JBL Tour One M3 Review: Feature-rich ANC headsets with game-changing accessories

JBL launches some The best portable Bluetooth speakers. It is earphone and Wireless earplugs Also respected by critics, although many still place branded products below industry favorites apple,,,,, Boseand Sony. Well, the brand new Tour One M3 just changed that narrative.

These flagship cans are a notable achievement in wireless audio engineering, and each feature can be imagined. I’m talking about, from adaptive active noise cancellation to intuitive sound settings to lengthy game time. They even come with a tiny transmitter that connects the headset to any audio source and doubles as a remote.

Just because the Tour’s M3s hurt all the features you need, that doesn’t make them perfect. Defects are evident in critical areas (e.g., control, connectivity). Nevertheless, the M3 stands out on this trip The best noise-cancelling headphones Money can be bought. That’s all my thoughts.

JBL Travel M3 wireless headset specifications and settings

The specification sheet is stacked:

• Speaker driver unit: 40mm

• Frequency response: 10 Hz to 40 kHz

• True Advanced Active Noise Cancellation

• Bundled Auracast Audio Transmitter (JBL Smart TX)

• JBL Space 360 ​​sound with headlines

• Persion-Fi 3.0 for audio customization

• 40-hour battery with ANC / ANC shutdown

• 5 minutes of fast charging equals 5 hours of ANC listening

• Colors: Black, Blue and Mocha

Push the toggle switch down onto the right ear plate, turning the headset on/off and pressing it to enable mode for three seconds. I connected them to mine MacBook Pro Select the product in the list of available devices by setting up MACOS Bluetooth, although the Android platform allows faster access with a one-click Google Fast Pair.

The JBL headset app must be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play to get most of the features. There are so many games to play that can be overwhelming for beginners. Those accustomed to the menu-heavy app will be happy to explore it.

Brand Best Sound and Noise Reduction

Not surprisingly, the Tour One M3 is JBL’s best-selling, best noise-canceling headphones to date. Dynamic components (e.g., 40mm mica-type dome driver, built-in DAC), understandable sound technology and real-time ANC optimization complement the listening experience no matter where you hear music.

The music sounds powerful and resonant. The complaining bass curve on taming Impala’s “Newcomer, Same Old Fault” produces a great reverb that rots, while the hazy and harmonious vocals have an euphoric image. I dug crisp c-bones and tough drums on my dry-cleaned “Viking hair”. A chill like Kendrick Lamar’s “I” is tranquil and offers an influential percussion instrument that brings me a rave about cowbells and snare drums.

LDAC provides high-resolution audio streaming via Bluetooth. Loyalty is better, instrument recording has more nuances. There are other sound enhancement settings worth a look. Equalizer has six well-designed presets that meet different categories of needs and can create its own sound profile by manually adjusting the frequency levels.

The app provides customization.
Image source: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

The real star of the show is Personi-Fi, a technology designed to create sound profiles based on your listening preferences. My profile performs better than all JBL presets. I enjoyed the larger middle and high points, blending with the slap lows.

JBL significantly improves its spatial sound mode. The sound is not hollow, which is my biggest complaint about the feature. Precise headline tracking adds extra realism to live performances and movies. Watching Whitney Houston’s rendition of “Stars and Stripes” at Super Bowl XXV brings my hair up on my arms. The action film sequence is immersive. Try watching a few melee games John Wick 4 Don’t hide once or twice.

Other sound modes are available, but they hardly increase the audio output. My ears didn’t make any changes when switching low volume dynamic EQ or converting from audio to video mode.

Standard ANC mode is enough to eliminate nearly 90% of the unwanted sound. Adaptive ANC maximizes JBL’s eight-grain array and algorithm to adjust noise neutralization on padding. I prefer adaptive mode for outdoor listening because it has almost all bass and mid-frequency sounds. Only a few high-frequency sounds (e.g., crying babies, sirens) enter the soundscape, although not at all destructive. The wind resistance is strong.

JBL’s transparency mode makes more sense. Environmental awareness has done a great job in raising environmental awareness. While working on the balcony, I could hear my wife calling me while chatting with pedestrians by the pool. Speaking essentially sounds like the sound of a conversation that can be heard clearly. Smart conversation automatically starts the session when the microphone detects your voice. There is also an amplification setting that balances the ambient sound input on each earmuff and increases gain for improved perception.

The most powerful headphone ever created

Here, I think Sony has endless features for the headphones. The amount of functionality that JBL program to Tour One M3 is ridiculous.

Enter the app and you will immediately encounter multiple widgets, which are made up of all ANC and play modes, control customization, smart remote settings, and switching of sleep mode and voice prompts. The audio section has many sound features including customizable EQ, LDAC, personalized sound profiles, spatial audio, several call settings, and more. The other section has a relaxed sound setting that plays ambient tones during certain quiet times and maintains battery life when the headphones are inactive.

Finally, the app allows you to monitor the battery life of your headsets and transmitters.

Accessories made of headphones

JBL’s Smart TX transmitter is one of the devices you don’t know you need until you can use it. It places many features in your palms such as ANC activation, Auracast transmission, Bluetooth management, EQ settings, playback, voice software, volume and more. The touch screen responds to touch and swipe gestures, while certain hidden features (such as flashlights, notifications) are practical gems. But it’s not only about the transmitter.

You can view your music and settings on the transmitter at a glance.
Image source: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

A few journalists have previously reported that the trip sounded better when using bundled auxiliary cables. I’ve never tested the model, but I can say this trip sounds great in wired mode. Clarity and mid-range are improved.

There is a USB-C cable for charging headphones. Let’s not forget the carry case, it builds well, with plenty of room inside to fold and store headphones. The huge mesh pockets inside contain all the bundled accessories.

Comparing JBL Tour with other headphones

I compare JBL’s latest work with the Big Three: Apple Airpods Max (2024), Bose Quietcomfort Ultraand Sony WH-1000XM5. Audio, noise reduction and special features are the three main signs I compare.

Tour One M3 shattered the airpods max in the sound. Although the Bose’s jars have excellent spatial audio, they also sound better than the QC Ultra. The WH-1000XM5’s extensive sound playback and DSEE upgrade make them number one.

The ANC is just as good as the AirPods Max, but not as powerful as the QC Ultra and WH-1000XM5. High frequency sound is more noticeable on the tour. Environmental listening is where JBL has an advantage in the competition. Three optional modes – environmental awareness, smart conversation and conversation – are effective in their purpose. I’m just based on diversity, putting the transparency performance of JBL above the Apple, Bose and Sony range.

Long game time exceeds the big dog

These headphones sound great.
Image source: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Full battery produces up to 70 hours of battery life without taking into account ANC or special features, which reduces playback time to between 34 and 40 hours. These figures were held during testing, surpassing Apple, Bose and Sony’s flagship headsets. Moderate listening for a week (four hours a day), while the tour continues to operate, with 10% of the tank remaining. I also spent a two-week listening with ANC and saw a battery level of 35%. These headphones have some of the strongest fast charging I tested on a pair of noise officials: Five minutes of charging brings you five hours of ANC listening time. It is also worth noting that you can listen to the headphones while charging.

The transmitter holds 18 hours of continuous gaming time and takes two hours to charge.

Spot connectivity, low appearance and other disadvantages

There are some connectivity ics. When using multi-point function, the headset pairs two devices at the same time, but occasionally encounters stuttering. The wireless range is weaker than expected. The audio exits when I go from my balcony to the bathroom (20 feet).

Although I respect the craftsmanship of JBL, these headphones don’t look as fancy as other luxury models. Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and Dyson ontrac think. In fact, cheaper competitors like the $199 Anker Soundcore Space look more premium.

Another problem is the control scheme. I like to have physical, touch and voice controls, but the touch controls are not as useful as other headphones. The touch sensor only supports faucet gestures. Models like the WH-1000XM5 support slide gestures to manage volume and skip tracks. What is even more disappointing is the limited control customization; only a single tap gesture can be assigned. The volume rocker on the left ear cabinet, the ANC button on the right cup, and the transmitter remote picks up the operant slack.

Are the JBL Tour One M3 headphones worth it?

The JBL Tour One M3 is sound satisfying, and the Smart TX launcher is a game-changer and every competitor wants to be serious about developing the next generation of headphones. Special features and game time also increase the number one M3 stock.

However, the Tour One M3 is more expensive than the top entries from Bose and Sony, which sell for $100 to $180. Connectivity issues can also be frustrating.

I would say that if you plan to spend $400 on your headset, the Tour One M3 should be at the top of your list because they have the greatest value. Remember that with the current economic state and tariff policies, pricing may rise, just like other recently announced electronics (read about Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories Prices rise).