JBL Tour One M3 Sensible TX assessment: Bluetooth/wired Auracast headphones

Regardless of the massive success of its AirPods vary, Apple has all the time been a bit gradual to undertake new audio applied sciences. It took years to carry high-res audio to the Apple Music streaming service, and even the wildly costly AirPods Max wasn’t capable of play lossless or high-res audio till an replace in March 2025.

Apple’s additionally lagging behind a few of its rivals with assist for brand spanking new Bluetooth options, such because the Auracast broadcasting expertise. Auracast permits one machine or audio supply to transmit Bluetooth audio to a number of units of headphones, in addition to Auracast-compatible listening to aids and cochlear implants.

That broadcasting skill makes Auracast nice for public announcement and leisure programs, in addition to being a helpful accessibility characteristic for individuals with listening to issues. At a current occasion selling its accessibility applied sciences, Apple employees reportedly mentioned that it’s “excited” by the potential of Auracast, though the corporate has not given any indication of when it should add Auracast to its personal merchandise.

One answer to this has not too long ago arrived within the type of JBL’s new Tour One M3, priced at $449.95/£379.99. Out there in quite a lot of colors, the M3 over-ear headphones additionally embody a separate ‘Sensible TX’ – a small transmitter that may be related to a wired audio supply akin to a laptop computer laptop or an in-flight leisure system on a aircraft. It may then transmit wi-fi audio on to the M3 utilizing strange Bluetooth, or use Auracast to transmit to a number of units of close by headphones (so long as these headphones additionally assist Auracast too).

Some areas exterior the U.S. do have the choice of shopping for the M3 headphones on their very own, with out the transmitter – with the U.Okay. value set at £329.99 – though that doesn’t at present appear to be an choice within the U.S. The earlier M2 mannequin can be nonetheless broadly out there each from JBL and different on-line retailers, so be sure to purchase the right mannequin when ordering on-line.

The design of the M3 headphone is pretty standard, with giant padded earpieces and an adjustable headband, and it solely weighs 278g – in comparison with 386g for the AirPods Max – so it’s mild and comfy sufficient to put on for hours at a time on a protracted journey. Admittedly, the light-weight plastic casing doesn’t really feel as sturdy because the AirPods Max, however JBL does embody a hard-shell carrying case to assist hold it protected while you’re travelling.

Battery life is superb too, lasting for 70 hours on a single cost. That’s lowered to 40 hours in the event you’re utilizing lively noise-cancellation, however that ought to nonetheless see you a lot of the means all over the world on a protracted flight, and the M3 additionally has a fast-charge characteristic that can provide you one other 5 hours of music with only a fast 5 minutes of charging time.

Sound High quality

You should use the M3 by itself, listening through Bluetooth or utilizing the USB-C port on the suitable earpiece to supply a wired connection. The M3 helps Apple’s AAC codec for Bluetooth audio, together with Sony’s LDAC, however it’s slightly disappointing that such an costly headphone doesn’t additionally assist the high-quality aptX codec as properly.

Sound high quality utilizing AAC on my iPad works high-quality although, and the M3 does an excellent job dealing with the cocktail of sounds on Ricky Martin’s She Bangs, streamed from Apple Music in lossless format. There’s a full of life power to the blaring horns, and a slinky, clean sound to the bass guitar that will get the hips swaying. It pulls out loads of element within the combine too, discovering room for the sunshine tinkling piano, and rattling cowbells and maracas.

The one noticeable weak point right here is that the treble can sound slightly harsh because it pushes greater up the frequency vary, and the roof-rattling vibrato of Timi Yuro on her ‘60s basic Damage can fray across the edges at instances. The noise-cancellation leaves slightly room for enchancment too. The M3 does an excellent job coping with the low-frequency drone of an plane engine, however a murmur of upper frequencies stays noticeable and the M3 can’t match the extremely efficient noise-cancellation of dearer rivals such because the AirPods Max or the Bose Quiet Consolation vary. Check out our spherical up of the Greatest over-ear headphones the place we examine the AirPods Max with the competitors.

When utilized in standard Bluetooth mode, you should use the 10-band EQ within the JBL app to regulate the sound to your private style. There’s additionally an choice referred to as Personi-fi that performs a collection of tones at completely different frequencies with a purpose to analyse your listening to and modify the sound profile to get the most effective outcomes. And, after all, you even have the choice of switching to the Sensible TX transmitter as properly. As talked about, the transmitter is designed to work with wired audio sources, akin to an leisure system on a aircraft or in a gymnasium, in order that it could then transmit wi-fi audio to the M3 through Bluetooth, or broadcast to a number of units of close by headphones utilizing Auracast.

The transmitter has a small touch-sensitive LCD display that means that you can flick via a collection of controls for adjusting quantity, noise-cancellation and different settings. It has two USB-C ports, with one offering each energy and a wired audio connection, whereas the opposite is for energy solely. There are cables for 3.5mm audio and USB-C, with a USB-A adaptor additionally included, so you should use the transmitter with a variety of computer systems, cell gadgets and audio gear. You may even flip the brightness of the display proper up and use it as a small torch, which could turn out to be useful in a darkened cabin on an in a single day flight.

Ought to You Purchase The JBL Tour One M3 Sensible TX

Frequent fliers and enterprise travellers would possibly choose headphones that present simpler noise-cancellation, however the M3 supplies good sound high quality and spectacular battery life at a value that’s far decrease than high-end rivals such because the AirPods Max. And, after all, its Sensible TX transmitter supplies helpful connectivity options and assist for Auracast that few of its rivals can at present match.