The worlds first true surround sound headphones....

[Stirton.M]

I've often wondered why there have never been any attempts to produce surround sound headphones.

I've looked around the net, and what I saw were gimmicks...gimmicks that say the technology would work on ANY set of headphones. I gotta say, some companies really do lack ethics of trying to trick end users into buying a little addon that mimics 3D audio.

Simply stated, two speakers do not make surround sound. Stereo yes, surround sound no. That requires multiple sound sources, so there is a lot more to it than those gimmicks I've seen online.

Well, recently I read an article about a local engineer here in Calgary who has done the truly amazing...honest to God true surround sound headphones...5.1 channel in fact...

Psyko 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset at Memory Express Computers

I tried these out at said store and was completely impressed. They had the headphones hooked up to a PC with a game that used surround sound...Medal of Honor...it was pretty amazing to note the difference of that game from my current setup of using a pair of high end Microsoft headphones in the same game. You know with certainty that you are immersed in 3D sound when you turn about with the various sounds within the game environment. I like using the surround sound speakers (7.1 channel setup), but the rest of the house does not like me keeping them awake at 3 AM using that setup...so....

The only drawback...freaking price of these damn things is high....$250 bucks so I can blast away at 3 AM without disturbing anyone else in the house...

Forgot this link to the official web page....gives greater detail to what these are.

http://www.psykoaudio.com/

[KenB]

I know I'm dating myself, but does anyone remember quadraphonic sound?

This goes back to the mid to late '70s.

While certainly not the quality of 5.1 or 7.1 surround, true 4 channel was a thing to behold in its time.

There were 4 channel headphones. They had two drivers in each earcup, one firing forward and the other rearward.

Koss made a few models as well as a few other companies.

The technology was only around for a few years, but it was fun while it lasted.

[Stirton.M]

I remember those....Akai or Bose or some thing like that....

[gwaddle]

Yea, that lasted about a week didn't it?

[HenryT2]

I remember quads. A while back, I was going through some collectible items, ( wife calls it junk ), and came across my SANTANA and CHICAGO quad tapes. Amazing sound: 'specially when you were 'relaxed '.
They even had quad LP's didn't they?

[KenB]

They even had quad LP's didn't they?

Yes, but it wasn' "discrete quad", as it was called. There were fewer dBs of separation on an LP.

To get discrete quad, you needed a reel-to-reel tape, or (dare I say it!) an 8 track.

There was one quad radio station in Cleveland, WMMS, (which these days is called a "progressive rock" station), that was in quad. They went back to 2 channel in no time.

[Stirton.M]

I remember listening to some tunes years ago...in my pretentious and misguided youth spent "experimenting", of being wowed by some tunes that took advantage of quad stereo...my favourite band who took advantage of this often, even live, was Rush....(hard rock Canadian band for those not in the know)....

RUSH - Official Website

[KenB]

I remember listening to some tunes years ago...in my pretentious and misguided youth spent "experimenting", of being wowed by some tunes that took advantage of quad stereo...my favourite band who took advantage of this often, even live, was Rush....(hard rock Canadian band for those not in the know)....

RUSH - Official Website

Ah, Rush! One of my faves!

My favorite song of theirs was probably their biggest, "In the mood". Still a rock classic today.

Remember Geddy Lee and his humogous honker?

[Stirton.M]

Actually, this song specifically was one of my favourites.....it HAS to be listened to in at least quad to appreciate....

[Stirton.M]

Ah, Rush! One of my faves!

My favorite song of theirs was probably their biggest, "In the mood". Still a rock classic today.

Remember Geddy Lee and his humogous honker?

He still has that humongous honker....I have a brother in law who "almost" could pass for his looks if you were not paying attention. The only distinction is the much much shorter hair...and lack of ability to play bass.

In the mood.

Another of my personal favs...Tom Sawyer

Crap...they are still pushin new tunes out...early starts in '68...first album in '74....they are less geriatric lookin than many bands still together from that era...

[KenB]

He still has that humongous honker....I have a brother in law who "almost" could pass for his looks if you were not paying attention. The only distinction is the much much shorter hair...and lack of ability to play bass.

In the mood.
YouTube - Rush - In the Mood

Another of my personal favs...Tom Sawyer

YouTube - Rush - Tom Sawyer

Crap...they are still pushin new tunes out...early starts in '68...first album in '74....they are less geriatric lookin than many bands still together from that era...

Can't forget "Limelight"...

[Stirton.M]

Yep, that one is another of their best of...

so many bands of that era know what music is...these days it seems most bands just churn out the commercial stuff, but rarely are they willing to push the envelope of talent. I miss the days of Floyd, Zeppelin, OLDER ACDC and so on...

[AyJayAreDii]

Yep, that one is another of their best of...

so many bands of that era know what music is...these days it seems most bands just churn out the commercial stuff, but rarely are they willing to push the envelope of talent. I miss the days of Floyd, Zeppelin, OLDER ACDC and so on...

You just need to know where to look

[Stirton.M]

I do find a few bands that I really like from this era...Linkin Park, I really enjoy their creative stuff...some Rihanna I like...Eminem has a few tunes too...though most of what he does is vapid. I enjoy some other bands like "Trophy" ...

I first heard of them through a cool animated series called Life's a Zoo...

Every episode features a group not so well known.

its not for lack of looking...just many bands go with the more common 3-4 minute tune and run to another...rock opera is the thing of the past...Song Remains the Same, Sgt Peppers, The Wall...some examples of what I mean....hell, even Purple Rain had some talent....though I am not a fan of the effeminate stylings of the lead character.

[AyJayAreDii]

I do find a few bands that I really like from this era...Linkin Park, I really enjoy their creative stuff...some Rihanna I like...Eminem has a few tunes too...though most of what he does is vapid. I enjoy some other bands like "Trophy" ...

Even though I was not around at the times of Pink Floyd etc, I know what you mean. I really like bands like "the kills, the dead weather, within temptation, nine inch nails and muse" but there not much in the charts I like.

The masses not have good taste in music Not to say I have.