hello,

i'm working on a location sound installation which incorporates 4-channel audio output to 4 speakers. i recently realized that the installation space is going to be pretty noisy, and since there are going to be many nuances in terms of the sound produced, i've started looking into other possibilities for sound output that could give a more intimate listening experience - i.e. headphones. but the question is -- are there headphones that can take 4-channel input?

Are you looking for a surround processor that will make your four-channel mix into a sort of binaural format for 2ch headphones?

Otherwise, just downmix the four channels to stereo. Obviously it won't give the same spatial effects, but surround headphones are not often spectacular anyway unless combined with headtracking.

I am pretty sure the one headphone amp Presonus makes takes an A and a B input source, that gets you half the way there.

I have a Rolls headphone amp that has stereo inserts on each channel, effectively giving each channel its own input, which is the way I use it, so I have six different headphone monitor mixes used in this way from a single headphone amplifier. Of course the line in on each channel is not balanced, because the stereo insert/ input on each channel does not allow for it.

I am willing to bet there are other headphone amps available that have either a stereo insert or a direct stereo input on each channel, much like the Rolls headphone amp that I have. Do a search based upon that feature and see what you can come up with. If you want just one headphone amp, that is probably the way to go. Otherwise you'll be stuck with more than one headphone amp.

Oh, I may have mis-understood what you are asking for... if so, I am sorry.

yeah, i'm talking about surround headphones.....

Then you need to talk to Smythe Research - they do surround over standard headphones.

HERE and HERE may also be worth looking at.

Smythe did a paper at the AES Conference in Cambridge a couple of years ago that may be worth getting hold of,

I hope this helps.