Tron Antares Signature Headphone Amplifier

TRON! A movie I never did much care for or at least maybe was too immature to understand when I was a kid... please do not confuse the movie TRON with what we are talking about today... the word actually means: "denoting a subatomic particle or "positron." hummmmm....

Over the next few weeks I will be adding to this review so please sit back and enjoy this as it unfolds and matures overtime so I can thoroughly explore what this company is all about and why it may be one of the coolest and most bespoke obscure companies we never really heard much about...

The TRON Story​

The web site states: "For passionate music lovers, TRON builds amplifiers that deliver a truly emotional musical experience. Every amplifier is designed and hand built by Graham Tricker who selects each individual component based on one criterion alone: what will deliver absolute sound quality to free the soul of the music."





Why does a company start? What is their mission? Hummmm not much there on the Tron web site except to say it has some nice pictures with a modern web site layout. It has some fancy words on why the owner Graham Tricker invented the company in 1997... lets try to sort through it... so why did Graham invent Tron? basically not being satisfied with what is currently on the market and discovering that no matter how hard he tried to find stereo equipment from the highest end companies; he never felt like they conveyed the live real organic sound of real life. Ok... that makes sense. I think we mostly agree that those of us on the head-fi forums are continuously growing - always in hot pursuit of what's best within our budget or things we can just dream about owning or at least aspire to own one day - always searching endless reviews at least as I do- always searching whats the best out there ... something that will bring the music closer to our soul, something that makes us say "I can't see it ever getting more realistic than this." Then we all have to add a touch of skepticism to any review... are some reviewers deaf? Are they trustworthy? Do they like the music I like? Are they relatable? Whats their angel when it comes to musical reproduction. What's their background? hmmmm so much to take into account... so what do people who own the Tron amps and pre amps and DACs say? Well... they all seem hypnotized and smitten by some sort of new found sound not found in other equipment they tried as well. The owners of Tron DAC for example all claim its mind blowingly good and natural and live sounding taking the excitement of connection to music to the next level... hummm... at nearly $20,000 for a DAC I would hope so. What IS Tron? You never heard of em? me neither... Tron is bespoke - hand made equipment- reportability using the best of the best period. From end to end no expense was spared. And they are built to last a few life times- so heirloom quality to be sure. We all heard of companies like MSB, Boulder, Dan D'Agostino, VAC, and the like- all rich with a pedigree of proven success in their respective market places. They have been around over 20 years- and earned their crazy insane pricing due to research and development. But does that make them best in class? I can't say for sure, as best is so subjective now isn't it? They all have their followers and dedicated customers for a reason one must think... right? From what I read, Tron is built to these standards and belong in that grouping of the upper echelon of the best available regardless of price... but that's based on owners testimonials and people who have heard them at trade shows etc... is it true with their first headphone amp? lets see (or hear)...

Well the full size 15.748 inch width and 9.84252 depth - the Tron Antares headphone amplifier boasts a commanding presence with its robust, finned top plate crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum, bearing the TRON logo and intricate cooling vents which are CNC machined. Serving as a colossal heatsink, it's designed for maintaining optimal temperatures in this pure Class A unit, reminiscent of old school top of the line car stereo amps I remember as a kid such as those from Soundstream - except the Tron taking that build to the next level coming in at 21 lbs! And it's 100% real Authentic true Class A amp- it does heat up like one as well. The heat sinks do an excellent job at dissipating heat BUT do not put anything on top and leave plenty of room on a rack to allow proper air flow.

Engineered with so called "cost no object parts", this amplifier is assembled in an inverted configuration, housing custom circuit boards directly beneath the top plate. Its solid-state single-ended Class A circuitry, employing a minimalistic array of high-quality discrete transistors, ensures a warm, true-to-life sound with an exceptionally short signal path. On the front panel, a prominent gain control or volume knob presides, flanked by sockets accommodating up to three pairs of headphones—two 1/4-inch jacks, two 3-pin XLRs, and a 4-pin XLR—alongside a strikingly illuminated on/off button, aglow with a fitting red LED. The versatile Antares is capable of driving 3 headphone pairs simultaneously and can even power a modest set of bookshelf loudspeakers with an optional module sold separately.

The rear panel of the amplifier features two sets of RCA phono sockets: one designated for source input and the other for line out. Positioned amidst the input phonos is a discrete switch enabling adjustment of the input level, toggling between 0 dB and minus 6 dB, facilitating precise calibration for optimal volume control range. Adjacent to the IEC power socket resides a dedicated audio earth lift switch, offering a solution in the event of a persistent earth loop requiring isolation.


Available in two variants, the Antares series offers both the standard Deluxe mode coming in at $4000, and the premium Antares Reference Signature edition priced at $6000 (as of 2024) which is reviewed here. Distinguished visually, the Reference model showcases a silver top plate complemented by black fascia and sides, while the Deluxe version features a black top plate and sides with a silver front panel. Internally, the Reference model elevates the audio experience with pure silver wiring throughout, a superior 48-position stepped attenuator, and meticulously matched high-specification internal components, ensuring unparalleled performance and sonic fidelity.


This review will be extensive comparing the Antares Signature Headphone Amplifier to Ray Samuels Apache with the latest upgrades from Ray Samules and 4x Sparkos 2590s, Coffman Prautes Labs amplifier with 2X Telefunken G73r tubes, Burson Soloist 3X GT w/4 Sparkos ss2590s (which I found to be superior to any other opa/discrete opas for the 3XGT - leaving all other Opas unworthy here), Cayin C9, xDuoo XD05 Pro with 612a Chips w/ES9039S PRO DAC and AKM AK4499EX, B&K ST125.2 Mosfet Amp with Step Down Speaker outputs to XLR headphone Conversion, Hifiman Prelude Balanced Class A amp, TEAC UD-505-X Headphone , Topping A90 and a few other amps...


The Tron Antares comes in a professional case I would think stage hands use or people who set up live events who would use this kind of robust case - made by Bespoke Cases out of Uk- it has two large latches on the side and the case has a robust handle made for professionals who pack equipment and move it from place to place - it’s overly built and protects the amp with custom cut foam. This is beyond a flight case and boarders on the craziest carry case for consumers I ever seen surpassing zero Halliburton.


My unit, after talking with Gram the owner of Tron today - was made in 2016- Gram spent some 45 mins with me on the phone explaining this version is the best highest version with overbuilt Toroidal transformer yielding even better specs than stated in the specs area of my description. He did say they have done some changes that improves performance even further than my unit to date. They are made in small batches and are extremely rare - they need to be specially ordered in 2024.
My unit has black anodized finish which purpled over time and looks like a punk rock amp to me with splotches of purple and black - looks department definitely screams it’s unique character and bespoke type pedigree. I plan on de-ionizing the panels or replacing them if Tron can get me new parts. Looks to me a little mean and bad arse…. yea it’s the craziest looking headphone amp I ever did see - not necessarily in a good way or another just different- and that’s very fun to know it’s so bespoke. Inside the unit looks flawless. All the parts are top notch with state of the art as fact more than hyperbole. This thing is no joke coming in at 21 lbs for the unit alone. The volume control is that from Khozmo which by itself costs $290 at the time of this printing. It uses solid silver connections and wiring through as shown. All the caps and transistors are the finest money can buy. This is a true class A amp reminiscent to me of the Pass Aleph 0 monoblock power amplifier - even today considered one of the all time best amps of any time for its rich tube like sweetness speed and sheer power with dynamics and ability to drive any load while still being transparent and crystal clear even though its specs don’t reflect it’s absolute power and authority to drive any speaker load.

So after hooking up the Antares to my system # 1 and system #2 comparing it to the Raymond Samuels Apache with 4 Sparkos ss2590s -The RS Apache is more defined and slightly more layered in its ability to create a 3d holographic effect with better highs and separation- mind you the Ray Samuels Amp if made today would be $6000 plus the $480 in sparkos dual stereo ss2590x4- The Tron is more lush and tube like but for me when I work with headphones as I do on a daily basis- I can not rely on such a tuned amp - it needs to be be more dead center and accurate than lush and sweet. Winner: Ray Raymond Samuels Apache once again. There is a reason I own two Ray Samuels Apaches both configured the same way- I haven't found a better amp to date for my daily work period. So who is the Tron for? Someone who wants the sound of SETs or tubes without tubes and the hassle. The Tron is among the top amps I ever heard and is built to last three life times. But for someone like me who relies on more neutral sound for tuning, I am extremely satisfied with my Ray Samuels and they will still be the go to work horse for me... but that doesnt mean I will stop searching. The Tron is for an uber hard core headphone enthusiast who wants to own the best of the best and as rare as they are - a collector as well... to this day I have yet to find an amp that bests my Apache with Sparkos SS2590s - so if that makes the Tron #2 in my life time then thats pretty amazing feet by itself. Especially since the RS has two chassis design and the Tron one.​

Both are the best of the best in the world... yea no clear winner it depends on what you need, class A solid state or Tubes. Both are very close in terms of speed and musical
experience. The PRAUTES w/G73Rs is slightly more detailed but only really with the Telefunkens installed and are no longer made plus run for $800 a pair by themselves and the Pratues as well is a unicorn also with only 50 units ever produced for this world. Never to be made again and anyone who owns one will likely die with em or try to make them part of their next life experience... BOTH the Tron Antares and Prautes are that good!

The BURSON SOLOIST 3X GRAND TOURER with upgraded power linear supply isn't in the same league... however when I took out the top rated Burson opas and installed the SS2590's x 6 the Burson pulled ahead of the Tron for separation and overall detail right behind the RS Apache - there is a reason I own two Raymond Samuels Apaches and I keep repeating myself- I haven't found a better amp for tuning my headphones to this day...​

SIDE NOTE: So you know, I have 3 systems at my home- my speakers are Vandersteen 3a Signatures, Magnepan 3.6r and my desk top system which uses SEAS drivers in custom D'Appolito configuration. I edit videos and film on location for professionals- I mix sound for a living occasionally after I film them in person- sometimes I am handed tracks that are terrible masters but am asked to make videos from them without re-mastering the sound. My IMDB page is https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8127846/ I also do IT support for Hospitals all around the NY Area. I am not a flake or hard of hearing at all-I get sound tested by my doctor each year or two. I grew up with sound engineers in the studio who were mixing albums at The Mix Palace and Platinum Sound Recording and The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios Studios in NY to name a few. When I like something I will review it such as the Kennerton headphones I reviewed on head-fi before. If I take the time to review something it has to be meaningful- it must have moved me and compelled me to do so- I do not get paid for any reviews. I do this because I care to set the record straight on what I hear and how I felt about a particular piece of equipment.



John Massaria