It can work (Look up beamforming). However it takes a 3d array of speakers with a lot of elements positioned in specific points in space, as well as very accurate position tracking for both ears. Very very unlikely to ever beat a high end noise cancelling headphone in terms of performance as well.
If the listener can be fixed in space then the problem gets easier but in that case what you have is actually a very large, room sized headphone that you enter and sit down into.
Source: I indirectly consulted a high-end furniture company on this exact project, they decided to pivot after a while.
If the listener can be fixed in space then the problem gets easier but in that case what you have is actually a very large, room sized headphone that you enter and sit down into.
Source: I indirectly consulted a high-end furniture company on this exact project, they decided to pivot after a while.