Headphones were invented in 1910 by Nathaniel Baldwin and were used by radio operators. Their function was quite basic, namely playing audio from the radio. More than a hundred years have passed and headphones are now very sophisticated audio equipment. They are not just for listening to music and watching videos but now have additional features that Nathaniel Baldwin never thought of. After reviewing audio devices for a long time, I feel like I have finally come across the most complete headphones on the market, the JBL Tour One M3.
Specifications
JBL Tour One M3
Type Closed-back earphones
40mm drivers
8 microphones
Battery 850 mAh
40 Hours ANC
70 hours without ANC
USB-C charging port
SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC codecs
Supported operating systems All
Virtual assistant support Yes
Control pad 1 touch pad
Waterproofing No
Weight 278 grams
Selling price RM 1899
Design and Usage
The design of the JBL Tour M3 is almost the same as the previous Tour M2. The biggest change is the more rounded and aerodynamic ear cups with a small ear cup section that makes it look quite compact. The M3 design is more contemporary with Sony, Apple, Razer, Bose and Sonos headphones which also follow the trend of more rounded audio accessories.
The USB-C port, power button, Bluetooth tethering and ANC mode switching are placed on the right ear cup. A touch control pad is also placed on the surface of the right ear cup. Basic controls for playing, pausing, skipping forward/backward and calling the virtual assistant are supported on this touch.
The power button is a three-position slide switch. The first position is to turn the M3 off, the second position to turn it on and the third position to start the Bluetooth pairing process. On the M2 there are only two positions. I prefer the M3's power button because there will be no issue of pressing the Bluetooth button for too long until the headphones are turned off accidentally.
On the left ear cup, there is an audio adjustment button. All the buttons are placed in an ergonomic position for easy access and settings. There is a medium-sized sponge on the top. The size is a little small for my large head but this sponge is thick enough to reduce pressure on the head.
There are clearly marked L and R letters on the ear cups so that users do not wear the best headphones. But I have been looking for a long time in Pavlovkan for a red R logo on the right earcup. This is the solution taken by JBL and it is better than no indicator at all like on cheap headphones.
The ear cup sponge is soft and fits the ears well. It is made of artificial leather which does not cause itching but because of this tightness the ears can sweat after wearing for a long time. Artificial leather looks more stylish and premium, but in a tropical country like Malaysia it makes it difficult for the ears to “breathe”.
The ear cups have tight serrations to set the size on the head. It bends well without sounding like the mechanism will break easily. It can also be extended to a size that is large enough for my head.
Both ear cups can also be folded inwards and rotated 90 degrees allowing it to be hung around the neck more comfortably. This foldable design gives it an advantage over the Sony XH-1000XM5, Apple AirPods Max and Sonos Ace which cannot be folded at all. Visibility is important for ANC headphones so that it does not take up a lot of space in the bag.
Overall the design of the M3 is very good except for one drawback which is the lack of direct connection using a 3.5mm audio cable. This is because the M3 is designed to be used with the JBL Smart Tx for those who want a wired connection. I will explain this in more detail below.
Audio
By default, the sound quality is fairly balanced but a bit flat. Modern headphones now offer flat audio by default with the owner having to choose the EQ that best suits their personal preferences. I have never reviewed the One M2 so I cannot say whether or not there is a difference with the M3.
What I can say is that the bass is loud and clear without making the audio any more drowned out. The JBL app provides six EQs such as Vocal, Jazz, Bass, Studio, Extreme Bass and Custom. Vocal is my choice for Live concert music. Jazz makes the instruments sound clearer and more resonant. Personally I prefer the Bass setting as I listen to more Rock and Pop genres. For those who want their own audio profile, Custom provides a choice of 10 control points which can then be saved.
Audio quality is highly dependent on the codec and the M3 supports SBC, AAC, LC3, and LDAC. The best is LDAC and direct connection to a computer using a USB-C cable. The M3 does not support direct 3.5mm audio cable connection but supports lossless audio using USB just like the new AirPods Max.
Spatial Audio and Tracking
Both of these features are supported although many feel they are just gimmicks but I admit some like to use them. Spatial mode in my opinion sounds a little strange especially if the music source is not designed for spatial. What I think is better is the head tracking mode. Without additional software, you can feel that the audio is coming from only one. This is a feature that I really like on the iPhone and finally with the M3 I can enjoy it on an Android phone too.
ANC
The ANC system used is competent and satisfactory. I only tested it at home and while working at the mamak shop every morning during breakfast. The M3 can filter out the noise of the fan, the mamak cooking the ordered magi goreng and the music playing loudly. Sometimes high-frequency sounds like a fruit blender would intrude but it didn't cause any disruption.
Unfortunately I didn't travel this month and couldn't test the M3's ANC efficiency on a plane. I just searched for a clip of airplane cabin audio on YouTube and played the audio on high. Overall it was satisfactory but not on the same level as the Sony XM5 or AirPods Max. However, the difference was minimal and this shortcoming was resolved with additional modes that I will touch on in the software section below.
The transparent mode is also good but the audio of the spoken voice is not 100% clear. There is support for automatically turning off ANC when talking. With this, the M3 doesn't have to be removed to talk to a colleague when reprimanded.
JBL Smart Tx
This wireless dongle is the accessory that makes the M3 unique compared to the headphones I have reviewed . When connected to the 3.5mm audio jack on a computer, tablet, airplane IFE or old radio, it becomes an audio transmitter to the M3. The majority of planes still don't support Bluetooth tethering and the JBL Smart Tx is the solution to the issue of wanting to enjoy IFE wirelessly.
JBL Smart Tx also supports Auracast so more than one device can receive audio emitted by it. The screen on the body of the JBL Smart Tx is used to access music controls, change EQ, change ANC settings, change head tracking settings and view battery status.
The disadvantages lie in the small screen and inaccurate touch detection. Finger movements to switch to other settings screens are sometimes not detected. Instead, the screen detects it is touched and it opens an unwanted menu. The UI on the JBL Smart Tx needs to be enlarged again, especially for those with sausage fingers like me.
Software and Applications
The JBL Headphone application is required to perform various settings, access features and update firmware. It is one of the neat and beautiful applications but more importantly, it is easy to use. Various features can be easily found unlike the Sony application which is difficult to use. The buttons in the application are also large making it easy to read. Controls for the JBL Smart Tx are also done in the same application.
The M3 also supports tethering using Google Fast Pair. On Android devices, the headphones will immediately appear as soon as they are turned on with tethering requiring only one button press. After tethering, the JBL Headphones app download recommendation is given along with registering the M3 under your Google account to be tracked in Google Find Hub.
LDAC can also be enabled/disabled through this app. I was just a little disappointed that every time this was done, the M3 had to be turned off before connecting to the phone. On other headphones, this can be done without the headphones rebooting. Two unique features of the M3 that I want to highlight are Relax Mode and SilentNow.
Relax Mode provides a choice of ocean, campfire, crickets, forest and water sounds to be played for peace. All five sounds can be activated simultaneously with the setting to play for up to an hour. No need to stream white noise videos from YouTube or Spotify. This timer system is useful if this sound is used for sleeping. After the time is up, the audio is turned off along with the headphones.
SilentNow also activates ANC without the M3 being connected to a phone. This is a useful feature on airplanes because ANC can be activated with a timer and then an alarm can be set. I often miss meals on airplanes because I’m fast asleep. The SilentNow feature with a timer (up to 7 hours) not only prevents oversleeping but also saves battery life because Bluetooth is turned off. To turn this feature off, I just have to press the ANC button on the right ear cup.
Battery
With ANC, the M3 can operate for up to 40 hours and without ANC for up to 70 hours. This is a long enough usage life for a round-the-world flight. During the week-long review period, I only charged it once and the battery was fully charged in 2 hours.
In the Box
Here’s what you get in the box with your purchase.
1x JBL Tour One M3.
1x JBL Smart Tx
1x Storage bag.
1x USB-C to USB-C charging cable.
1x 3.5mm audio jack cable to USB-C.
1x USB-A to USB-C Adapter.
1x Manual.
1x Warranty card.
Conclusion
The JBL Tour One M3 is a continuation of the One M2 that it replaced. A more contemporary design, excellent battery life, and very satisfying audio performance. The ability to listen to lossless audio via USB-C is a bonus along with the SilentNow feature that allows ANC to be enjoyed without BT on.
Meanwhile, the JBL Smart Tx dongle makes it easy to use non-BT devices, such as in-flight IFE systems, wirelessly. At RM1899 a pair, it may be a bit pricey but this is the entry fee for premium audio, high-end features, and a very complete package for a pair of wireless headphones with ANC.
Pros
Good audio
Good ANC and pass-through mode.
JBL Smart Tx allows non-BT devices to be connected using the 3.5mm jack
Compact design is easy to carry in a bag.
SilentNow and RelaxMode are very useful for peace of mind while in the car.
Battery life of up to 70 hours.
No need to buy accessories separately.
Lossless audio support using USB-C connection.
Supports Google Fast Pair.
Cons
No direct 3.5mm connection. Cannot be used if power is out.
Makes ears sweat if used for a long time.
The JBL Smart Tx screen is too small and it is difficult to press small elements.