: Tech

My Favourite DI

Fantastic. In the 8 years I worked over 100 shows/year before it became illegal to work, I don't think I ever had ONE fail (and for comparison I don't think I ever had ONE Countryman DI that worked...). The routing options and flexibility of this DI are superb, not to mention its a tank. If you need serious DI's, I highly recommend these. I've used Whirlwind and Radials a bunch but I always reach for these if they are available!
by Jon from NM on
Music background: Pro Engineer

All I will ever use Live

Here"s an Ultimate review: I live and gig full-time
In Las Vegas. I literally just got off stage after completing my 1st set. The other Direct box they normally have took a dump so they plugged this one in for me. I"m using no Amp, just in-ears.
The moment the band started, I heard my Bass like never before. I"ve been playing for 31 years. I am using a BassMods KM5 with an 18 volt preamp and Bartolini pickups. I absolutely hate having use just ears on a gig. I"m buying this D.I. And keeping it with me every gig I do now.
by Jeremy Rodriguez from Las vegas on
Music background: 31 years

Well Impressed !!

I have been through many DI boxes in my time but was definatly blown away by BSS DI active box.

The signal is so clean and gives a nice punchy full sound with my tanglewood jumbo semi acoustic.

Definatly worth the money a top class DI box.
by Sweetwater Customer on
Music background: Singer/songwriter

Amazing what a great DI sounds like!

I had been using my ISA One pre DI and a SansAmp Bass DI with unsatisfactory results. I thought it was my bass that just sounded poor but once I plugged this in I was very impressed. It was between this and the Radial J48, both of which were rate highly. I went with the AR-133 because it was $30 less and never read a bad thing about it. The option of 3 different db pads along with the ability to plug the speaker outputs of any amplifier directly into the AR-133 to run into my DAW was a bonus. Great DI, great sound, great price.
by david from santa barbara, ca on
Music background: pro drummer, engineer in training

Hear from a Sales Engineer

What Do Our In-house Gear Experts Think?

Jeff Radke

A good direct box can make all the difference in the world in terms of the accuracy of the audio it passes. This is a GREAT DI and the most ruggedly built I've ever seen.
See also: Direct Input Boxes, BSS, BSS Direct Boxes
Close Close $2,000 Pick Your PRS Giveaway -- input your email address below to enter or click here to learn more.

See giveaway details & rules or check out our past winners!

Enter Now

Success!

Your email, has been entered to win this giveaway. Good Luck!