JBL's New Headphones Bring Something Unique to the Table

At CES 2025, JBL unveiled a bunch of new audio gadgets, but one pair of headphones really stood out: the Tour One M3. Unlike other high-end headphones from brands like Sony, Bose, and Apple, the Tour One M3 comes with a handy accessory called the JBL Smart Tx audio transmitter. This little gadget lets you beam audio wirelessly to the headphones from any USB-C or analog audio source, like an airplane's entertainment system, a computer, tablet, or even a TV. The headphones are set to hit stores on April 13 in mocha and black, priced at $400, which is $100 more than the previous model. Some premium earbuds, like the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 and Jabra Elite Active 8 Gen 2, have charging cases that double as audio transmitters. However, until now, no full-size headphones have offered this feature. While you can buy third-party transmitters for around $50, the Smart Tx is different because it has a touchscreen LCD that lets you control the headphones' features, including music playback, call management, and EQ settings. Plus, it can broadcast audio to an unlimited number of Auracast-enabled devices.

The Smart Tx isn't just a transmitter; it's also a remote control for the headphones. JBL has made efforts to improve the Tour One M3 in other ways too. They've made the headphones more comfortable, added new 40mm Mica Dome drivers for better sound, and enhanced noise-canceling and voice-calling performance. They've also included next-generation JBL Spatial 360 audio with integrated head tracking. It's not clear yet which audio codecs the headphones support, but JBL promises "hi-res Bluetooth" streaming and lossless USB-C connections. A full review of the Tour One M3 will be available when the headphones ship.

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