STACK #250 August 2025

TECH REVIEW

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REVIEW

You can even plug it into the 3.5mm jack on a plane and relax with in-flight entertainment while wearing a quality set of headphones. Sound quality With a premium set of headphones, you’d expect premium sound, right? Well, you won’t be disappointed here. Wireless Hi-Res Audio transmits approximately three times more data than conventional Bluetooth audio, producing pristine 24-bit sound. The Tour One headphones feature JBL Pro Sound, which delivers a balanced and clean audio profile. Think strong but not overpowering bass, natural mids, and crisp highs. It’s tuned for clarity and accuracy, rather than exaggerated low-end thump. Launch the app, and you’re presented with a myriad of custom EQ settings to tweak the sound. For a more personalised experience, the Personi-Fi option tailors the audio based on your The True Adaptive Noise Cancelling is top drawer. It analyses a user’s surroundings and adjusts the ANC levels accordingly, helping you stay immersed whether you’re on a plane, working from home during school holidays, or getting a caffeine boost at the local café. TalkThru lowers the volume and boosts voice pickup, allowing you to have a conversation without removing your headphones. Battery bonus Battery life is a strong suit here. You’ll get up to 70 hours with ANC off, and around 40 hours with ANC on, which is among the best in the category. A ten-minute quick charge adds another five hours - perfect for the times you forget to charge before heading out. Final thoughts The JBL Tour One M3 sits comfortably in the premium space. The headphones deliver right across the board from top-tier ANC and sound to awe-inspiring battery life. A comfortable fit and the addition of the convenient Smart Tx make the M3s the perfect accompaniment for travel, the office commute, or for just zoning out at home with your favourite playlist. hearing capabilities. Noise works

JBL’s premium headset is back, and it’s packed to the rafters with cracking features you didn’t know you needed – until now. Words Paul Jones JBL TOUR ONE M3

T he premium market is dominated by brands like Sony and Bose, but the JBL Tour One series has been mixing it up in the top-shelf space now since 2021. The good news is it's back with its best offering yet – the Tour One M3. Comfort counts And here there’s comfort in droves. From the padding on the headband to the plush earcups, these tick the ‘all-dayer’ box with aplomb. Light in weight and with optimal clamp pressure on the noggin, the M3s can do an eight-hour workday with ease – just remember to take them off when you jump in the shower… Take control The Tour One M3 uses a combination of touch and physical controls. On the left cup is a volume rocker, while on the right, there’s a power slide and an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to Ambient Noise button. There’s also a touch panel on the right cup to pause, play, and skip your music. Smart as One of the standout features with the M3s is the Smart Tx box. A small device, roughly the size of a matchbox, features a customisable touchscreen that allows you to adjust settings like the EQ, access playback, and even answer calls. It’s a masterstroke that eliminates the need to drag your phone out of your bag or pocket. There’s even a torch mode that’s particularly

handy for finding the sleep mask that you dropped on a night flight. It also has built-in Auracast support. What does that mean? If your friends and family have Auracast-enabled headphones, they can hook in wirelessly and enjoy the playlist you have on rotation. But wait, there’s more! And this is worth the wait. The Smart Tx comes with a USB-C to 3.5mm jack. You can connect to basically any device with an analogue output that doesn’t support Bluetooth streaming. So, pull out the old PlayStation Portable, fire up Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and enjoy stellar sound in the gameplay when you’re on the move.

40 AUGUST 2025

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