JBL’s Tour One M3 headphones come with a touchscreen transmitter
JBL announced a pair of premium headphones at CES today that can be purchased with an optional transmitter that allows the Tour One M3 to be used wirelessly with audio sources like a plane’s in-flight entertainment system. The headphones will be available starting on April 13th, 2025 in black, mocha, and blue for $399.95, but can also be purchased without the transmitter.
This wireless device allows the Bluetooth headphones to play audio from sources like inflight entertainment systems and analog wired connections. Plus, the Smart Tx has touchscreen controls, offering access to playback and volume adjustments as well as EQ settings and Auracast. That last item allows you to broadcast audio to an unlimited amount of Auracast-enabled devices, like headphones, earbuds and speakers. This isn’t the first time JBL has offered a wireless transmitter as the Tour Pro 3 earbuds case doubles as one. However, it is a company first for headphones.
The option to connect to audio devices without wireless connectivity is a feature borrowed from JBL’s Tour Pro 3 wireless earbuds which incorporates the functionality into a charging case. With the new JBL Tour One M3 headphones, it’s offered through a small touchscreen accessory called the Smart Tx audio transmitter that connects to devices with a USB-C or a 3.5mm audio cable.
The Tour One M3 is powered by 40mm Mica Dome drivers that JBL says are “precisely tuned to deliver deep bass, balanced mids and crystal-clear highs.” High-resolution Bluetooth and lossless over USB-C are available onboard, as is JBL’s Spatial 360 tech with head tracking. The company’s take on spatial audio is similar to Bose, taking any audio source and turning it into “a truly immersive sound experience.”
If you don’t like the stock tuning on the Tour One M3, JBL’s Personi-Fi 3.0 tool can help you adjust the sound based on a quick hearing test in the JBL Headphones app. The company says a new algorithm makes this feature “more accurate than ever” when it comes to matching your listening preferences. For further audio tweaks, there’s a 12-band EQ and separate left/right balance controls. The Tour One M3 can connect to devices over Bluetooth, but the Smart Tx audio transmitter uses a “direct proprietary wireless connection” that JBL says offers reduced latency and improved stability. The Smart Tx’s touchscreen can also be used to adjust headphone settings like ANC and EQ, control music playback, answer phone calls, and broadcast audio “to an unlimited amount of Auracast enabled devices.”
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Lastly, when it comes to battery life, you can expect up to 70 hours of use on a charge. But, the company doesn’t specify if that’s with active noise cancellation (ANC) enabled. A quick-charge feature offers up to five hours of playback in five minutes. You can also enable a SmartTalk tool that automatically pauses music and activates ambient sound when the Tour One M3 detects your voice.