JBL is pushing wireless headphones into new territory with the Tour One M3 SMART TX—a premium over-ear model that blends serious hi-fi ambitions with one of the most original ideas we’ve seen in this category: a smart wireless transmitter with a built-in color touchscreen.
At first glance, the Tour One M3 SMART TX looks like a refined evolution of JBL’s flagship noise-canceling headphones. But the real innovation lives in the compact SMART TX transmitter, which turns almost any audio source into a high-quality wireless feed—whether you’re connected to a PC, a game console, or even an airplane’s in-flight entertainment system.
Smart TX: A Pocket-Sized Control Center for Wireless Audio
The included SMART TX transmitter connects via USB-C or analog minijack and wirelessly sends audio directly to the headphones. This opens up use cases that traditional Bluetooth headphones simply can’t handle—lossless digital audio from a computer, wireless gaming sound, or full ANC performance on long-haul flights without relying on onboard headphones.
Even better, the transmitter features a touch-sensitive color display, allowing you to control playback, noise cancellation, EQ, and sound modes directly—no phone required. You can even customize the background with your own photos, turning the transmitter into a surprisingly personal little gadget.
Battery Life
Battery performance is equally impressive. With Active Noise Cancellation enabled, the Tour One M3 SMART TX delivers up to 40 hours of playback. Turn ANC off, and that figure stretches to a massive 70 hours.
Pressed for time? A 5-minute quick charge provides up to 5 hours of listening, making these headphones exceptionally travel-friendly.
Adaptive Noise Cancellation 2.0
JBL’s Adaptive Noise Cancellation 2.0 automatically analyzes your surroundings and adjusts noise reduction in real time. Whether you’re in a noisy airplane cabin, a busy office, or a quiet café, the system fine-tunes itself without constant manual adjustments.
Additional smart modes include Smart Talk, which temporarily lowers the volume when you speak, and ambient sound amplification, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings without removing the headphones.
Spatial Audio, Head Tracking, and Lossless Playback
On the sound side, the Tour One M3 SMART TX goes far beyond standard Bluetooth headphones. You get JBL Spatial 360 sound with Head Tracking, creating a more immersive, speaker-like presentation that adapts as you move your head.
When connected via USB-C, the headphones support lossless digital audio, making them a serious option not just for casual listening, but also for high-quality playback from PCs and laptops. All sound settings and personalization options are available through the JBL Headphones app, which offers deep control without becoming overwhelming.
Call quality is handled by an 8-microphone array, with beamforming outer microphones focusing on your voice while internal mics suppress background noise. Wind noise reduction ensures clarity even outdoors, and a built-in Call Equalizer lets you fine-tune how you sound—and how others sound to you.
The Tour One M3 SMART TX is also Zoom certified, making it a strong candidate for both work and travel.
Touch Controls and Voice Assistants
Touch-sensitive controls on the earcups handle music playback, calls, and ANC modes intuitively—no tiny buttons to hunt for. A simple tap can also summon your preferred voice assistant, whether that’s Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Siri, letting you manage music, messages, or navigation hands-free.
The JBL Tour One M3 SMART TX is available in multiple color options and ships with:
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SMART TX wireless transmitter
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USB-C charging cable
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Minijack-to-USB-C audio cable
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Hard carrying case
