Self-contained tactical audio distribution device

A tactical audio distribution device, comprising:

• a housing comprising a main body, a lid, and a handle, wherein the lid is configured for non-destructive complete removable from, and securing to, the main body, and wherein the handle is secured to an exterior of the main body;
• a cover plate secured to the main body;
• a connection panel, wherein the connection panel is fastened to or an integral part of the cover plate, wherein the connection panel comprises a connection panel exterior side that is exposed when the lid is removed from the main body and that is enclosed within the housing when the lid is secured to the main body, and wherein the connection panel, cover plate, and main body define a main body compartment;
• a first plurality of connection jacks located on the connection panel exterior side;
• a second plurality of microphone input signal connection points contained in the main body compartment and in electrical communication with at least a portion of the connection jacks, wherein the second plurality is at least five;
• microphone power and filter circuits contained in main body compartment, wherein the microphone power and filter circuits are configured to output microphone electrical power through the at least a portion of the connection jacks, to receive first signals, to create second signals by filtering DC components of the first signals, and to output the second signals, and wherein each of the first signals is based on an audio input signal present on one of the microphone input signal connection points;
• a first digital audio matrix processor contained in the main body compartment, wherein the first digital audio matrix processor is configured to receive a first set of third signals based on a first portion of the second signals and corresponding to a subset of the first signals, to combine the first set of third signals into a mixed intermediate audio signal aggregating audio components of the first set of third signals, and to output the mixed intermediate audio signal;
• a second digital audio matrix processor contained in the main body compartment, wherein the second digital audio matrix processor is configured to receive a second set of third signals based on a second portion of the second signals and corresponding to the remaining first signals, to receive the mixed intermediate audio signal, to combine the second set of third signals and the mixed intermediate audio signal into a mixed audio signal aggregating audio components of the second set of third signals and the mixed intermediate audio signal;
• and
• a third plurality of headphones output signal connection points contained in the main body compartment and in electrical communication with at least some of the connection jacks, wherein the headphones output signal connection points are configured to receive signals based on the mixed audio signal, and wherein the third plurality is at least five.