Skip to main content

These headphones promise virtual reality-style surround sound on the go

For just $160, you could have realistic 3D surround sound you can take anywhere. At least that’s the pitch for Neoh, a new headphone project launched by 3D Sound Labs today on Kickstarter.  Using software, sensors, and even a gyroscope, the Neoh headphones aim to deliver the sort of spatial surround sound you get from a home theater, wrapped up in a package you can pocket.

Striking a futuristic design that would look right at home in a scene from Minority Report, these octagonal headphones are outfitted with a serious stable of technology. The headphones use Bluetooth low energy to wirelessly connect to your mobile device, and incorporate a specialized app designed to “deliver a high quality stream of spatially reconstructed audio.” In theory, the delivery method for the virtual surround feed looks similar to the Headphone:X software from DTS, which uses proprietary processing to create a surround sound effect over standard stereo headphones.

But the Neoh headphones don’t stop there. In addition to software, the cans incorporate a 9-axis motion sensor system, including an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer. The system is designed to completely encapsulate your head inside a virtual sonic landscape, pinpointing your location as if you were surrounded by speakers. Move your head to the right, and the headphones adapt the algorithm to reconstruct the sound, virtually accounting for the movement and adjusting the sound accordingly.

Recommended Videos

In this way, 3D Sound Labs hopes to create a 3D experience which could be described as the audio version of the Occulus Rift VR headset, completely immersing you in a sound that mimics what you hear in the real world. With the Neoh app and Neoh headphones working in tandem, the company promises a “totally new kind of audio experience.”

Of course, that’s a lot to promise on a $160 pledge. Still, the Neoh technology is intriguing enough that we’re interested in giving these headphones a go for ourselves. We were impressed with our ears-on experience with DTS Headphone:X, but the technology has been extremely slow to get to market. With the addition of motion sensor technology, could Neoh offer something even more immersive that will actually be available en masse, or is this just more Kickstarter hype?

You can find out for yourself, and dig up more details while you’re at it, by checking out the Neoh’s Kickstarter page. If you’re convinced, you can pledge your $160 early bird order, and help take Neoh’s vision of a portable 3D sonic world from dream to reality.

Ryan Waniata
Former Home Theater & Entertainment Editor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
We gave Sonos Ace headphones a 4 out of 5, and today they’re on sale for $380
The Sonos Ace headphones, Arc Soundbar, and Move speaker.

Sonos makes some of the best wireless speakers and soundbars on the market, so it was only a matter of time before the company started making killer headphones, too! Released in 2024, the Sonos Ace Wireless Headphones deliver incredible sound quality and some of the best ANC in the business, and they’re also on sale this week for only $380! 

You’ll find this discounted price at sites and stores like Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo-Video, and several other retailers. 

Read more
Eyes on the Beats Solo 4 headphones? Don’t miss this deal
Beats Solo 4 in Cloud Pink.

If you've been waiting for a tempting offer from Beats headphone deals, this could be it: the Beats Solo 4 for only $130 from Best Buy, following a $70 discount on their original price of $200. This deal lasts until March 29, but the stock up for sale won't last forever. In fact, they could already be gone as soon as tomorrow.

BUY NOW

Read more
Best tech deals in Amazon’s Big Spring Sale: headphones, tablets, laptops
Man in cafe working on a laptop wearing Sony WH1000-XM4 wireless over-the-ear noise-canceling headphones.

Spring has sprung, which means it’s time to put away the parkas and retrieve the outdoor grill! It also means that it’s time to save tons of money on some of the most popular consumer tech items known to man. We’re alluding to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale Event, which starts today, March 25, and runs through March 31. Save up to 40% on everything from laptops and Bluetooth speakers to wireless earbuds and smart home devices. 

It also pays to look through our roundups of the best laptop deals, best Bluetooth speaker deals, and best headphone deals, because we’re willing to bet that many of the items featured now have additional discounts as part of the Amazon sales event. We’ve also gone ahead and rounded up 12 of our favorite deals below! 

Read more