ART Pro Audio is a pro audio gear company run by musicians and engineers, and they have been producing some of the most affordable but capable gear since its beginnings in 1984.
In this review, we are going to take a deep dive into their version of a re-amp box – the ART Dual RDB.
Their ART Dual RDB Re-amp Device is their take on re-amp boxes, but it’s also able to work as a DI box.
ART Dual RDB is a passive interface, meaning it only works with battery-free or instruments without any additional power like phantom power.
It is a device that converts mono or stereo line or instrument-level sources to balanced XLR microphone or instrument-level jack outputs.
In simple terms, it can either work as a passive DI box as well as a re-amp box. ART Dual RDB is simple, straight to the point, and most importantly, under $100.
And while you’re here, check out our roundup of the best reamp boxes.
Art Dual RDB Review: Verdict
The ART Dual RDB reamping DI box lets you take line signals and convert them to mic and instrument levels. This lets you record guitars, bass, and more as a clean direct signal.
- Great value for money
- Easy to use
- Works as both re-amp box and DI box
ART Dual RDB is an extremely affordable but functional re-amp box that can also double as a DI box.
It is one of the most affordable re-amp boxes on the market, and ART Dual RDB has proven to be a very reliable box with a user-friendly design.
ART Dual RDB will be a perfect companion for musicians looking for a simple, reliable, and cheap re-amp/DI box.
Design & Construction
Admittedly, Art Dual RDB’s design is nothing special and it just has white and purple writings on a black interface.
The black interface has metal construction – alloy extrusion with steel end-plates and has rubber feet and a separate ground terminal to suit various floor conditions.
It is surprisingly solid, and we got a sense that we will not have to worry about it falling apart any time soon.
But what’s really special about the Art Dual RDB, is that it has two inputs for under $100.
This means you can run two instruments at once, and that will be a huge plus for musicians trying to do live recordings with a band.
The input section features a quarter-inch jack (balanced or unbalanced) and an XLR line-level input for microphone lines.
This means that you will basically be able to use this device with any instrument or voice from keyboards, electric guitars, bass guitars, and vocal microphones.
Key Features
With a frequency range from 20Hz to 20kHz, Art Dual RDB has decent processing power and it will be sufficient for most re-amping purposes.
ART Dual RDB can handle signal levels up to +18dB with low transformer-saturation distortion. It also comes with two isolation transformers to keep away the ground loop, which is important for any re-amp box.
In terms of controls, there are two level knobs for each channel and two separate output level knobs on the back side, labeled “Source” and “Phase”.
Source mode is used for the standard re-amping process, by allowing the channel to process the channel 1 or 2 input.
On the other hand, the Phase mode is there to invert the polarity of the signal on channel two, which you can use to correct phase error problems somewhere in the audio system.
How to Use ART DUAL RDB for Re-Amping
To use the ART Dual RDB as a re-amp box here is the simplest way to do that.
- Start off by connecting the output from the audio interface or mixer into one of the XLR balanced line inputs on the ART Dual RDB
- Then, connect the output from the ART Dual RDB into a guitar or a bass amplifier
- Next up, put a microphone on the amplifier and re-record
When re-amping with ART Dual RDB, watch out for different levels, and make sure that signals from inputs and outputs remain constant.
How to Use ART Dual RDB for DI
Here is a simple way to use ART Dual RDB as a DI box:
- Start by connecting your instrument straight into the device input using quart-inch or XLR inputs
- Then connect the output straight to your audio interface or a mixer
Alternatives to Art Dual RDB
Although ART Dual RDB is an excellent re-amp box at its price, we will introduce a couple of alternatives to ART Dual RDB to choose from.
Radial ProRMP
The ProRMP is a 100% passive re-amplifier that lets you to take a pre-recorded track and re-amplify it through a guitar amp or effects pedals to create new and exciting tones.
- One of the industry’s go-to reamp boxes
- Affordable
- Built to last
Radial ProRMP is one of the industry’s go-to reamp boxes and they are recognized as the most popular option at an affordable price point.
Radial ProRMP is even simpler than Art Dual RDB, and it only has one channel and is also a passive re-amp box.
If you want something that is slightly more reliable for a very long time and don’t need the two inputs, Radial ProRMP is another great option.
Little Labs Redeye 3D
At the core of the re-amping process is the direct box, and Little Labs' Redeye 3D Phantom sports a high-quality one with phantom-powered hi-fi buffered and passive inputs.
- Packed with smart features
- Rackmountable
- The ultimate DI/Re-amp
Little Labs Redeye 3D is a much more expensive option that works similarly to the Art Dual RDB and has two inputs with top studio-quality re-amp and DI capabilities.
It has vintage UTC transformers and it can work with active and overdrive sources as well as passive sources.
If you are flexible with the budget and can afford something more, the Little Labs Redeye 3D is the ultimate DI/Re-amp with both passive and active capabilities.
FAQ’s
What is a Re-amp Box?
A re-amp box is easily confused with a DI box, but a re-amp box is very much a different device that takes a pre-recorded audio signal and sends it back through a guitar amp or a pedal chain.
A DI box converts an unbalanced instrument-level signal to a balanced mic-level signal for an audio interface and mixing console, but a re-amp box will convert a balanced line-level signal to an unbalanced instrument-level signal.
In short, a re-amp box is an audio converter that works in the opposite direction of a DI box.
Re-amp Box vs Direct Box
Re-amp boxes and DI boxes are easily confused with one another, and after all, it’s hard to tell each other apart from a distance.
But like we mentioned in the beginning, their functionality is different and they work in opposite directions. DI boxes are way more common and they are usually used for a wider range of instruments from guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, and basses, to vocals.
And even though re-amp boxes can also work for keyboards and basses, reamp boxes are mostly used for electric guitars.
Another big difference is that for the ideal re-amping process, you will need both the DI and the reamp box. So at the end of the day, DI boxes are more common and are an essential tool with or without the reamp box.
The ART Dual RDB reamping DI box lets you take line signals and convert them to mic and instrument levels. This lets you record guitars, bass, and more as a clean direct signal.
- Great value for money
- Easy to use
- Works as both re-amp box and DI box
Final Thoughts
In this review, we had a look at the Art Dual RDB and its capabilities.
Art Dual RDB is simply one of the best re-amp boxes at its affordable price point, and if you need the cheapest re-amp box possible, Art Dual RDB is the way to go.