JBL Tour ONE M3 Headphones and Horizon 3 Clock Radio

Because JBL released its all-new Stage 2 Speakers and MA Series AV Receivers in the summer of 2024, I wasn’t sure what the company would announce at CES 2025. But there were two new JBL products introduced at the show that caught my attention last month: the Tour ONE M3 headphones and the Horizon 3 alarm clock.

JBL Tour ONE M3 Headphones

JBL says that its new Tour ONE M3 headphones ($399.95) are “designed for music lovers, audiophiles, travelers, and everyone in between.” As you’d expect from a flagship-class wireless headphone, these over-ear headphones combine the latest bluetooth tech with JBL’s advanced True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0, and they can even deliver lossless audio via the included USB-C cable and internal DAC. What sets these apart from every other set of wireless cans out there is the inclusion of a separate little gadget called the JBL SMART Tx audio transmitter. The SMART Tx is a small wireless audio transmitter with a touch screen. It allows the user to take any USB-C or analog audio source — such as an inflight entertainment system, a Mac or PC, a tablet, a TV, or even a CD player — and broadcast its audio signal to the Tour ONE M3 headphones via a direct, proprietary wireless connection. JBL says that the direct wireless connection between the transmitter and the headphones “improves latency, stability, and call quality, making it the perfect pairing for any audio content form, wherever listeners are.”

According to JBL, the SMART Tx audio transmitter enables the JBL Tour ONE M3 to be “fully device, source, and content agnostic, breaking the barrier of what wireless headphones can connect to and playback from.” The SMART Tx transmitter also provides the user with full control of the headphones’ features, from music playback and call management to EQ settings and connectivity to any number of  Auracast enabled devices. (Auracast is a Bluetooth Low-Energy Audio technology that allows users to broadcast audio to multiple devices simultaneously.)

The JBL Tour ONE M3 represents a groundbreaking step forward in audio innovation. With the introduction of JBL’s first integrated Smart Tx Audio Transmitter in over-ear headphones, this release sets a new industry benchmark. It’s a testament to JBL’s unwavering commitment to advancing sound technology and redefining what’s possible in the listening experience.

— Carsten Olesen, President, Consumer Audio at HARMAN

The JBL Tour ONE M3 uses JBL’s newly developed 40mm Mica Dome drivers. The Tour ONE’s sound can be personalized using JBL Personi-Fi 3.0, which allows the user to create a customized hearing profile by taking a hearing test in the JBL Headphones app. This new version of Personi-Fi uses a new algorithm and a 12-band EQ, with separate L/R balance optimization to make the resulting sound “more accurate than ever before,” according to JBL. In addition, the headphones feature the next generation of JBL Spatial 360, which promises to turn “any movie and gaming content into an immersive cinematic experience.” Integrated head tracking reportedly deepens the sense of immersion and adds a new layer of realism by locking sound sources in place so that they stay fixed within the soundstage, even when the listener’s head moves.

JBL’s True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0 uses an advanced 8-microphone system to monitor the external sound environment and adjust in real time. In the JBL Headphones app, the user can control what and how much of their surroundings is heard by adjusting the Ambient Aware and TalkThru features. Four of the built-in microphones are used to enable JBL’s adaptive beamforming technology, which “ensures crystal-clear voice clarity during calls, even in noisy environments,” according to JBL. The Tour ONE M3 offers up to 70 hours of playback from a full charge, with a 5-minute charge delivering an additional 5 hours of listening.

The $400 JBL Tour ONE M3 including the JBL SMART Tx will be available in Black, Mocha, and Blue, beginning on April 13, 2025. The Tour ONE M3 will also be available without the SMART Tx transmitter for  $350.

JBL Horizon 3 Alarm Clock Radio

A bedside clock radio might seem like an anachronistic product to introduce in 2025, but I know lots of folks who are trying to reduce their smartphone usage in the hour or two before bed in order to improve their sleep quality. One of the easiest ways to do this is to stop charging your phone next to the bed, and it is with these folks in mind that I decided to take a closer look at the JBL Horizon 3 ($129.95). The Horizon 3 features customizable ambient lighting and sound modes for a “personalized experience tailored to any lifestyle,” according to the company.

 

While the audio from this type of device is never going to knock your socks off, the Horizon 3 uses dual passive radiators to enhance the sound of its two 1.5-inch full-range drivers, resulting in “JBL’s signature stereo sound” with “deep, rich audio.” We imagine that these are relative terms, but because the Horizon 3 offers multi-speaker connectivity through Auracast, it’s easy to imagine using it as part of a connected system of JBL and HARMAN Auracast-enabled devices throughout the home for background listening. You can play music from your phone via bluetooth, or via the Horizon’s built-in FM radio. The speakers can also play relaxing nature-inspired sounds like ocean waves, corresponding with relaxing ambient lighting. The Horizon’s “sunrise alarm” uses light to gently awaken the user in the morning, with or without accompanying audio. Adjustments to alarm settings, EQ, and lighting can be made inside the JBL One App.

The JBL Horizon 3 is designed to enhance any space and routine with JBL’s signature sound and thoughtful features. From customizable lighting to seamless connectivity, we’ve created a product that brings elevated sound and convenience into everyday moments.

-- Carsten Olesen of HARMAN

If you do want to charge your phone next to your bed, the Horizon 3’s handy USB-C port makes it easy to do so. Available in grey and black, the JBL Horizon 3 launches in May of 2025.

More information: CES/HARMAN

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.