I’ve never tested headphones like this, just utterly remarkable that when pushed to the limits they just kept on going. The JBL Tour One M3’s are the latest generation of what is arguably JBL’s flagship consumer product. I spent many, many hours in the air and in hotel rooms testing these out and for me they are a clear winner on many levels.
At $549 we’re talking premium level stuff – of course, and the market here is not limited either. From Bose to Sony, Apple and Sennheiser it’s a competitive space but I reckon JBL’s offering isn’t just worth being part of the mix – for many they are a slam dunk choice.
Comfort is key
I’ll be honest and tell you that I felt these were a bit “plasticy” at first, you know what it’s like when you hold two products, one in each hand and your eyes can spot a quality finish and you can feel a cheaper plastic. Well, don’t judge a book by its cover is the key here. Yeah, I think compared to something like the finish on the Sony’s of recent years these don’t stack up on looks, but I think the design and material choice was either intentional or the outcome of a desire to make these headphones comfortable.
And I don’t just mean throw them on and feel good, I mean wearing them for 8 hours or more.
On a long haul flight you just don’t want to feel like you’re head is being squeezed gradually over time. With the JBL Tour One M3’s you don’t.
Now something I did notice, having work them a lot – i’ll outline just what a lot is later – the auto pause feature when you take them off was a bit trigger happy. Sitting on a plane – perhaps laid back a bit, turn the head to glance out the window, or go rustling through your stuff for a snack and they pause. Didn’t happen just once, in fact it got so frustrating I simply turned that feature off.
But aside from that, the soft cushion that cups around your ear is gentle on the head, and there’s almost no feeling of weight coming from them. I forgive every design and material choice pure and simply because of the outstanding comfort they offer.
They are a very simple curved design and frankly don’t stand out in any way like many other designs do – and I think that’s a good thing, I’m not doing a fashion show here, I just want great music and sound from my streaming:)
Audio Quality – enjoying the JBL Tour One M3’s
Unquestionably outstanding. Even now, sitting here writing this wearing them listening to my simple music playlist (same 20 songs on repeat folks) and I hear little bits in the music that I don’t hear on most other speakers or headphones.
JBL know what they are doing folks.
But of course, we all have personal tastes in audio listening. That’s where the sound profiles in Audio settings via the JBL Headphones app comes in.
Personally, I love JBL’s studio tuning, but there’s jazz, vocal you name it – and or course – build your own too.
Anyone who suggests these don’t have top of the class marks for simple audio quality is deluded.
JBL Tour One M3 Noise Cancelling
If you’re boasting about battery life and smart features made for air travellers (more on that soon), then you’ve gotta do noise cancelling well.
JBL again isn’t new to this, so they have that covered.
In everyday sounds the 8 microphone system does a great job with things like the noise of cars driving past, or chatter in an office. It also does a good job with wind which as a biproduct makes them pretty good on calls too.
On a plane the challenge is far greater, and I’ll tell you right now I think if there’s a leaderboard then JBL is a top 5 player, potentially top 3 depending on your individual audio taste and ears. I think Sony and Apple probably take the prize, while JBL battles with Bose and Nothing (more on them in coming days) jump into contention too.
But to battle with Bose, once the class leader – is remarkable.
And let’s be clear, we’re talking about the tiniest of margins here, pump up the volume activate noise cancelling and you have no idea you’re on a plane with the JBL Tour One M3’s.
For me though the real test is with music at half volume, kinda emulates the levels you get when watching a movie through the ups and downs of action vs dialogue.
JBL’s Noise Cancelling is a reason to choose the Tour One M3’s as a traveller or around the office.
Smart TX
Ok, the party trick.
Something JBL did with some of their Headphones in recent years was enable a USB-C to 3.5mm connection to bring audio into your headphones.
On a long haul flight this is ideal for tapping into the movies and in-flight entertainment if you don’t have a tablet or when that tablet battery goes flat (spoiler that will happen well before your headphone batteries die).
It’s really quite simple, this little Smart TX device comes with the headphones. At any time you can grab it to adjust volume, noise cancelling and EQ among many many other things.
But then, when you’re looking to hit the in-flight audio system, plug in the supplied USB-C to 3.5mm cable, then plug the 3.5mm audio jack into the plane and you will hear the movie on your Tour One M3 headphones, fully wireless.
The Smart TX and cable can just go into the storage pocket in front of you or on your little table in business class.
Then you just sit back and relax, you can even talk a walk around the cabin with the audio still streaming perfectly.
This is a $100 feature. To Buy a similar device for any headphones you need the AirFly Pro and that’s around $100. For it to be included, and instantly paired is a game changer for travellers.
Plus, though I haven’t tested this, it can also act as a transmitter for other auracast compatible devices. Auracast is a new concept in Bluetooth, but basically if you’re listening to music or a movie, your headphones will hear it, plus another person with auracast compatible headphones can also listen in. Awesome.
Tick number two as a reason to buy if you’re a traveller.
Battery Life is a game changer
Ok, I hope you’re sitting down.
JBL Claims a 70 hour battery life here. I think they are wrong. I think it could be more, I just lost track.
In April I flew Sydney to Los Angeles, to Washington, to Houston, back to Los Angeles then back to Sydney.
Then in May I flew Sydney to Los Angeles, to New York, to San Francisco, to Los Angeles, then back to Sydney.
In June I flew from Sydney to San Francisco and back.
I didn’t charge them at all. They worked the whole time.
No, I wasn’t wearing them every minute of every flight, but by gosh I wore them a lot – probably 80% of the time.
These have the most remarkable battery life of any headphones I’ve ever used on long haul flights.
There’s nothing more to say.
Tick number 3 for the JBL Tour One M3 Headphones right?
Class leading JBL Headphones app
Another thing I love about JBL’s whole range of headphones is the customisation possible for users within the JBL Headphones app. On Android or IOS it’s a winner.
So many options.
Choose what the buttons do.
Change your audio settings, customise the Smart TX box to add or remove screens
I don’t think there’s another audio brand putting as much effort into the app control for their devices as JBL is. Top Marks.
The bottom line
These are outstanding. At $549 they aren’t cheap – but they are cheaper than most of their peers to be honest.
If you’re like me and travel a lot – and I mean a lot – these are the only choice.
If you travel now and then and love music and streaming, these are the choice.
Even if you don’t travel, I find it very hard to believe you’d be in any way disappointed by what JBL has created with the Tour One M3 models which also come in three colours, bit bummed I didn’t get blue ones actually, I reckon that’s the colour of the season.
Trev is a Technology Commentator, Dad, Speaker and Rev Head.
He produces and hosts two popular podcasts, EFTM and Two Blokes Talking Tech. He also appears on over 50 radio stations across Australia weekly, and is the resident Tech Expert on Channel 9’s Today Show each day and appears regularly on A Current Affair.
Father of three, he is often found down in his Man Cave.
