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Are there headphones that image in front of you rather than in your head?

I have and excellent room and system but I need a small and "just me" system. I have owned several headphones but found I cannot stand them and having performers in my head. 

Has anyone found headphones that keep performers in front of you?
tbg
tbg OP
5,263 posts
 
Guys, I greatly appreciate your thoughts and taking time to state them.
Much will depend on whether we sell our little New Mexico house where at best I have a 10 x 13 x 8 bedroom. I really cannot afford the same equipment in both of my rooms or have enough room to get all my cabling, racks, components, etc. from one listening room to another 765 miles away.
Much depends on how long I am in New Mexico. This time we were in NM for 6 weeks and I had no sound, but there were two political party conventions and the Olympics.
bwaslo
51 posts
 
I think a big problem is also that the image with headphones is unrelated to head movement. When listening we are always moving our head slightly, gauging distances and directions, but the phones move with us and mess it up. Maybe some DSP and position sensors someday will be able to do something to work around that with existing recordings.
tbg OP
5,263 posts
 
I agree, but also suspect that refections off the wall and ceiling or invaluable. I can conceive of signal changes to give the brain changes in the signal to give the impression of being there. This sounds like a complicated process and one that is not yet available.
davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 

Those that want the sound to change as they move their heads should investigate the Smyth Realizer system. This is mature technology that has been available since 2009. It is very impressive to listen to when sitting.

Another approach to headphone listening is to buy Darin Fong's software for your computer. This changes the sound  (via computer)   thru the headphones to emulate how multiple high end speaker systems sound. It will simulate Wilson speakers and  Axe Recording  Studio speakers just to name a few choices. 

Both of these systems have a major effect on the headphone listening experience. Both are worth investigating.

David Pritchard 

humand
18 posts
 
AKG K-270 headphones have separate tweeters that fire from the front. Perhaps the 1000 mentioned before is also like this.
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