The unit includes phantom power and battery supplies as standard. If the console's phantom power fails or is accidentally turned off, the AR-133 automatically switches to the internal 9V battery, providing uninterrupted use.
The unit is housed in a robust aluminum extrusion casing, with sturdy polyurethane ends that give the AR-133 a very distinctive look.
The input connectors include both 1/4" jack plugs and an XLR plug, the latter of which allows the AR-133 to be used to convert unbalanced signals to a balanced XLR output throughout the unit.
The curved casing allows cables to be routed back under the unit from the end for neat cable management.
The input attenuation is 0, -20, or -40 dB, making the box suitable for instrument, line, or amplifier input levels. On the output side, a ground lift switch is provided for quick solutions to ground loop problems.
The AR-133 uses an improved version of the same audio path as the AR-116, which is now considered by many as a standard reference. The sound quality is legendary, particularly for acoustic guitars and basses.
For example, in addition to traditional guitar use, the AR-133 can be used with keyboards, DJ consoles, amplifier outputs, and other electronic sources.
An additional bonus is the ability to use the AR-133 as an active balancing device.