It’s easy to get bored with headphones. Most follow the same general design trends; look at how many true wireless “Airbud”-style headphones there are! But sometimes someone comes up with a new angle on an old favorite, and TDM. NEO is a brilliant take on the usual over-the-ear headphone style, merging it with a portable speaker in the most elegant way possible.
The TDM. NEO arrives curled up into itself, and you untwist it to create what anyone would recognize as big over-the-ear headphones.
When they’re in “headphone” mode, the sound comes through the speakers inside the ear cups, and you can happily seal yourself off from the world and enjoy your music. But when you twist them back into their compact setup, they seamlessly switch to pumping out music from the external speakers, effectively going from headphones to portable speaker setup in one smooth movement.
That alone is a cool gimmick. But TDM. really thought this setup through. The companion TDM. app lets you program four different twist actions: Twist to Switch, Twist to Power, Twist to Pause, and Manual Speaker. Twist to Switch is exactly what it sounds like, a way to go from headphones to speaker.
Twist to Power is a cool way to power the headphones on and off. If you plan to use them in headphone mode for a while, you can power them on and off with a twist. If you’ve ever forgotten to turn off your headphones and later wondered why the sound isn’t working on your phone, this is the feature you want.
Twist to Pause does exactly what it says-twisting the headphones pauses playback. It only works in headphone mode (so you can’t start in speaker mode and then untwist to pause it), but if you need that feature, it’s nice to have it as an option. And Manual Speaker forces all the sound through the outside speakers, whether they’re in twist mode or on your head.
Switching between modes on the TDM. NEO is as simple as a tap, and the headphones respond instantly. The TDM. app also lets you control the equalizer settings, turn on and off game mode if you’re looking to maximize listening to the Undertale soundtrack, control multiple device pairing, and even locate missing headphones. The app clearly shows a lot of thought, making it simple and easy to navigate.
That thoughtfulness extends to the hardware too. The TDM. NEO are a SOLID pair of headphones. They weigh in at about 340 grams (~11 oz!), so they’re not the lightest pair you’ll ever own. But since these headphones are designed to be twisted and untwisted repeatedly, the extra heft and build aren’t the worst thing in the world; they reassure you they will serve you well for a long, long time.
Obviously we aren’t equipped to torture-test headphones, but I did sit and absently twist the headphones back and forth for about 10 minutes while watching TV, because it felt very satisfying. Once they’re in speaker mode, they stay there until you gently push them to untwist, thanks to matching magnets on each side of the headband.
I tried shaking them and holding one cup at a time, and the twist didn’t unwind or budge without deliberate intention. TDM does include a fantastic case for when they’re folded up, but if you happened to toss these twisted up in a bag, I wouldn’t be too stressed about them untwisting on their own.
Now that we’ve covered what makes the TDM. NEO unique, it’s worth reviewing the basics of what makes them a great pair of headphones. They use Bluetooth 6.0 with 4x40mm drivers and dual 5W speakers. In English, that means your music will sound amazing, whether you’re listening alone or sharing it with the room. TDM. promises up to 200 hours of battery life, and while we didn’t time that out specifically, it’s been over a week of testing, and the battery is still at 90%.
Note the built-in magnets that keep the twist solid.
Beyond the magnets that hold the twisted form in place, the rest of the TDM. NEO hardware feels premium. The headband has soft padding (necessary given the headphones’ weight!), and the ear cups sit on solid metal hinges that support their movement. The ear cups are also incredibly comfortable, and while NEO isn’t specifically a noise-canceling headphone, I did find that they nicely muffled the outside world.
There’s the usual array of controls around the TDM. NEO, with volume buttons on either side of the multipurpose power/control button, and a button to control Bluetooth connectivity. A status light blinks for pairing and holds steady white when on and connected. They charge via USB-C, and TDM even included a nice fabric-covered USB-C cord. And if you’re a real fan of getting the most out of your music, they include an aux connector and cord so you can avoid Bluetooth quality loss.
You may be reading this and thinking that it sounds great, but how often would you really use the twist gimmick? Here’s why I was so excited to review these and why they work for my household. My son loves audiobooks, and one of our weekend traditions is that we’ll put on the audiobook he’s enjoying and listen together while I watch a hockey game. But that’s the main scenario where we need an external speaker.
The TDM. NEO is perfect for this-my son can listen to an audiobook quietly whenever he wants, and if it’s shared audiobook time, a quick twist and we’re good to go.
At $249.00, the TDM. NEO isn’t the cheapest set of headphones you could buy. However, that’s right in line with what you’d expect to pay for a quality pair of over-the-ear headphones designed to last. And with the bonus of a powerful portable speaker, these can cover almost all your on-the-go audio needs in one compact package!
The TDM. NEO sells for $249; it is available directly from the manufacturer.
Source: Manufacturer-provided review sample
What I Liked: Solid construction; Includes nice accessories; Phenomenal sound quality in both headphone and speaker mode; Twist mode is easy and satisfying; Easy to switch modes with the twist; Aux connectivity is a nice bonus
What Needs Improvement: A little heavy to wear on your neck for a long time