JBL Tour One M3 review: The most sophisticated headphones available for purchase.

      **JBL Tour One M3**

      **MSRP:** $400.00

      “With a staggering array of features and impressive performance, the Tour One M3 headphones are the remedy for audio FOMO.”

      **Pros:**

      - Lightweight and comfortable

      - Excellent sound quality

      - Very effective ANC/transparency modes

      - Top-tier call quality

      - Analog/digital wired connectivity

      - Comes with an Auracast transmitter

      **Cons:**

      - Design feels a bit outdated

      - Transmitter may not be necessary for everyone

      - Limited customization options for controls

      The market for high-end wireless noise-canceling headphones is vast, featuring well-known brands such as Sony, Bose, Sennheiser, Bowers & Wilkins, and Apple. Yet, JBL should not be overlooked. Their flagship Tour One headphones have now reached their third generation (hence “Tour One M3”), packed with features like wireless hi-res audio, lossless audio via USB, spatial audio, and Bluetooth Auracast. They include a unique smart transmitter. At $400, they represent the highest price for any Tour One model to date (the previous two generations launched at $300). Have JBL overshot their mark, or do the Tour One M3 represent a set of truly future-proof wireless headphones? Let’s take a closer look.

      **Design**

      Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

      While most major headphone brands have experimented with innovative designs, JBL has chosen to remain consistent with the Tour One M3. They are largely similar to their predecessors, featuring an all-plastic, fold-flat/fold-up design. In fact, they are slightly less extravagant than prior models, as JBL has eliminated the polished silver accents, making the M3 appear quite plain. If you want your $400 headphones to be a status symbol, these may not be the ones for you.

      However, there is value in the principle of “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” In the case of the M3, this is especially relevant—Sony's WH-1000XM5 design has led to some issues for users due to fragile earcup swivels. I believe that a plain design is preferable to a broken one.

      One significant update is the removal of the 3.5mm analog input. Normally, this would raise concerns, but JBL now includes two cables: a double-USB-C cable for charging and digital audio, and a 3.5mm-to-USB-C cable for analog input. Thus, you only need one port and two cables. Additionally, a USB-A-to-USB-C adapter is included, which is a thoughtful addition for those with older devices.

      The other notable update is the inclusion of the “Smart Tx” transmitter. If you’ve seen JBL’s top-tier wireless earbuds, the Tour Pro 3, it’s similar to their smart charging case, minus the flip-top lid and charging slots for the earbuds.

      **JBL Tour One M3 Specifications**

      - **Price:** $400

      - **Weight:** 9.6 ounces

      - **Form Factor:** Closed-back, over-ear

      - **Noise Cancellation:** Yes

      - **Battery Life:** 70 hours per charge (ANC off), 40 hours (ANC on)

      - **Charging:** USB-C

      - **Voice Assistant:** Native smartphone access

      - **Multipoint:** Yes

      - **Spatial Audio:** Yes (with head tracking)

      - **Hi-Res Audio:** Yes (wired/wireless)

      - **Fast Pairing:** Google Fast Pair

      - **Bluetooth/Codecs:** BT 5.3 with AAC, SBC, LC3, LDAC

      - **Auracast:** Yes

      **Comfort, Controls, and Connections**

      Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

      Weighing just 9.7 ounces, the Tour One M3 isn’t as light as the WH-1000XM5 (8.7 ounces), but it remains a comfortable set of headphones. The density and width of the headband padding help alleviate pressure points, and the combination of clamp force and earcup design results in a very secure fit.

      If you’re familiar with older Tour One models, the controls will feel familiar with one minor adjustment: the volume control is now located on the left earcup, instead of being grouped with the power and ANC button (which JBL calls the Action Button) on the right. The outer surface of the right earcup is touch-sensitive, allowing for single, double, and triple tap gestures for playback control, along with a long tap that activates your phone’s voice assistant.

      On the subject of voice assistants, JBL, like some other headphone makers, has removed built-in support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant on the Tour One M3.

      I appreciate the slide-to-activate design of the power button, eliminating confusion that can come with buttons requiring a long press. However, be sure to activate the M3’s Auto Power Off feature in the JBL Head