Unveiled at CES 2026, the TDM Neo is a pair of on-ear headphones that transform into a Bluetooth speaker. It caught the imagination of the attending media, won a handful of awards, and inspired countless column inches.

Given the current state of the portable audio industry, it's easy to understand why. Most designs seem to revolve around incremental updates and new colorways rather than genuine technical innovation. Neo is an exciting alternative, and it’s little wonder the startup brand went on to smash its Kickstarter targets.

I’ve spent the past couple of weeks listening to the headphones and Bluetooth speaker, and have lost count of the number of times I’ve showed off the clever twist-and-fold mechanism to friends. But has TDM managed to produce a genuine tech twofer, or designed a novelty product that gives you the worst of both worlds?

The twist-and-fold mechanism on the Neo is clever and addictive. Rotate the ear cups around the cushioned but flexible headband, bring them together, and strong magnets snap everything firmly in place. Once connected, the headphone drivers disable, and the outward-facing Bluetooth speakers kick in. Twist them apart and you've got your headphones back.

It’s innovative, and the engineering is impressive. Once in speaker mode, the two rubber TDM logos sit closely together and form a protective base, while the asymmetrical twisted headband cocoons the ear cups together. It works well—it never once popped open accidentally. The action is smooth, the connection reassuringly solid, and switching between modes works exactly as intended.

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