JBL Tour One M3 Wireless Headphones Review: Smart and Stylish Listening

Explore the innovative features and stunning sound quality of JBL Tour One M3 wireless headphones, the smart choice for audiophiles.

Introduction to JBL Tour One M3

The JBL Tour One M3 headphones take the best features of the popular Tour Pro 3 wireless headphones and elevate them to a new level. Designed with a charging case reminiscent of a Tricorder, this pair of headphones offers much more than just noise cancellation. It comes with a separate screen, making it the first of its kind, and this isn't just another way to control playback.

Smart Tx acts as both a half-wireless transmitter and a wired DAC, allowing you to listen to nearly anything, regardless of whether your device supports Bluetooth or not. It promises to enhance the already flagship capabilities of these headphones across all fronts, including spatial audio, lossless playback via USB, and high-resolution wireless listening. With Auracast transmission, the JBL Tour One M3 is built to stay relevant in the future.

However, such an extensive list of features comes at a price. Retailing for $400, the headphones and Smart Tx bundle compete with the top noise-cancelling champions like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and sound specialists like the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e. Are the additional features mere gimmicks, or do they make the JBL Tour One M3 a versatile solution?

Design and Build Quality: Smarter than It Looks

If you believe that heavier headphones are better, you may be disappointed initially with the JBL Tour One M3. Apart from the metal headband, they are made entirely of plastic. However, their lightweight design makes them comfortable for long listening sessions. The clamping force is well-adjusted, and the ear cushions are soft enough for extended wear.

These headphones offer ample tilt, rotation, and headband adjustments to fit any head shape and size, and they fold neatly for transportation. The included hard carrying case also has a dedicated storage area for various cables and a pocket for the Smart Tx transmitter. It’s a nice touch, with a carrying strap and carabiner for attaching to luggage.

The design isn't overly flashy and doesn't differ significantly from the previous generation. The matte finish, subtle branding, and color-coordinated accents whisper, "I spent $400 on these." This is great if you prefer a low-key approach; for those wanting their headphones to stand out, the latte or blue versions will be more eye-catching than my black review model.

Control options on the earbuds are minimal: just a slider for power/pairing, an ANC switch, and volume buttons. The right earbud features touch controls for skipping tracks or answering calls. The touch sensitivity is a bit too responsive, leading to accidental pauses now and then. The only wired connection is USB-C, as JBL has removed the 3.5mm analog input found in the previous Tour One M2 model. While the Smart Tx can substitute, it makes sense that a USB-C to 3.5mm cable is included for direct connection to wired devices. It also supports digital playback via USB-C; if your device lacks USB, you can get a USB-A to USB-C adapter.

Features and Battery Life: The Tonal Tricorder

Smart Tx is undoubtedly a unique selling point for the JBL Tour One M3. It resembles a pager that was phased out by smartphones in the 2000s, but it’s compact—no larger than a pack of Tic Tacs—with smooth edges making it easy to pull from your pocket. It features only one power button, with all other controls managed via the touchscreen.

The interface is nearly identical to the one embedded in the charging case of the Tour Pro 3 headphones. You can navigate various tabs to change EQ presets, adjust noise cancellation, activate spatial audio, and control music playback without pulling out your phone. ID3 tags display what’s playing, but album art and playback controls are absent.

I appreciate that you can disable any pages you find unnecessary, as the number of options can be overwhelming. The lock screen shows connection status, battery level, and current time, which you can customize with a personal background image.

Receiving new messages and notifications is a great benefit, as is the ability to accept or decline incoming calls. While I don't often use the flashlight feature (which simply shows a white screen at full brightness), the timer came in handy several times when my phone was out of reach. But how often do you listen to music on your phone without it nearby? I found myself instinctively reaching for my phone, forgetting I had the Smart Tx with me.

Nonetheless, there’s another reason you might need this handy little remote. The USB-C port on both ends allows it to function as a Bluetooth transmitter, so it can stay connected to your in-flight entertainment while you move around the cabin, and it serves as a portable DAC for streaming high-resolution audio from your wired audio device. Auracast transmission means it can send audio to any compatible headphones, not just JBL, and it works both ways: the transmitter can receive Auracast streams and send them to the headphones.

It’s all quite straightforward. Plug in the necessary cables (both 3.5mm and USB-C are included, along with a sturdy carrying case), and the headphones automatically switch between sources. However, I wish the switching between sources were simpler; I had to unplug the USB connection to go back to the headphones when I wanted to stand up and stretch my legs. If you don’t fly often, you might not utilize half the features of Smart Tx.

The headphones themselves support Bluetooth 5.3 and offer Multipoint and Google Fast Pair functionality. The connection was stable throughout testing, even in crowded airports. They made an excellent travel companion with an impressive 70-hour (40 hours with ANC) battery life—enough to last through both legs of an international trip without needing a recharge. This outshines most competitors in this price range. However, the Smart Tx ran out of juice before I landed on my second flight, as it’s rated for just 18 hours of streaming.

Interface of JBL Tour One M3: Lacking Content

The JBL smartphone app somehow offers even more useful features than Smart Tx. The proprietary personalized listening mode, Personi-fi, tests your hearing and adjusts the sound accordingly; there’s a 12-band equalizer, personal sound amplification to better hear nearby voices, and spatial audio with head tracking. Personally, I could do without the last feature, but I know others enjoy the exaggerated surround sound effects.

Some features of the JBL Tour One M3 can only be activated through the app rather than Smart Tx. These include the relaxing white noise generator, left-right channel balance, and maximum volume limiter. You can also customize the gesture controls in the headphones, but you’re only given one or two preset options instead of the freedom to freely configure different presses.

It’s unfortunate that JBL locks many sound-related settings when you enable Bluetooth LDAC. If you want spatial audio and such, you’ll have to switch to the simpler SBC.

Sound Quality and Noise Cancellation: Impressive Performance

Thanks to the 40mm dynamic drivers, the JBL Tour One M3 provides ample bass punch with its default preset, aligning with the familiar energetic tuning curve of JBL. These headphones are fun and easy to use rather than analytical; if you seek maximum precision or clarity, there are better alternatives at this price point.

However, the deep, thumping bass in Friction's "Set Me Free" left me grinning, and they held up well when I cranked up the volume. Vocal and acoustic tracks revealed a weakness in the high frequencies, but I quickly addressed this with custom settings for the high frequencies. This restored some sharpness and punch to Burial's "Phoneglow." The ability to swiftly switch between presets via Smart Tx proved handy during flights when I needed to toggle between music, movies, podcasts, and games.

Active noise cancellation on the JBL Tour One M3 shines. The adaptive mode suppressed engine roar to an unexpected level, and background noise on public transport was well-managed. While I still award the gold medal to Bose, JBL now ranks among the elite in active noise cancellation headphones.

Verdict on JBL Tour One M3

Even if JBL had sent me the Tour One M3 headphones without the Smart Tx transmitter, I would still be impressed by their noise cancelling ability, comfort, and wired connectivity. They are priced below recognized competitors that either offer slightly more effective noise cancellation or more detailed sound, and not everyone will appreciate the simple, heavy plastic construction; however, the long battery life and foldable design will satisfy many.

Considering this small smart screen, anyone with many travel miles will appreciate the wireless flexibility that Smart Tx provides. Few would call it essential, but for a certain audience, it’ll be worth the investment.

Specifications of JBL Tour One M3

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