JBL Tour ONE M2 Review: The Smart TX Makes This a “Game-Changing” Travel Companion
A deep-dive review of the JBL Tour ONE M2 headphones. We explore the “game-changing” Smart TX transmitter, AuraCast audio sharing, 70-hour battery life, and its powerful sound. Is this the ultimate headphone for travelers? For years, the premium headphone market has been a fierce battleground dominated by a few key players. We all know the names. But for frequent flyers and tech enthusiasts, a persistent problem has remained: the world is still full of 3.5mm headphone jacks. Your in-flight entertainment screen, the TV in your hotel gym, your old laptop—all of these force you to either carry a pair of wired buds or fumble with finicky, laggy third-party Bluetooth adapters.
This is the exact problem JBL is aiming to solve, not just with a new headphone, but with a complete audio solution.
The product at the center of this revolution is the JBL Tour ONE M2. While the video transcript refers to it as the “Tour M3,” the product is the acclaimed M2, a flagship headphone in its own right. But what makes it a “game-changer,” as the video claims, isn’t just the headphone itself. It’s the “special device” that comes with it: the Smart TX.
This review dives deep into this complete package. At a premium price of ₹32,999, the JBL Tour ONE M2 is making a bold claim: that it’s not just a competitor to the likes of Sony and Bose, but a smarter, more practical alternative.
The “Game-Changer”: What is the Smart TX?
The star of the show, and the entire reason these headphones are “game-changing,” is the tiny device called the Smart TX. In a market where everyone is focused on app-based features, JBL (according to the video’s bundle) has focused on a hardware solution to a real-world problem.
The Smart TX is a compact audio transmitter with its own small display. Here’s how it fundamentally changes your audio experience:
- Universal Connectivity: The transmitter can be plugged into any device with an audio-out port (like a 3.5mm jack). Think laptops, PCs, TVs, and most importantly, in-flight entertainment systems.
- Instant Wireless Audio: The moment you plug the Smart TX in, it automatically and seamlessly connects to the Tour ONE M2 headphones. You can now listen to your in-flight movie, your hotel TV, or your non-Bluetooth PC, all through your high-quality wireless headphones.
- Zero-Lag Performance: The biggest fear with transmitters is latency—that annoying delay between what you see on screen and what you hear. According to the review, the Smart TX has “very low latency.” Even when testing Netflix on a laptop, there was no noticeable audio sync problem, making it perfect for movies and gaming.
This single device effectively severs the final cord, making the Tour ONE M2 a truly wireless solution for 100% of your audio needs, not just 90%.
AuraCast: The Future of Shared Audio
As if the Smart TX wasn’t impressive enough, it’s also a gateway to another futuristic technology: AuraCast.
Powered by Bluetooth Low Energy, AuraCast is a new feature that allows a single source (in this case, the Smart TX) to broadcast audio to multiple devices simultaneously. The video review claims it can connect to up to five devices at once.
The reviewer provides a perfect example: they connected the Smart TX to a laptop and simultaneously streamed the audio to both the JBL Tour ONE M2 headphones and a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. The result? Perfectly synced audio on both devices, with no echo or delay.
The applications for this are immediate and practical. You and a travel partner can now watch the same movie on a single laptop or in-flight screen, each using your own favorite pair of (AuraCast-compatible) headphones. It’s a feature that, once you use it, you’ll wonder how you lived without it.
Design, Comfort, and Build
While the tech is futuristic, the headphones themselves are grounded in premium, practical design. They feature a sleek matte black finish that looks and feels high-end.
- Comfort: The earcups and headband use an incredibly soft cushion, making them comfortable for long-haul flights or extended work sessions. The reviewer notes that the headphones are not too heavy, which is a critical factor for all-day wear.
- Portability: The design is built for travelers. The earcups fold flat, and the headphones collapse to fit into a sturdy, hard-shell travel case. In a brilliant touch, the case includes a dedicated small pocket for the Smart TX and its cables.
- Controls: JBL made some smart, tactile choices here. Instead of a “hold to power” button, there is a physical on/off switch, which is far more intuitive and reliable. The right earcup is touch-sensitive for media controls (play/pause, skip), while the left houses physical volume rockers and the USB-C port.
The only “omission” is a 3.5mm headphone jack, but this is a deliberate choice. Instead, JBL provides a USB-C to 3.5mm cable for a wired connection, and the USB-C port also supports C-to-C lossless audio streaming—a nod to audiophiles.
Sound Quality and ANC Performance
At their core, these are 40mm-driver headphones from JBL, and they sound exactly as you’d hope: fantastic.
Sound Profile
The tuning is aimed squarely at the “masses” in the best way possible. This isn’t a flat, sterile studio monitor. The sound is vibrant, powerful, and engaging.
- Bass: The bass is “tight” and punchy, adding excitement to hip-hop and electronic music without overpowering the rest of the sound.
- Mids: Vocals are clear, present, and never “overpowered” by the bass or treble.
- Treble: The treble is detailed and crisp, bringing out the finer details in complex tracks.
The reviewer noted that the headphones performed exceptionally well across all genres, from pop songs to complex Michael Jackson arrangements and even movies, where dialogues were rendered clearly and powerfully.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Powered by a system of eight microphones, the ANC on the Tour ONE M2 is highly effective. It excels at canceling out constant, low-frequency sounds like AC hums and engine noise—making it an ideal companion for flights and commutes. While some sharp, high-pitched sounds (like nearby conversations) might still peek through, as soon as you play any content, the world around you disappears.
Battery Life and a Full Suite of Smart Features
The battery claim here is simply staggering. JBL quotes 70 hours of playtime with ANC off and a massive 40 hours with ANC enabled. To put that in perspective, most of the competition hovers around 30-35 hours. This is enough battery for a full week of work or multiple trans-continental flights on a single charge.
Beyond the battery, the Tour ONE M2 is packed with a full flagship suite of software features via the JBL app:
- Smart Talk: If you start talking to someone, the headphones automatically pause your music and enable transparency mode, allowing for a clear conversation.
- Spatial Audio: Supports 360° spatial audio with head tracking for an immersive media experience.
- Personi-Fi 3.0: A hearing test that customizes the sound EQ to your specific hearing profile.
- Google Fast Pair & Find My: Easily pairs with Android devices and can be tracked using Google’s Find My Device network.
- Silent Now: A unique mode that activates full ANC but disconnects Bluetooth, allowing you to get a silent nap on a plane without any interruptions. You can even set an alarm in the app to wake you up.
- LDAC Support: Provides high-resolution audio streaming for audiophiles.
JBL Tour ONE M2: Key Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
| Product Name | JBL Tour ONE M2 |
| Drivers | 40mm Dynamic Drivers |
| ANC | True Adaptive ANC with 8 Mics |
| Battery Life | 70 Hours (ANC Off) 40 Hours (ANC On) |
| Key Features | Smart TX Transmitter (as per video), AuraCast Audio Sharing, Smart Talk, Spatial Audio, Personi-Fi 3.0 |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 LE Audio |
| Audio Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Controls | Touch Controls + Physical Buttons (Power, Volume) |
| Ports | USB-C (Charging, Lossless Audio) |
| Other | Foldable, Hard-Shell Case, Google Fast Pair |
| Price | ₹32,999 |
Pros and Cons: A Quick Look
| Pros 👍 | Cons 👎 |
| Game-changing Smart TX | Premium price point |
| AuraCast Audio Sharing | No native 3.5mm jack (requires adapter) |
| Exceptional 70-hour battery life | Smart TX may be a separate/bundle-only item |
| Powerful, well-balanced sound | Touch controls can be sensitive |
| Top-tier Active Noise Cancellation | |
| Premium, comfortable travel design | |
| Fully loaded with smart features (LDAC, Spatial Audio, etc.) |
Final Verdict: The Most Complete Headphone Package on the Market
The JBL Tour ONE M2 is, without a doubt, a “complete headphone.” On their own, the 40-hour battery, powerful sound, and excellent ANC make them a top-tier contender against any other flagship.
But the “special device”—the Smart TX—is what elevates this from a great product to a must-have solution. It’s the missing link that solves the most persistent annoyance for travelers and media consumers. The addition of AuraCast for shared listening only sweetens the deal, future-proofing your purchase.
Yes, at ₹32,999, these are a premium investment. But you aren’t just buying a pair of headphones. You are buying a complete, high-performance audio system that works with every device you own, from your brand-new smartphone to the 10-year-old screen in front of your airline seat.
For the practical-minded traveler who values performance and problem-solving, the JBL Tour ONE M2 (with its Smart TX) isn’t just a good option—it might be the new king.
