Are Headphone amps worth the expense?

Some specialized headphone amplifiers simulate crosstalk between channels making sound appear in front and not inside of the head. It cross-feeds portion of delayed sound to the other ear - the same way that it happens when listening to speakers. I had sound card with this option and it was great. It is also possible in analog domain - I have link to Headphone Amp project with cross-feed somewhere. I remember seeing headphones that have built in crosstalk (tube) from one cup to another - but don't remember the name.

I found the link: http://gilmore2.chem.northwestern.edu/projects/meier_prj.htm

That's what I didn't like about phones...it always seemed like the sound was coming from the sides or actually behind you instead of in front of you the way speakers sound. Maybe I need to research amps and find a decent one with crosstalk. Anybody have suggestions?

Headphone.com(headroom products) Meier-audio headphone amps also use cross talk.

I pondered this very same question a few years ago. I use AKG701's and Ultrasone 8's. I have a McIntosh C2300 (previously a C2200). I used both phones with the built in C2300 with great results.

I bought a Creek headphone amp, and then a Pro-Ject SE. In short and in substance the McIntosh sounded better. More separation of instruments, tighter deeper bass. The add on headphone boxes had a very dry sound in comparison.

Also, I gave up remote control ability. The C2300 has a superb headphone amp built right in and is perhaps under appreciated.

By the way the C2300 has the 1/4" phone plug vs. the 1/8" mini plug on the C2200 requiring downsize adapters (why McIntosh did that was bizarre).

Aren't there special recordings made for headphone listening?

I think they are called binaural and are made with microphones in the ear positions of some kind of artificial head.

Am I mixing this up with something else?
Didn't the Carver Sonic Holocaust try to eliminate the out of phase stuff coming from the other speaker? Didn't Polk make speakers with double mids and tweets which had a wire pair between speakers to remove this out of phase information mechanically, if you will? The double speakers were located about 6" apart, the distance between the ears so the time cues remained.
This is not a new idea.