Headphones · Model guide · Maker specs
JBL Tour One M3
Get the JBL Tour One M3 for LDAC, lossless USB-C audio and up to 70 hours of battery: JBL's current flagship, $399.95 with the SMART Tx transmitter.
Product images
JBL Tour One M3, from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Get the JBL Tour One M3 for LDAC, lossless USB-C audio and up to 70 hours of battery: JBL's current flagship, $399.95 with the SMART Tx transmitter. With its eight-microphone noise cancelling switched on, JBL rates it for 40 hours, and it weighs 278 g. Skip it if you need aptX or a water rating, and keep your Tour One M2 if AAC and 50 hours already cover you.
Who it is for
- Listeners with an LDAC phone or music player. The Tour One M3 adds LDAC and LC3 to SBC and AAC, where the Tour One M2 launched with AAC and SBC only.
- Long-haul travelers. Even with noise cancelling on, JBL rates the Tour One M3 for 40 hours, and 5 minutes on the charger buys about 5 hours.
- People who listen at a computer. Over USB-C, the Tour One M3's built-in 192 kHz, 24-bit DAC plays lossless audio.
- Anyone who wants wireless sound from a wired source. The SMART Tx transmitter in the US bundle plugs into a USB-C or analog output, sends the audio to the headphones and can broadcast over Auracast.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who relies on aptX. The Tour One M3 supports SBC, AAC, LC3 and LDAC, but not aptX.
- Gym-goers and anyone who listens in the rain. JBL gives the Tour One M3 no IP rating.
- Listeners who keep noise cancelling on and want to spend less. JBL's Live 770NC is rated for 50 hours that way, against 40 here, for a $180-class price.
- Tour One M2 owners who stream AAC. Unless you'll use LDAC, the USB-C DAC or the extra hours, the M2 you have still does the job.
What sets it apart
- LDAC and LC3 alongside SBC and AAC, on Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio and Auracast.
- True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0 with 8 microphones, 4 on and in each ear cup, plus 4 beamforming microphones for calls.
- Up to 70 hours with noise cancelling off and 40 with it on, against 50 and 30 on the Tour One M2.
- Two wired options: lossless USB-C through the built-in DAC, or analog through a 1.2 m USB-C to 3.5 mm cable.
- Personi-Fi 3.0 (an in-app hearing test, a 12-band EQ and separate left and right balance) and Spatial 360 with head tracking.
Caveats
- SMART Tx isn't in every box. HARMAN's $399.95 US price is for the bundle with the transmitter; JBL's carton list for the headphones leaves it out, and JBL Europe also sold the headphones alone for €349.99.
- JBL doesn't say the cups fold. You get a carrying case instead.
Key specs
In the same order on every headphones page, so you can compare pairs.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Wireless over-ear noise-cancelling headphones | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet |
| Drivers | 40 mm (1.57 in) dynamic mica-dome drivers, newly developed for the M3 | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet; HARMAN, 6 January 2025 |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz–40 kHz | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet |
| Impedance | 18 ohms | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet |
| Sensitivity | 122 dB SPL at 1 kHz; maximum SPL 94 dB | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet |
| Noise cancelling | True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0; 8 microphones, 4 on and in each ear cup, adjust it in real time | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet; HARMAN, 6 January 2025 |
| Ambient sound | Ambient Aware and TalkThru in the JBL Headphones app; Smart Talk switches to TalkThru when it hears you speak | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet; HARMAN, 6 January 2025 |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC; no aptX | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio and Auracast; A2DP 1.4, AVRCP 1.6.2, HFP 1.8 | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet |
| Multipoint | Yes; two Bluetooth devices at once, switching between them | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet |
| Battery life | Up to 70 hours with noise cancelling off, 40 with it on. Talk time 38 hours with noise cancelling off, 34 with it on. 850 mAh, 3.85 V lithium-ion cell | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet |
| Charging | USB-C; 2 hours from empty; 5 minutes ≈ 5 hours | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet; HARMAN, 6 January 2025 |
| Wired listening | Lossless over USB-C through a built-in 192 kHz, 24-bit DAC; analog through the USB-C to 3.5 mm cable (both cables 1.2 m); USB-C to USB-A adapter included | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet; HARMAN, 6 January 2025 |
| Weight | 278 g (0.6 lb) | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet |
| Folding and case | Carrying case included; folding not listed | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet (in the box) |
| App | JBL Headphones: Personi-Fi 3.0, 12-band EQ, left and right balance, noise cancelling, Ambient and TalkThru controls, Smart Talk, Auracast, audio and video modes | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet; HARMAN, 6 January 2025 |
| Microphones and calls | 8 microphones for True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0 (4 on and in each cup), plus 4 adaptive beamforming call microphones with VoiceAware; Zoom-certified on a wired connection. JBL's global product page counts 10 microphones | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet; HARMAN, 6 January 2025; JBL global product page |
| Voice assistant | Smart Talk voice recognition; Google Fast Pair and Google Audio Switch; no Alexa or Hey Google button listed | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet |
| Colors | Black, Mocha and Blue at launch (6 January 2025); a green edition arrived with the April 2026 firmware | HARMAN, 6 January 2025; HARMAN, 23 April 2026 |
| Compatibility | Any Bluetooth 5.3 device; LDAC and LC3 need a source that supports them. USB-C digital and 3.5 mm analog listening. The SMART Tx bundle (US $399.95) adds a transmitter for USB-C or analog sources, with Auracast broadcast | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet; HARMAN, 6 January 2025 |
| US launch price | $399.95 with JBL SMART Tx (announced 6 January 2025; on JBL.com from 13 April 2025). Europe: €399.99 with SMART Tx, €349.99 without (15 April 2025) | HARMAN, 6 January 2025; JBL Europe news |
| Price band | JBL's current flagship ($400 class with SMART Tx) | HARMAN, 6 January 2025 |
| Announced | 6 January 2025 at CES; in US stores 13 April 2025 | HARMAN, 6 January 2025 |
| Availability | JBL's current over-ear flagship as of 19 September 2026; firmware 4.8.0 added the Harman Curve sound update in April 2026 | HARMAN, 6 January 2025; HARMAN, 23 April 2026 |
JBL Tour One M3 extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| JBL SMART Tx | Wireless transmitter in the US $399.95 bundle: takes a USB-C or analog source, with a touch display, EQ and call controls, and Auracast broadcast. Not on the headphones' carton list | HARMAN, 6 January 2025; JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet (in the box) |
| Spatial audio | JBL Spatial 360 with built-in head tracking | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet; HARMAN, 6 January 2025 |
| USB-C DAC | Built-in 192 kHz, 24-bit DAC for lossless audio over USB-C | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet |
| Personi-Fi | Personi-Fi 3.0: in-app hearing test, 12-band EQ, separate left and right balance | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet; HARMAN, 6 January 2025 |
| Bluetooth profiles | A2DP 1.4, AVRCP 1.6.2, HFP 1.8 | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet |
| In the box | Tour One M3; USB-C to USB-C cable (1.2 m); USB-C to 3.5 mm cable (1.2 m); USB-C to USB-A adapter; carrying case; warranty and quick start guide. SMART Tx comes only in the bundle, not with the headphones alone | JBL Tour One M3 spec sheet |
What changed from the Tour One M2
JBL announced the Tour One M3 at CES on 6 January 2025. The Tour One M2 it replaces had been priced at $299.95 at CES 2023, and the new pair changes most of what you’d compare:
| Spec | Tour One M3 | Tour One M2 |
|---|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC | AAC, SBC |
| Battery, noise cancelling off | Up to 70 hours | Up to 50 hours |
| Battery, noise cancelling on | Up to 40 hours | Up to 30 hours |
| Impedance | 18 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 122 dB | 117 dB |
| Personalization | Personi-Fi 3.0 | Personi-Fi 2.0 |
| US launch price | $399.95 with SMART Tx | $299.95 |
LDAC is the clearest reason to move up, but only if your phone or player can send it. The battery gain is easier to feel: with noise cancelling on, you get 10 more hours between charges. The Tour One M2 vs Tour One M3 comparison goes through the rest.
Noise cancelling and calls
True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0 uses 8 microphones, 4 on and in each ear cup, and adjusts in real time. Ambient Aware and TalkThru sit in the JBL Headphones app, and Smart Talk switches to TalkThru by itself when it hears you speak, so you can answer someone without reaching for the cups.
Calls get their own set of 4 adaptive beamforming microphones with VoiceAware. HARMAN says the M3 is Zoom-certified on a wired connection, which helps if you take Zoom calls plugged into a computer.
Battery and charging
| Mode | Tour One M3 |
|---|---|
| Music, noise cancelling off | Up to 70 hours |
| Music, noise cancelling on | Up to 40 hours |
| Talk, noise cancelling off | Up to 38 hours |
| Talk, noise cancelling on | Up to 34 hours |
| Quick charge | 5 minutes for about 5 hours |
| Full charge | 2 hours from empty, over USB-C |
The 70-hour headline is with noise cancelling off; with it on, plan around 40 hours. JBL rates all of this for an 850 mAh, 3.85 V cell, and the 5-minute top-up is the one to remember before you leave the house.
Codecs, cables and SMART Tx
The M3 runs Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio and Auracast, and its codecs are SBC, AAC, LC3 and LDAC. It stays connected to two devices at once and switches between them, and Google Fast Pair and Google Audio Switch are built in.
Plugged in, you have two routes. The USB-C port feeds a built-in 192 kHz, 24-bit DAC for lossless audio from a computer or phone, and the USB-C to 3.5 mm cable handles analog headphone jacks. Both cables are 1.2 m long, and a USB-C to USB-A adapter comes in the box.
SMART Tx is the extra in the $399.95 bundle. It’s a transmitter with a touch display: connect it to a USB-C or analog source and it sends the audio to the headphones, with EQ and call controls, or broadcasts over Auracast.
Sound and the app
The drivers are newly developed 40 mm (1.57 in) mica domes, rated from 10 Hz to 40 kHz. In the JBL Headphones app, Personi-Fi 3.0 runs a hearing test and gives you a 12-band EQ and separate left and right balance. JBL Spatial 360 adds head tracking.
The M3’s tuning has changed since launch: firmware 4.8.0 brought the Harman Curve sound update, which HARMAN announced on 23 April 2026.
Weight and colors
The M3 weighs 278 g (0.6 lb). It launched in Black, Mocha and Blue, and a green edition arrived with the April 2026 firmware.
Other JBL over-ears
| Spec | Tour One M3 | Live 770NC | Club One |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery, noise cancelling off | Up to 70 hours | Up to 65 hours | Up to 45 hours |
| Battery, noise cancelling on | Up to 40 hours | Up to 50 hours | Up to 23 hours |
| Weight | 278 g | 256 g | 378.5 g |
| Price | $399.95 with SMART Tx | $180 class; $219.95 list | £299.99 |
The JBL Live 770NC is the one to weigh against the M3: it’s lighter and lasts longer with noise cancelling on, but JBL lists no LDAC for it. JBL’s older Club One used 40 mm graphene drivers with True Adaptive noise cancelling and SilentNow, and it’s much heavier than either.
Price
HARMAN priced the Tour One M3 at $399.95 in the US as a bundle with SMART Tx, and it went on sale at JBL.com on 13 April 2025. In Europe, JBL listed it on 15 April 2025 at €399.99 with SMART Tx or €349.99 without. Prices move, so check whether SMART Tx is included before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon — JBL Tour One M3 — accessed 2026-09-20
- JBL US — Tour One M3 product page — accessed 2026-09-19
- JBL — Tour One M3 spec sheet (English) — accessed 2026-09-19
- HARMAN — JBL introduces the Tour ONE M3, 6 January 2025 — accessed 2026-09-19
- HARMAN — New JBL sound curve for Tour ONE M3, 23 April 2026 — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Does the Tour One M3 support aptX?
No. It handles SBC, AAC, LC3 and LDAC. LDAC and LC3 need a phone or player that supports them; anything else connects over AAC or SBC.
Can I listen with a cable?
Yes, two ways. Over USB-C, the built-in 192 kHz, 24-bit DAC plays lossless audio, and the 1.2 m USB-C to 3.5 mm cable in the box plugs into an analog headphone jack.
Can it stay connected to two devices?
Yes. It pairs with two Bluetooth devices at the same time and switches between them, and it supports Google Fast Pair and Google Audio Switch.
Does it work with Alexa or Google Assistant?
Not through a dedicated button that JBL lists. The M3's voice feature is Smart Talk, which switches to TalkThru when it hears you speak.
Should I upgrade from the Tour One M2?
Only if you'll use what's new: LDAC, the USB-C DAC, Personi-Fi 3.0 or the longer battery, which runs 70 hours against 50 with noise cancelling off and 40 against 30 with it on. For AAC listening, the M2 still covers the basics.
Official product page: JBL Tour One M3. Tech specs: JBL Tour One M3 specs.