TDM Neo Headphones Review: Clever 2-in-1 Design, but Comfort and Sound Fall Short

The TDM Neo headphones combine on-ear listening with a built-in Bluetooth speaker, creating a distinctive two-in-one design. However, the lack of active noise cancellation (ANC), tight fit, heavy construction, and underwhelming speaker performance make the Neo feel like a compromise at its price.

TDM Neo comfort and noise isolation

The TDM Neo doesn’t have ANC, but its relatively firm earpads and tight fit block noise the old-fashioned way: through passive noise isolation. Unfortunately, the earpads aren’t as plush as I would like, and the headphones feel tight on my larger head and ears.

The Neo isn’t eerily quiet like the best noise-canceling headphones, and I can’t imagine many users would gladly give up ANC in exchange for this fit. The headphones weigh 11.9 ounces, which is heavy for an on-ear model. That weight isn’t surprising given the four 40-mm drivers inside, but it’s noticeable during extended listening.

For comparison, the TDM Neo is 3 ounces, or 34 percent, heavier than the Sony WH-1000XM6, 1.9 ounces heavier than the more affordable Soundcore Space One Pro, and 4.25 ounces heavier than the on-ear Beats Solo 4.

TDM Neo sound quality

The Neo’s sound is detailed and pleasant, with clear bass and distinct vocals. However, the presentation feels boxed in. Music lacks the scale and openness expected from good headphones, while individual instruments seem to crowd one another.

I might have enjoyed the audio more if the headphones were more comfortable, but I found them tiring to wear. Their sound and comfort are not on par with similarly priced alternatives.

The TDM Neo isn’t terrible, but it feels like a compromise. Given the price, I’d also be nervous about traveling with it. Even if you bought a Bluetooth speaker at your destination, you might spend the journey wishing you had packed more comfortable headphones with decent ANC.

TDM Neo as a Bluetooth speaker

I like the engineering and features of the Neo, including the fact that the headphones fold up into a compact shape. Bluetooth speakers can also look appealing and give headphones a second function. Unfortunately, the TDM Neo can’t compete with the best Bluetooth speakers I’ve tested.

The built-in speaker is loud enough for casual listening, but its sound is thin and underwhelming. It’s still on par with the smaller but more powerful JBL Go 5, yet the Neo has twice the power and twice the drivers, so it should sound better.

I also compared it side by side with my current $120 portable speaker. The difference between the two was like racing speedboats and paddleboards: the JBL Flip 7 was considerably better.

It’s useful to have a Bluetooth speaker built into your headphones, and the ability to instantly share songs may appeal to some listeners. However, compact Bluetooth speakers have become so good that the TDM Neo’s subpar audio quality is difficult to ignore.

Is the TDM Neo worth buying?

The obvious advantage of the TDM Neo is that you only need to carry and charge one device. But that convenience alone may not justify the compromises in comfort, noise cancellation, headphone sound quality, and speaker performance.