JBL Tour One M2 Review

The JBL Tour One M2 is competing with heavy hitters, such as the Sennheiser Momentum 4 and higher priced, Sony WH-1000XM5. Does it come close to the best sellers in terms of resolution and design quality? And what can you expect in terms of sound signature?

What's in the Box?

• JBL Tune One M2
• Hardshell Case
• 3.5mm Headphone Adapter
• USB-C Charging Cable
• User Guide and Warranty

Look and Feel

JBL Tour One M2 looks pretty standard for a wireless headphone in this price range; their sleek and modern design, with a premium matte finish and subtle silver accents give them a sophisticated look. In fact, because this simple design is so popular, some may even find the headphones a bit plain and uninspiring, preferring more vibrant color options like JBL has offered in the past.

In terms of the feel, the headphones fit comfortably, while construction appears durable as well. The ear cups and headband are well-padded and provide a snug fit without causing ear fatigue or discomfort. Some may notice that the headphones are slightly on the heavier side, but I didn’t find this an issue even during extended use.

The Tour One M2 employs a couple of buttons on the side of the ear cups to control functions like ANC and volume. But track navigation and other options are controlled via the touch sensors on the ear cup (in addition to a few controls on the accompanying app, explained below).

Design and Functionality

Battery Life

The Tour One M2 has a battery life of up to 50 hours with Bluetooth and ANC (active noise cancellation) turned off, and up to 30 hours with Bluetooth and ANC turned on. The headphones also feature a quick-charge function that provides up to 5 hours of playback time with just 10 minutes of charging. 30 hours of play is not a huge amount of time when you compare the Tune One M2 to similarly priced headphones like the Sennheiser Momentum 4, which boasts 60 hours of battery life.

Bluetooth and Supported Codecs

The JBL Tour One M2 features Bluetooth version 5.2, which is the latest version of Bluetooth technology. And these cans support practically all the hi-res codecs, including AAC, LDAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive.

ANC (Active Noise Cancellation)

The ANC is not incredibly powerful. It will mainly kill the hum of your surrounding environment, such as a heater. That being said, particularly strong ANC headphones can create an uncomfortable pressure on the ear canal. So, I found that the ANC had just the right amount of power.

Call Clarity

The JBL Tour One M2 headphones uses sensitive 4-mic technology for calls. And voices came out clearly during phone calls, even in noisy environments. The use of ANC technology to reduce background noise, seemed to further improve call clarity. And I experienced no dropouts or interruptions. 

Extra Features

One of the most useful features of the Tour One M2 is the accompanying app that has a fully customizable equalizer. The app also allows you to adjust ambient and ANC modes. In addition, the app features Person-Fi, which conducts a hearing test to optimize the sound specifically for your ears.

Sound Impressions

Soundstage

You'll experience an impressive sense of depth and space for a wireless set of headphones at this price point. Instruments are accurately placed along the vertical space, giving you a sense of being in the center of the action. And although the headphones don't reach soaring heights, the roomy feeling of depth and expansiveness in the stereo field more than compensates for it. Instruments and vocals stretch out beyond the ear cups to create a reasonably panoramic canvas of sound.

Low-End

The JBL Tour One M2 delivers a powerful and impactful bass response, which is characteristic of JBL's famous sound signature. The sub-bass frequencies rumble too, reaching into the throat with every bass hit. At the same time, unlike some competing models, the mid-bass remains clean. So, you won’t hear any bloat or muddiness. In fact, these cans are balanced with ample depth in the lower frequencies, while also shedding enough weight in the high-bass to produce an authentic sounding acoustic instrument that’s unsaturated and relatively light.

Mids

You’ll get a very full-bodied feel in this range. The low-mids are given plenty of stage space and the high-mids avoid protruding out of the mix. As a result, vocals, guitars and percussion sit comfortably within the instrumentation, never causing any harshness or discomfort. The layering is also very clean in the mids, revealing a comprehensive sound especially in busy mixes. Some may prefer a more dynamic balance in this range, but for those who like an easy, fleshy profile, this sound signature is ideal.

Highs

The highs are very smooth, avoiding any uncomfortable peakiness in the high treble. Still, it’s not a completely rolled-off sound and you will get some sparkle from instruments in this range. But there is also some weight and color here, bringing a rich and velvety quality to vocals in particular. 

Summary

This is a sound signature that will please the masses. A deep and punchy, yet clean bass meets an all encompassing midrange and smooth treble for a highly pleasurable and never offensive sound. The relatively short 30 hours of battery life is perhaps the Tour One M2’s only flaw. Still, at the end of the day, the Tour One M2 is a perfect example of a classic JBL headphone. Solid sound, good build, no surprises. 

You can buy the JBL Tour One M2 Headphones at Audio 46.