It becomes clear each year that covering every single big tech announcement that comes out of CES is nearly impossible — heck, even if we were to just stick to headphones, it would be very difficult. While all of the major unveilings come onto our radar, we like to give extra attention to the really special ones.
One of our favorites at this year’s electronics trade show was the Tour ONE M3 model from JBL, which also comes with a really cool wireless transmitter as an optional add-on.
First, The Headphones
While it’s not the highlight of the announcement, the Tour ONE M3 headphones still must be explained. Featuring the new 40mm Mica Dome drivers that are obviously designed to be an improvement over previous headphone models from the brand. According to JBL, they are “precisely tuned to deliver deep bass, balanced mids, and crystal-clear highs.”
Available in three colorways — black, blue, and mocha — the headphones also introduce JBL Spatial 360, a spatial audio feature for bringing a cinematic experience if you’re watching movies or playing games. The battery life on the monitors is pretty solid too, with up to 70 hours of playback or a 5-hour boost after just a 5-minute quick-charge.
Utilizing eight mics, the ANC this time around is the brand’s True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0 tech, which can also enhance the transparency mode during playback. Like other JBL headphones, the EQing can be performed in the JBL app, which allows you to adjust levels for each ear (although, I’m not sure why you really would). From my previous experience, the app is pretty straightforward but helpful with its user-friendly 12-band EQ controls.
But What About the Transmitter?
Of course, the main event here is the debut of the Smart Tx transmitter, which is essentially a pocket-sized “headphone buddy” of sorts, allowing you to do things like play, pause, and skip songs, while also giving you the ability to adjust ANC settings and EQ controls, among other things. You’ll get wireless connectivity to any Auracast-enabled devices with broadcasting capability as well.
According to JBL, “The direct proprietary wireless connection between transmitter and the headphones improves latency, stability, and call quality, making it the perfect pairing for any audio content form.”
The touchscreen device also gives you the ability to connect to analog devices that don’t have wireless connectivity, such as an old Walkman or boombox — as long as it has a USB-C or 3.5mm audio port (or the ability to adapt to one) — so you can experience lossless audio quality when listening to other forms of media.
The proprietary wireless connection offered in the Smart Tx has been featured before in the charging case of the Tour Pro 3 earbuds, but here the usability is amplified for better control with the touchscreen.
Spec Sheet
Model: Tour ONE M3
Type: Over-ear monitors
Drivers: 40mm Mica Dome
Battery Life: 70 hours
ANC?: Yes
Pricing & Availability
Available on April 13, the Tour ONE M3 headphones and Smart Tx transmitter will be packaged together for $400, but you can get these devices separately as well. Head over to JBL’s website to learn more.
Recap
JBL Tour ONE M3 Headphones & Smart Tx Transmitter
JBL’s upcoming Tour ONE M3 headphones will feature spatial audio but also come with a wireless transmitter that can connect to analog devices as well.
