HRTF and Virtual speakers

[5thDoctor]

Hello,
Not sure if this is the place to ask about this. I personally can't stand the audio that comes out of head phones normally, it causes me discomfort. I think it has to do with lack of background low frequency sounds from the environment, reflections, and lack of spatialization. Either way I get a headache after only a few mins of normal headphone audio, some pairs are worse then others non without it. I recently discovered HRTF audio which has made using headphones possible for me and in some case with proper support in Video Games is even preferred to speakers. I saw that VLC has virtual surround sound option that might be based off HRTF. I was just wondering if there was built in or plugin ways of doing this with just stereo audio, to have two virtual stereo speakers so the audio sounds like it's coming from in front of you with maybe some virtual reflections off walls like normally would happen from a TV or Desktop with speakers? I know if there isn't a pre built solution it's possible since I got VR I have seen some games have "radios and tv' in game that have sound propagate through the virtual environment, off walls, ect. It would make my house mates much happier and be much easier on my ears. I'm running Linux so I might also check with ALSA/Pulse audio guys as well since I'm getting HRTF in Bioshock, Thief, and Minecraft from them, but since I was looking for something to use for DVDs/Rips play back specifically I thought I'd check here first.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

VLC binauralization is using HRTF audio. You can even change the .SOFA file to fit your ears.