JBL Tour One M3 Headphones Review: Our First Impressions

New York Times

14-05-2025

JBL's inclusion of the Smart Tx is what distinguishes the M3 from other pairs of premium headphones we've tested. Auracast is exciting because it can provide the same type of multi-device connectivity that we currently see in Wi-Fi–based protocols, like AirPlay, Google Cast, or Sonos — but without the Wi-Fi.
Most devices with standard Bluetooth transmitters built in (like your phone, laptop, or tablet) can stream audio to only one device at a time (some standalone transmitters can stream to two devices). But with Auracast you can transmit audio to an unlimited number of Bluetooth headphones, speakers, and earbuds simultaneously, as long as the receiving device also supports Auracast.
This means that several people can listen to audio from a movie playing on a single tablet, can listen to the same music through multiple wireless headphones, or can play the same video game while wearing their own earbuds. This was previously possible only with specialized wireless TV headphone systems that support a fixed number of headsets, are configured explicitly to the transmitter, and were made by the same company. The Tour One M3 package includes a small Bluetooth transmitter that allows you to use the headphones with audio sources that lack Bluetooth. Plus it supports the new Auracast protocol. Lauren Dragan/NYT Wirecutter
Over the past year, we've tested several pairs of earbuds that are 'Auracast-enabled,' but we couldn't find a reliable transmitter device. As a result, that feature went largely untested. So, to test the Smart Tx's broadcasting capabilities, I grabbed the EarFun Air Pro 4, LG xboom Buds, and JBL Go 4 Speaker — all of which support Auracast streams. I successfully connected all three to the transmitter, and the experience was very cool. I set up my laptop to broadcast music from the living room to a speaker in the bedroom while I listened from my balcony via headphones.
It was fun to give headphones and earbuds to my family and let them watch a movie together while I read a book in silence. I found myself imagining silent outdoor movie nights with personalized sound for my friends who are hard of hearing, or a road trip with kids in the backseat playing a game on a shared tablet while the adults have a conversation free of cartoonish sound effects. The Smart Tx transmitter has a touchscreen through which you can check battery life and make simple adjustments to the headphones when your phone is stowed away. Lauren Dragan/NYT Wirecutter
Unfortunately, we aren't quite there yet. As of now, only a handful of headphones and speakers are Auracast-enabled. And although the Smart Tx connected with all of the headphones I tested, the process for non-JBL devices was a maze of apps and troubleshooting, and it was hardly intuitive or frustration-free. The Smart Tx works incredibly well when transmitting to JBL devices, and it also worked well as an Auracast receiver when I connected to a stream from an LG TV. But it's unlikely that the Smart Tx will get much use for Auracast until more-compatible devices are available.
That said, the Smart Tx is also handy as a basic Bluetooth transmitter. If you frequently use shared computers at work, regularly travel by plane, or switch between a number of Bluetooth devices, the Smart Tx will be a benefit. On one of my cross-country flights, I used the included cable to connect the Tx to the plane's in-flight entertainment system. There wasn't any discernible latency, and it was a luxury to be untethered from the seat in front of me.