We have taken a detailed look at the JBL Tour One M2 over the last few weeks. As always, you can find out what the headphones can do well, in which areas there is still room for improvement and of course whether we can recommend them to you in our test report.
Operating the JBL Tour One M2 test
The operation of the Tour One M2 remains tried and tested and that is definitely positive. The combination of buttons and touch surfaces on the outer sides of the earcups makes operating the headphones easy and intuitive. All important commands can be triggered directly on the device without having to make complicated settings.
The audio specialists also offer a free app called “JBL Headphones” for iOS and Android. This app allows users to adjust the noise canceling according to their preferences and adjust the sound individually. This allows each user to tailor the sound experience to their personal preferences and the environment. The app is a useful addition to the already easy operation of the headphones.
Technical details
| Weight | 268g |
| Battery life | 30 hours with ANC / 50 hours without ANC |
| Fast charging function | Yes (10 min for 5 hr playback) |
| Battery charging time | – |
| Bluetooth standard | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Control app | Yes |
| Audio codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Headphone type | Circumaural |
| converter | 40mm |
| Foldable | Yes |
| NFC | – |
| RRP | 299 euros |
How good do the JBL Tour One M2 test sound?
The sound is undoubtedly good, but it didn’t blow me away and to be honest I expected more. Unfortunately, the EQ or the Smart Audio function couldn’t convince me, as the JBL Tour One M2 sticks very much to its own sound. In the end, that’s complaining at a very high level. In terms of sound, the headphones are among the best on the market, but you still have to rank behind Bose, Sony and Apple.
Does measuring your ears make sense? And how good is the EQ?
For discerning music lovers, it’s worth taking a look at the associated JBL Headphones app, which offers a variety of interesting functions. One of these functions is “Personi-Fi”, which allows you to have your ears measured to find out which frequencies require individual adjustment. The app then improves music playback, resulting in a slightly fuller music experience. By using “JBL Spatial Sound”, the stereo sound is perceived more spatially, which also leads to an audible improvement.
Of course, an equalizer should not be missing, which allows you to adjust the sound according to your own preferences. In addition to some preset sound profiles, the app offers the option of creating your very own profile. This allows you to customize music playback according to your personal taste and listening habits.
As already mentioned, the JBL Headphones app offers a number of interesting gadgets that can help further optimize the listening experience and adapt the sound to your needs. For music enthusiasts who value individual, high-quality sound adjustment, the app is a worthwhile addition to the Tour One M2 headphones.
Phone quality
The headphones are ideal for making phone calls. The sound is very good for both conversation partners and ambient and wind noise are also filtered out well. JBL is at the top here.
Battery life
The battery life of the JBL Tour One headphones was already good, but that of the M2 model is even better. In the test, the over-ear headphones with noise canceling activated lasted an astonishing 48 hours and twelve minutes. This makes it one of the most durable active noise cancellation headphones on the market. This impressive battery life allows users to use the headphones for long periods of time without worrying about a dead battery.
For gamers, the JBL Tour One M2 even offers a special mode with lower latency. To activate this, users must set this up in advance in the JBL app. This synchronizes the sound between the smartphone and the headphones so that there is no noticeable offset between the picture and the sound. This low latency is particularly important for an optimal gaming experience, as delays can affect the enjoyment of the game.
ANC and transparency mode
The ANC headphones, Tour One M2, do not manage to completely block out our surroundings. In the office, the noise of the air filter is still quite loud to our ears despite active noise suppression. Compared to our reference model, the Sony WH-1000XM5, the JBL headphones do not reduce this noise as effectively.
Even with voices and keyboard clattering, the Tour One M2 still lets some noise through. The headphones have particular difficulties with higher tones, such as energetically pressed spacebars. Nevertheless, the noise canceling mode is pleasant, without the annoying noise or unpleasant pressure that ANC systems can sometimes trigger. However, the JBL headphones do not reach the level of the competition such as the ANC of the Bose QuietComfort 45. However, ambient noise is still significantly attenuated.
The accompanying JBL app offers many options to adjust the ANC mode. You can use active noise cancellation adaptively so that the headphones automatically switch between louder and quieter environments. However, we only had mediocre experiences with this, as the JBL headphones occasionally switched for no apparent reason.
We like the option to manually adjust the noise cancellation level in several stages. The two transparency modes, “Ambient Aware” and “TalkThru,” work great. “Ambient Aware” mode amplifies ambient noise, while “TalkThru” mode turns your music quieter while amplifying conversations particularly loudly. Both transparency modes are very helpful and make the JBL Tour One M2 a good option for office use. The ambient noise can sound a bit tinny and unnatural, but it is definitely loud enough to hear everything around us.
Conclusion JBL Tour One M2
The JBL Tour One M2 over-ear headphones offer a variety of strengths, but there are also some areas where there is still room for improvement. The headphones are tried and tested and easy to operate, using both buttons and touch surfaces on the ear cups. The “JBL Headphones” app allows individual adjustment of the noise canceling and the sound, which is an advantage for demanding music lovers.
The sound of the Tour One M2 is lively, dynamic and offers good spatiality. The bass is solid and intense, while the highs and mids are clear and impressive. However, I’m sure some of you would like more tonal tuning from the EQ, I definitely feel the same way.
The ability to measure your ears and adjust the EQ is useful and offers individual sound adjustment. The phone quality is excellent, allowing clear conversations with good noise cancellation of ambient and wind noise. The M2 model’s battery life is impressive, with 48 hours and twelve minutes of playtime with noise canceling enabled, making it one of the longest-lasting headphones with this feature on the market. The low latency in the special gaming mode is another plus for gamers.
In terms of noise canceling, the Tour One M2 doesn’t quite reach the level of some competing models, but ambient noise is still significantly attenuated. The two transparency modes “Ambient Aware” and “TalkThru” work excellently and are helpful in office use, even if the ambient noise can sometimes sound a bit unnatural.
Overall, the JBL Tour One M2 headphones offer good sound quality, excellent phone quality, and impressive battery life. The app functions allow individual sound adjustments and make the headphones versatile. While not quite at the level of some established competitors, the Tour One M2 headphones are still a good option for music lovers looking for balanced sound and long battery life. Especially if the price of the JBL Tour One M2 falls a little, they could become a real recommendation.
