The unit includes phantom power and batteries. If the console's phantom power fails or is accidentally turned off, the AR-133 automatically switches to the internal 9V battery, allowing for uninterrupted use. The unit is housed in a rugged extruded aluminum case with heavy-duty polyurethane cheeks that give the AR-133 a very distinctive appearance. The input connectors are both 1/4" jacks and an XLR jack, which means that the AR-133 can be used to convert unbalanced signals to a balanced output on XLRs.