A new audio startup is officially challenging the idea that personal and collaborative listening have to be two different things. The company called TDM (short for “Tomorrow Doesn’t Matter”) just unveiled a world first at CES 2026: a pair of headphones that can physically transform into a portable Bluetooth speaker. They called it “Neo Hybrid” and it’s a pretty radical reimagining of the way we carry our music.
The Neo Hybrid isn’t just a pair of headphones with a loud setting
It features a clever, modular design that relies on a simple twist of the earcups to change modes. There’s no cumbersome software to navigate or extra parts to click on; All you have to do is literally twist the headset and the outward-facing drivers kick in, transforming the device into a palm-sized speaker for the entire room.
According to TDM co-founder David Brailsford, it’s all about spontaneity. He explained that the brand wants to give people the freedom to join a private listening session and instantly turn it into a social moment. It’s a design clearly intended for commuters, travelers, or anyone who’s ever found themselves in a small gathering and wished they’d remembered to bring a separate speaker.
From a technical perspective, the Neo Hybrid has quite a bit of hardware
It uses four independently tuned 40mm drivers – two inward towards your ears and two outward – and is powered by two onboard amplifiers. TDM says this setup offers a clear, detailed sound profile as headphones and surprisingly good volume when used as speakers.
Battery life is another big topic of conversation. In headphone mode, the Neo has a runtime of a whopping 200 hours on a single charge – which is near the top of its class. Naturally, speaker mode is more power hungry and reduces this time to around 10 hours. Fortunately, the battery is also removable, so you can replace it after years instead of throwing away the entire device.
You can even customize what this “twist” actually does. An “Auto” mode handles the handoff between drivers seamlessly, but you can also set the dial to pause your music, turn off the device, or simply act as a physical switch.
The Neo Hybrid hits Kickstarter later this month for $249 and will be available in both black and white. It remains to be seen how it stacks up against dedicated audiophile gear, but for anyone who values versatility, TDM’s new hybrid is one of the most interesting things to hit the market in Las Vegas this year
