The JBL Tour One M3 is high-fidelity audio equipment equipped with numerous new technologies and solutions to make listening to music more straightforward and more enjoyable, and the battery can last for an entire week without needing a recharge. Among the key differences and new features of the Tour One M3 compared to other wireless headphones are the Smart Tx transmitter and LC3 codec. In this JBL Tour One M3 Smart Tx review, I will provide information and features to help you better understand the newly launched JBL Tour One wireless noise-cancelling over-ear headphones.
JBL Tour One M3 Smart Tx Review
Design, Build Quality, and Finish
Our JBL Tour One M3 Smart Tx review unit comes in mocha, but it’s also available in black and blue colors. It doesn’t look particularly outstanding from the outside, but it is gentle and attractive. If you prefer luxury, choose black. If you prefer sophistication, gentleness, and modernity, opt for mocha. I like mocha better.
The manufacturer uses plastic for the body of the headset, which makes it lightweight and easy to operate. Most current over-ear headphones use plastic as the frame to ensure the weight of the earpiece is not too high, thereby preventing discomfort on the neck when worn for extended periods.
Other materials, such as ear cushions and headbands, are covered with synthetic leather or soft imitation leather for a soft and snug feel when worn, which helps increase noise cancellation and provides a more hugging sensation on the head.
You can fold it very compactly to fit it in a backpack and take it somewhere without it taking up too much space. JBL also includes a rigid fabric box to protect the ear, which is more durable and practical.
JBL Smart TX: Enhanced Range, Reliable Stability, and Intelligent Control
This signal transmitter serves as a bridge, enabling the JBL Tour One M3 to connect to all digital audio sources via the USB-C port and Analog Sources via the 3.5mm port. That means in addition to using JBL Tour One M3 connected to a computer or phone via Bluetooth, you can listen to other sources such as vinyl records, CDs, and cassette players or listen on the plane… with a USB-C port, you can plug it in and listen right away, so it is more convenient and faster than connecting to Bluetooth.
JBL has factory-connected the Tour One M3 and Smart TX, using not only Bluetooth but also exclusive JBL technology. This connection enables the Smart TV to transmit more stable data to the Tour One M3, and both devices utilize the LC3 codec, resulting in improved music quality.
Auracast has a great feature that allows you to share music from one source to multiple devices. Now, with two headphones that support Auracast, you can listen to music and watch movies, which was not previously possible. Currently, several audio companies are utilizing the new Bluetooth standard that supports Auracast, so connecting multiple devices will be a future feature. Whoever uses it first will be considered ahead of the times.
Smart TX is similar to the charging case with a screen on JBL headphones that I have used. You can hold it to control the headphones’ features and receive phone calls without needing to open the app on your phone.
High-quality audio with LDAC and LC3 codecs
For those with the highest demands, LDAC is the audio codec that can transmit the highest quality sound on Bluetooth today. Of course, you need a phone or music player that supports LDAC to experience it, and many Android smartphones now support it. Samsung, Sony, Xiaomi, and Pixel all have it. Most music players with Bluetooth also have LDAC.
For those who typically listen to music, the new LC3 codec will offer a superior sound experience compared to standard codecs, such as the basic Bluetooth standard SBC or the widely popular Apple AAC. The key advantage of LC3 is that it can deliver high sound quality at low bitrates. LC3 delivers sound quality comparable to CD quality (16-bit/44.1 kHz) at low bitrates, even at 160 kbps. Bluetooth SIG and ETSI tests show that LC3 surpasses SBC and AAC at the same bitrate. In my opinion, LC3 is more important because it delivers better sound quality and transmits it easily without needing specific conditions, unlike LDAC or AptX.
Of course, JBL Tour One M3 still supports popular codecs such as SBC and ACC, so you can use it with Bluetooth devices, especially Apple devices, to take full advantage of the equipped technology.
Testing noise cancelling headphones with LC3, the actual results show that at 160kbps, it can transmit music more effectively than SBC at 345kbps. The conditions for using LC3 are simpler than those for LDAC or AptX HD, allowing you to experience better sound easily.
Hi-Res Audio in Wired mode
The JBL Tour One M3 delivers Hi-Res Audio quality when used with a wired connection. You can use a 2-way USB-C cable or a single-way USB-C cable to provide higher-resolution sound for the Tour One M3.
USB-C to USB-C cable: Connect this cable to your phone, tablet, or computer, and it will recognize the headset as an audio output device because it features a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). You can connect all your digital music sources to the headset via the USB-C port.
Also see: JBL Flip 7 Quick Review: Tough, Loud, and Ready to Go
3.5mm to USB-C cable: This cable is compatible with audio sources featuring a 3.5mm port. That means all cassette, CD, and turntable players with 3.5mm and 6.3mm ports can play music through this headset. However, JBL equipped this part to have full features, but not many people still use it. Or you are a member of the group of people who play nostalgic music, as the trend of listening to tapes and CDs is experiencing a resurgence.
Using a wire improves music playback because the device transmits the audio file directly, resulting in better quality. However, in reality, LC3 is more than enough for a portable ANC headset like the JBL Tour One M3. You can also use it for gaming.
If you find that listening via Bluetooth, even via LC3 or LDAC, is not satisfactory, then connecting the wire is the solution. However, to ensure convenience and ease, I think JBL Tour One M3 playing wirelessly through the Smart TX is the best. The JBL Smart TX will ensure that all sources will reach the Tour One M3 via Bluetooth stably and smoothly with the LC3 codec.
Key Connection Details to Note
JBL Tour One M3 is equipped with Bluetooth 5.3 and supports multi-point connection. You can connect two devices simultaneously, such as a phone and a tablet or laptop. If you are listening to music or watching a video on your computer and your phone receives an incoming call, it will automatically switch to the call. This feature is only available on new Bluetooth headphones.
It also supports Auracast, so if your other headphones support it as well, sharing audio from one source to multiple headphones is easy.
Personi-fi 3.0 is a special feature of JBL headphones. We will perform a test to assess the ability to hear sound in both ears for bass, mid-range, and treble sounds. The app will then provide a separate sound profile for each ear to deliver the best sound experience. When I tried this feature, I discovered that my two ears have different sensitivities to sound frequencies.
You can also pair it using Google Fast Pair with Android phones as easily as AirPods with iPhone. Simply place it next to Android, and it will automatically display a connection request window. After connecting, the system will show battery information and features more clearly, and it will sync information about the connected headphones to your Google account. So convenient.
Sound highlights: Drivers, 360° audio, Head-tracking
40mm mica driver: Whether you listen via Hi-res Bluetooth or a USBC connection, the system does not compress the data. Thanks to this optimal power, the headset maintains consistent sound quality even at high volume levels. This helps users enjoy sharp sound without distortion or loss of sound detail.
JBL Spatial 360 spatial audio technology reproduces detailed surround sound from any stereo source, creates reflected and reverberant signals, and dynamically adjusts parameters across multiple frequency ranges to enhance sound quality.
Motion tracking feature: Keeps the sound fixed in space, giving a more realistic feeling when you turn your head and creating additional layers of separate sound to help listeners immerse themselves more deeply in the music.
True ANC 2.0: Adaptive Noise Cancellation
JBL equips the Tour One M3 Smart Tx with active noise cancellation, which they call True ANC 2.0. This is an upgrade in both specifications and hardware compared to the previous generation, True ANC 1.0, that JBL equipped on their old headphone line. JBL equips each ear with a total of 4 microphones, of which 2 are external, allowing for the measurement of the noise level of the outside environment and thereby eliminating it. There are two in-ear mics to measure the sound in the ear, helping to improve the quality of the conversation and ensuring features such as crosstalk reduction and sound quality for more effective communication.
4 external mics for sound isolation are designed to record sound from the front, back, left, and right. Information from these 4 mics is sent to the chip in the ear and processed to build a noise-canceling solution by commanding the headset to create a sound with similar waves but in the opposite direction.
The internal and external microphones combine in real time, allowing the features to be demonstrated. Features include noise cancellation, clear hearing, and clearer calls.
More Engaging Conversations
The 4 external microphones also contribute to more explicit conversations when the Tour One M3 performs beamforming. That is, when there are multiple microphone positions, it determines the direction of the sound from which it captures the voice more accurately. And from there, the conversation will be clearer when the other side hears our voice with the surrounding noise removed, not from the mouth.
The ability to adjust the sound of your voice so that the other person can hear it and vice versa is how the other person perceives you. From there, it helps us talk at a normal, comfortable volume and hear more clearly. As we know, we are speaking to the other side, and the other side also sees that we are speaking loud enough, neither too softly nor too loudly. Usually, when we see that the other side is not hearing or having difficulty hearing, we tend to speak louder than this side… Tour One M3 has solved this problem by allowing volume adjustment from both sides.
In the app, you open the Smart Talk section. Here, you can enable the automatic phone call recognition feature to automatically lower the music after you start talking and automatically turn the music back on at the previous volume.
Also see: JBL Charge 6 Quick Review: 2025’s Top Portable Speaker
Testing the phone conversation on the JBL One Tour M3 is very comfortable, almost like wearing wired headphones with the mic close to your mouth. The reason is that the One Tour M3 features multiple microphones, allowing it to orient the sound and automatically adjust the volume to achieve a balanced sound. You can make phone calls, meet, or call via services like WhatsApp or Messenger, all without any issues.
Battery life lasts up to 70 hrs
Our JBL Tour One M3 Smart TX review unit lasts around 70 hours when used for listening. If ANC is turned on, it will last 40 hours. Charging for 5 minutes will provide an additional 5 hours of listening time. Thanks to the new technology that JBL has equipped, we have a headset with numerous features and a remarkably long battery life, twice as long as that of other headsets.
The JBL Smart TX is expected to have a battery life of approximately 6 to 8 hours. A full charge takes 2 hours, and a quick charge of 10 minutes will provide an additional 3 hours of listening time. As for the battery, there is nothing to worry about.
The battery is strong, allowing you to listen comfortably, and it’s not easy to run out of battery without being able to listen to music or cancel noise. The ability to charge quickly is also essential, as charging for 5 minutes can listen for 5 hours.
Final Line
JBL Tour One M3 Smart Tx can be considered the most equipped ANC wireless headphones today. The Smart Tx unit provides a broader and more convenient connection to LDAC for listening to higher-resolution wireless music and LC3 for listening to content with normal apps, offering better quality.
The battery life is massive, offering a listening time of up to 70 hours with ANC turned on or up to 40 hours without ANC. At the same time, it can be quickly charged in 5 minutes to provide 5 hours of listening time.
Personi-Fi 3 can measure the hearing ability of each ear and then provide a suitable sound profile. The solution helps users listen to music better.
I’ll be using these wireless noise-cancelling over-ear headphones further and will update this JBL Tour One M3 Smart Tx review with more insights over time.
Also see: JBL PartyBox Encore2 Quick Review: Portable Party Speaker with Karaoke Mic
It is available on Amazon.com for $399.95 and £329.97 on Amazon.co.uk without the Smart Tx transmitter.
