I’m lying on the hard floor of my apartment, trying to meditate. The JBL Tour One M3 headphones create an audio bubble that transports me to a seashore, with birds chirping and waves crashing. It’s a stark contrast to the reality of my surroundings, but it’s effective. These wireless over-ear noise-cancelling headphones are more than just an escape route; they’re a pressure valve, a tool to help navigate the realities of daily life.
The JBL Tour One M3 is a testament to the brand’s legacy of creating no-nonsense audio products that offer great playback and value for money. The design is trendy yet familiar, with soft, plushy earcups and headband that keep you comfortable even after long hours. The right earcup features a toggle to power on the headphone and a button to switch between noise-cancelling and ambient aware modes. The left earcup houses the volume controls. Gestures on the surface of the earcups allow you to pause/play songs or take calls, offering a high degree of customisation.
The JBL app takes customisation to another level. It offers one of the widest ranges of customisations I’ve seen in headphones. You can select the exact level of noise cancelling you want, make it adaptive, and add gain to your ambient awareness level. You can also select audio and video modes, and customise sound settings for calls. The app also features Personi-Fi, which lets you personalise the headphones even more. There’s also a relax mode where you can select calming sounds to meditate or unwind while at work. You can add multiple layers to these sounds, making it a unique feature. The SilentNow mode is another standout feature, disconnecting Bluetooth and keeping the noise cancelling on so that you can sleep, perhaps on a long-haul flight. The best part is that you can customise when this mode turns on and how long it stays.
The JBL Tour One M3 also comes with a unique transmitter. All the features you can access on the app can also be controlled from this smart audio transmitter that comes in the box. It’s like the smart screen that comes on the new truly wireless earphones, like the JBL Tune Beam. It works like a remote that lets you access all controls without reaching out for the phone. The only downside is that it’s easy to forget, so make sure to stash it back inside the headphone case after each use.
The JBL Tour One M3 is not one of the loudest headphones I’ve used, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s one of the clearest headphones I’ve used. When I say clear, this one doesn’t need higher volumes to exert all the channels. It gives everything its space with precision tuning. The audio profile is very natural and balanced. The customisation options let you go the extra mile when it comes to bass or vocal clarity. You can also customise the presets and make Extreme Bass just the way you like it. The vocal preset was perfect to listen to Sona Mohapatra’s Anhad Naad, with the drum beats settling gently in the background. But I found the studio preset to be most balanced. The lossless version of Tere Ishq Mein showcased Arijit Singh’s silken vocals well in this mode, without being overpowered by the chorus and other arrangements. But while watching movies, I did feel a bit wanting for more volume. Maybe I am becoming old, but a tad more sound would have been great to hear the dialogues a bit more clearly.
The battery life is great and can last you a week on a full charge. Or if you are catching a flight to the US, you will not need to charge it till you are back. At Rs 34,999, the JBL Tour One M3 is a bit pricey. But no other headphones offer you so many features, and that makes this a good value for money device at the end of the day. While great audio is a given with JBL, a boatload of unique features is also becoming a habit now. I suggest this for those who want their music their way.
This news could shape the development of the audio sector in several ways. Firstly, it highlights the growing demand for customisation and personalisation in audio products. As consumers become more discerning, brands will need to offer more ways for users to tailor their listening experience. Secondly, it underscores the importance of comfort and design in audio products. The JBL Tour One M3’s plushy earcups and headband are a testament to this. Lastly, it shows that consumers are willing to pay a premium for unique features and great audio quality. This could spur innovation in the sector, as brands strive to offer more unique
