When we think of premium headphones in India, we often think Sony, Bose, Beats and Apple. And a few others. But I feel we need to add one more name to the list, and somewhere close to the top. This name is JBL. Of late, because it is up against more storied names, JBL is trying something different: instead of just ANC, JBL is going for two things — sound quality that is supremely customisable and features like Smart TX, which are unique. I see this in the JBL Tour One M3, a pair of premium headphones. Well, JBL succeeds. The Tour One M3 is one of the best, if not outrightly the best, pair of headphones that you can buy under Rs 50,000 in India.

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Why? In TLDR speak: the One M3 has good noise cancellation, but little short of the industry leaders like Sony WH-1000 XM6. But it is in features, comfort, and sound quality where it excels. For a wireless pair of headphones, the One M3 has impressively balanced sound across lows, mids and highs, and with the Smart TX it comes with versatility and usability that others can’t match. In other words, the Tour One M3 is totally worth Rs 26,999 — its market selling price — or Rs 32,999 with Smart TX.

With this TLDR out, now a closer look at the Tour One M3.

JBL Tour One M3 design, comfort and controls

The Tour One M3 has full-size cans. It has cups that go around the ears, fully engulfing them. Unless you have ears like Mickey’s, you will find that the One M3 cups are large enough to house them fully. This makes for great comfort, as there is absolutely no pressure on ears, and whenever there is some it is helped by the fact that the One M3 uses pads with pliant but not loose foam.

These are premium headphones and the One M3 build quality reflects that.