JBL Tour One M3 Review

Our JBL Tour One M3 Headphones Experience

The JBL Tour One M3 has a more stylish look than its prior generation, and it doesn't have the same unpleasant odor right out of the box. They come with a travel carry case, USB-C cable, USB-C to 3.5mm cable, USB-C to USB-A adapter, and something JBL calls a “JBL SmartTX.” The Smart TX is described as a universal Bluetooth Audio Transmitter with a smart Display. JBL describes its functionality as:

This device enables you to control the headphones and adjust the audio using a touch screen, eliminating the need for a separate app. It feels more gimmicky than useful, as the main draw is that you don't need to pull out your phone. However, you still need to pull out the transmitter, and your phone or other streaming device must be nearby. It also doesn't have as long a battery life as the headphones, so it will eventually become useless before the headphones need a charge. It does plug into 3.5mm audio jacks, which could mean you can transmit audio from airplane entertainment or other audio sources, but an audio cable from your headset to the same jack will yield similar results, so it feels like an unnecessary step for little benefit. You can also share audio with other devices that have Auracast enabled; however, it doesn't seem like a strong selling point for most users.

The Tour One M3 paired fairly easily with both Apple and Android, but Google has a fast pair option that connects with just one click. They have a connectivity range in an open field test of up to 277 ft, which is better than most competitors.

We didn't love the touch controls on the M3. Or maybe, they didn't love us. When touching the ear cup, we receive feedback noise indicating that the headphones have registered our commands, but nothing changes. Even turning them off and on didn't solve or reset the issue. Worse, our device said they were playing music, but no music was being relayed, or we couldn't hear it. Internet users recommend a factory reset, but this seems absurd for a pricey pair of headphones we've just opened. Eventually, we sorted it out with unpairing, resetting, and repairing, but this didn't do much to instill confidence. The touch controls work well, when they work, which is the best we can say about them.

We took the headset to walk crowded streets with lots of traffic. It heavily blocks out and reduces road noise, with high effectiveness on running motors and diminishing the sound of wind. The hear-through mode is quite effective; we could easily hold a conversation with those around us while wearing the headphones. The relayed voices are true to life and very natural; we could even hear birds and cars going by. We could even hear our own sneakers hitting the pavement.

Some of our real-world calls were slightly less impressive, with some “calling from a tunnel” sound depending on the environment from which we made the call. Voices are still clear and easy to understand, but they take a slight hit compared to using the microphone on the phone itself. We believe that anyone concerned about frequent calls or extended conversations with headphones will be pleased with the M3.

Sound Quality

The sound quality is below average for the M3, although it manages to produce a slightly better sound than the M2. Overall, it sounds confident but lackluster.

The M3 bass is a yawn. There are lows, but they are not bringing the drama. They maintain a minimal presence but lack punch and any defining personality. It's like the sonic equivalent of mashing avocados and calling it guacamole. While we can improve on the bass using the EQ adjustments in the app, out of the box, they are really only meh and lack the warmth or theatrics we experience with other headphones.

The mids are not full-bodied enough. They have a decent range of color and texture, but come off as rather surface-level and uncommitted. There is a lack of depth and nuance that makes this range passable but not delightful. We liked the upper midrange, especially when listening to tracks that were handled with careful and loving production. Listening to Cautious Clay's “The Hours: Morning” and the released tracks from “The Hours: Night” was enjoyable. The voices were clean, and the instrumentation had good separation.

We measured the frequency response of the M3 to compare to our Target Response Curve.

Soundstage

There is a clear improvement from the M2s with the M3. While it may not be an evocative or spacious soundstage, we weren't offended at any point during a multi-hour listening session.

We listened to a diverse range of genres, including pop, R&B/soul, alternative, country, hip-hop/rap, and folk. There was decent spacing, depth, and clarity throughout. However, precise locations, especially in tracks that utilize sounds originating from distinct points, could benefit from further refinement. Texturally and dynamically, the result was somewhat bland.

Comfort and Fit

JBL improved the comfort of the M2 with the M3, but they still can't match many competitors, who often offer a better fit. While the plastic build gives them an incredibly lightweight feel, the fake leather on the earcups doesn't feel as luxurious as that of similarly priced options, and it became hot over time, causing great discomfort for some.

The clamping force isn't too strong, and we could wear them for a little over 4 hours at a stretch, but they create an uncomfortable loop around our neck, so there is no great way to keep them on but off our ears when in use. They were just as comfortable with glasses, but the wear time wasn't any longer.

Noise Cancellation

The M3 has stellar noise cancellation capabilities. They have an overall reduction of 31 dB with more than 41 dB reduction in the treble range.

Passive isolation occurs by blocking sound waves from reaching the eardrum. We could still hear car rumblings and voices, but they were both dulled. With ANC on, the cancellation is greatly improved. Garage doors and box fans are less audible, especially with music playing.

In a crowded cafe, we could still hear the espresso machine and some plates clattering, but it felt like they were far away or muffled. It muffles the world around you, but it doesn't match the better premium headphones we've tested.

App and Controls

JBL claims no app is needed with the M3 thanks to the inclusion of the Smart XT. However, there is an app that allows for more customization and utilization of features.

The adjustable EQ is powerful and delivers noticeable changes, but we didn't like any of the presets. We had to create a custom EQ to get them to sound the way we wanted, and we believe many users will appreciate this level of fine-tuning the music. The M3 also features the ability to use it as a personal amplification device (hearing aid). There is also a quiet bubble feature for travel, as well as voice control to pause the music.

Controls

The touch controls on the headphones work well when they work. Touching the controls results in a beep for each action, and while we appreciate the feedback to confirm the touch was registered, it was annoying and louder than necessary.

We weren't big fans of the constant swiping on the Smart XT, as it seems like a lot of work to get from menu to menu. However, we suspect most users will bypass this device unless they are traveling on a plane or in another situation where they desire to share audio. It is intuitive, but we'd prefer a main menu screen instead of swiping.

Battery

The M3 have a claimed battery life of 40 hours with ANC and 70 without, which is better than the average length and pretty good for headphones with ANC. If you're making calls and using the microphone, that time drops to 38 hours.

They do not offer passive playback, so once they are dead, you have to recharge. The headphones have a quick recharge of 5 minutes that buys you an extra five hours. The Smart TX also has a speed charge feature, and it takes two hours of recharging to get a full charge back, which is about 18 hours (significantly shorter than the headphones).

Call Quality

The M3 delivers impressive call quality and clarity, regardless of the background noise. Our experience builds on the remarkable call quality history we saw in the previous generation of Tour Ones.

For our office call, the JBL performed better than any headphones we've tested in the past. The ambient noise was completely eliminated in favor of the caller's voices for both the man and the woman.