JBL Tour Pro 3: Revolutionary Earbuds with Smart Case and Auracast Technology

JBL's Tour Pro 3 earbuds have an insane amount of tech | Digital Trends

JBL's new Tour Pro 3 wireless earbuds should really be called the JBL Tour de Force. The company's second-gen Tour Pro were already the most feature-studded earbuds we've ever seen, complete with a touchscreen on the charging case, and yet the Tour Pro 3 go further. Much further. The price has gone up too -- they'll cost $300 when they become available for purchase on September 22. At a glance, the third-gen looks the same as before, whether you get them in black or "latte." Physically, the shape of the earbuds is unchanged. However, the case is a little smaller, while offering a 30% larger screen. It can also act as a retransmitter of both analog and digital audio when you use the included cables to plug it into computers, smartphones, or in-flight seat-back entertainment systems. Recommended Videos That puts JBL in good company: so far, only Bowers & Wilkins, LG, and Jabra have offered this feature on their wireless earbuds. Curiously, when the Tour Pro 3 are connected to their case for listening to wired sources, JBL says it doesn't use Bluetooth at all. We're not sure exactly what to call it, but the company claims that "the direct connection between case and earbuds is more stable, and lower latency, than Bluetooth, making it the perfect companion for gaming, calls, movies, and music." As before, the case can be used to directly control many functions like playback, ANC, and spatial audio. The earbuds now have both dust and water resistance with an IP55 rating. Inside is a new dual-driver acoustic platform. An 11mm dynamic driver for low frequencies has been paired with a balanced armature driver for higher frequencies, and each is mated to its own digital-to-analog converter (DAC). OnePlus recently announced a similar structure for its Buds Pro 3. I had criticized JBL for making the Tour Pro 2 hi-res capable (in terms of frequency response) yet failing to include any hi-res codecs. That has been rectified: The Tour Pro 3 support Sony's hi-res audio LDAC Bluetooth codec, which is standard on any phone with Android version 8.0 or higher (though not on iPhones). I had also suggested that Tour Pro 2's spatial audio feature be upgraded with head-tracking like Apple offered on the AirPods Pro 2, and that has also made its way into the Tour Pro 3. My calling experience with the Tour Pro 2 also proved to be a weak spot, and apparently JBL has made strides to correct that too: The Tour Pro 3 use a new "JBL Crystal AI" call algorithm, which it claims will enhance clarity even in noisy environments. Finally, the Tour Pro 3 are JBL's first full Auracast wireless earbuds. You can use the JBL Headphones app to find and tune into available Auracast broadcasts, and the charging case can also transmit using Auracast -- a great way to share a movie or song with others.

The JBL Tour Pro 3 earbuds come with a case that can transmit audio wirelessly

The latest model includes Auracast and head tracking support. has unveiled its latest set of Tour Pro earbuds, which are packed with features and come with a (which the company ). Along with offering caller ID, media file info and music playback controls, the Tour Pro 3's second-gen smart case works as a wireless audio transmitter. That means you can plug it into any USB or analog source and it will send the audio to your earbuds. As such, you can leave your Bluetooth dongle at home the next time you take a flight. JBL says the direct connection between your case and earbuds has lower latency and more stability than Bluetooth as well. This is JBL's first set of wireless earbuds with , a type of broadcast audio for Bluetooth devices. You'll be able to share your audio with other Auracast-enabled devices by tapping a button on the case's display (which is 30 percent larger than on the previous model). You'll also be able to join other Auracast-enabled broadcasts. So if you'd rather listen to a game's commentators rather than the drunken ramblings of someone next to you in a noisy bar and the TV has an Auracast transmitter, you'd be able to connect your earbuds to it. Elsewhere, JBL has included spatial 360 audio and head tracking tech to boost immersion, and it has employed a hybrid dual-driver system in each earbud. The company says that the balanced armature driver takes care of the high notes, while the 11mm dynamic driver delivers "powerful, cleaner bass and vivid vocals." Each driver has its own DAC that focuses on a specific segment of the frequency range. JBL also claims the LDAC wireless codec offers "exceptional high resolution sound" since it provides three times more data than standard Bluetooth codecs. A windproof design, six microphones and AI call algorithm are said to work together to improve voice clarity for calls. There's also a voice call equalizer that can tamp down the volume of loud talkers and boost the voices of quieter folks. Let's not forget the ANC side of the equation. The True Adaptive Noise Cancellation 2.0 tech JBL built into the earbuds measures noise levels more than 50,000 times per second. The company says the ANC adapts to environmental changes and compensates for sound leakage. The JBL Tour Pro 3 earbuds will be available on September 22. They cost $300, which is $50 more than the previous model.

JBL Tour PRO 3 with ANC, LDAC, smart charging case announced

JBL announced the Tour PRO 3, the company's latest flagship earbuds with dual drivers and a 2nd gen Smart Charging Case. Each earbud features a hybrid dual-driver system, consisting of a balanced armature driver for handling high notes with enchanting clarity and a 11mm dynamic driver for clean, powerful bass and vocals. The earbuds are powered by JBL Pro Sound technology, offering Hi-Res audio and LDAC support for native 24-bit high-resolution audio. For calls, they feature a 6-mic system with a JBL Crystal AI algorithm. These mics also support JBL's newest True Adaptive Noise Cancellation 2.0 technology, which dynamically adjusts noise cancellation based on the environment. This advanced system measures noise levels at a rate of over 50,000 times per second and adapts to environmental changes while compensating for sound leakage, according to the company. The JBL Tour PRO 3 includes the new JBL Spatial 360 and head-tracking technology from any audio source. It includes a smart charging case, similar to other JBL TWS models, but now it can act as a wireless audio transmitter from any USB or analog source and can also share audio content with any Auracast-enabled device using the Auracast button. The screen size has been increased by 30%, allowing users to control music playback, manage calls, and access ID3 tags, caller ID, and media file information. The JBL Tour PRO 3 comes in Black and Latte colors, is priced at US$299.99 (Rs. 25,170 approx.), and will be available on JBL.com in the US.

JBL unveils Tour Pro 3: a screen-toting earbuds case that's now an Auracast source device

In this day and age, you don't have to pay flagship money to get a futuristic lock-screen-image-toting earbuds case; JBL made that available not only with its JBL Live Beam 3, but across its mid-range earbuds oeuvre in January 2024 comprising the JBL Live 3 Buds, Beam and Flex. I liked it so much, I wrote a feature dedicated to the levelled up experience in JBL's second-gen smart-case earbuds - because in case you missed it in December 2022, when JBL first put a smartwatch-style screen on an earbuds case, our subsequent JBL Tour 2 Pro review revealed that we weren't wholly convinced that this first effort was anything other than a colorful novelty. But because that second smart case was so good that it made it to our best noise-cancelling earbuds guide as our 'best for battery' pick, I'm eager to see what JBL can do with its third effort, this time in a flagship proposition. And putting the case to one side, what about the spec-sheet and audio chops? Well, this is not a full review. But I do happen to have a review sample of JBL's just-launched (August 21) Tour Pro 3 right here, and I can give you some early facts, figures, thoughts, and impressions (spoiler alert: it's good news). First off, you get two color choices - black and 'latte' - and although JBL is a little vague about the exact dimensions, the company does tell me that the screen is 30% larger and the case a little smaller in this iteration. Certainly, the screen is bigger than that of the Live Beam 3, and the case a little smaller than that of the Tour Pro 2 (scroll down to the image below for a side-by-side comparison). I'll start with what I see as the biggest updates here. First off, this case is now a transmitter (see the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 or LG Tone Free T90S for similar) meaning that with the included USB-A to USB-C cable, it's able to bypass Bluetooth, hook up to your in-flight infotainment systems (for example) and broadcast the audio to your wireless earbuds. But more than that, the JBL Tour Pro 3's case is one of the first audio products to arrive as a registered Auracast source device. Essentially, that means anyone in the vicinity with Auracast-enabled headphones could also join in, to hear the sound being transmitted, and you can add a password if you don't want random passers-by joining your broadcast. Next up, JBL's Spatial Audio 360 is here (scroll to the image of 'spatial audio' options on the smart case, above) which includes head-tracked, device-agnostic immersive audio aided by an updated algorithm. I haven't had a lot of time with it, but initially, it's remarkable. While listening to Melissa Etheridge's I'm the Only One, I forgot I was wearing earbuds as her textured vocal appeared to emanate from somewhere close to my phone, even as I turned my head. JBL has added L/R balance optimization, 12 EQ bands to tailor things sonically and - a big one for me - JBL's new Personi-Fi 3.0 update. For the uninitiated (it's okay, we're all friends here), this feature helps to personalize the sound to your liking, creating a sound profile based on your hearing capabilities. It first asks a few questions, then checks your current ambient audio - and I absolutely loved Personi-Fi 2.0, in the Live Beam 3. Good question: but to explain what's new there, we need to talk hardware first. Under the driver housing (which is on the larger side, but nicely ergonomic and here you do get five ear tips to ensure a good fit) there's now a hybrid 10.2mm cellulose dynamic driver coupled with a 5.1mm x 2.8mm balanced armature setup. Here, JBL tells me frequencies from 20Hz (aka the lowest our ears can detect) up to 8kHz are handled by the dynamic drive unit; 8kHZ - 40kHz (or far beyond what we can hear) sounds are taken care of by the BA driver configuration - and interestingly, each has its own DAC to convert the digital signal to analogue. Codecs supported is better too: in addition to SBC and AAC, hi-res LDAC joins the party as well as LE Audio and the LC3 codec in dongle mode (ie. transmission mode). Thanks to a total of six mics (two outer; one inner) and an enhanced algorithm that uses AI, there's a call equalizer function to regulate the volume of the caller on the other end and you can even make your own voice appear brighter to your caller. Now, the noise cancellation - because again, it's a big deal on paper. JBL claims its aforementioned AI algorithm plus the company's True Adaptive Noise Cancellation 2.0 with "smart callibration" should actually be able to tackle what it calls "incident noises" (think a baby crying on the train) in addition to the low-level constant thrums which most solutions can tackle quite readily these days. I haven't had a thorough test of it yet, but can tell you that in the office after receiving them, I sat in a blissful bubble of silence. Battery life? The claim is up to 44 hours of music playback; 11 hours from the buds plus three more full charges with ANC off, or 8 hours plus three more full charges with ANC on - or a 32-hour total if you're always using ANC. And you can apparently get an additional three hours of listening with a quick 10-minute speed charge. Pricing? Of course, although you'll need to brace yourself: £279.99 / €299.99 (which is around $364 or AU$540). For clarity, the older Tour Pro 2 launched in January 2023 at MSRPs of $249.95 / £220 / AU$350, so there's been something of a price hike, although given the specs listed, it's not unreasonable. This is, again, not a full review. But that's in the pipeline, I promise you...

Forget AirPods 4 -- these new earbuds have all the features we wish Apple had

Apple's AirPods Pro 4 is reportedly launching as soon as next month, but the rumors point to a mostly similar design coming in two versions: one affordable model and one with active noise cancellation. The JBL Tour Pro 3 could blow it away -- at least in terms of features. When JBL released the Tour Pro 2 wireless earbuds last year, the audio company brought innovation to, of all places, the charging case. The addition of a touchscreen on the case is something we described in our a JBL Tour Pro 2 review as a creative game-changer that changed the way we interacted with wireless earbuds. While JBL hasn't made our list of best wireless earbuds yet, the JBL Tour Pro 3 could. And the company has somehow crammed even more features into the new model. Releasing on September 22 for a lofty $299, the third-generation of JBL Tour Pro earbuds appear externally the same as the Tour Pro 2. Coming in black or "latte" the earbuds look the same, but JBL says the case has become smaller while offering a 30% larger display. Additionally, according to JBL's announcement they've made the case a wireless audio transmitter enabling audio from USB or analog sources like an inflight entertainment system. This is a similar feature to one available in Bowers & Wilkins PI series and LG's Tone Free T90 earbuds. Strangely, JBL claims this feature doesn't utilize Bluetooth, but their press release declines to explain how the earbuds and case are directly connecting USB or analog sources. "The direct connection between case and earbuds is more stable, and lower latency, than Bluetooth," they say. Like the Tour Pro 2 case, the new touchscreen case can be used to control playback functions and features like active noise-cancelling without needing to pull your phone out. JBL's Spatial Audio 360 has been added, too, which includes head-tracking, device-agnostic immersive audio, meant to make movie watching or game playing more in depth. The features list keeps coming as JBL has added support for Sony's hi-res LDAC Bluetooth codec, standard in any phone with Android version 8 and up. Additionally, JBL has apparently improved calls with JBL Crystal AI, which the company says will enhance clarity even in noisy environs. Under the hood, The Tour Pro 3 is getting a hybrid dual driver system in each bud with 11mm dynamic drivers that are supposed to provide cleaner bass and "vivid" vocals. While the charging case and last year's feature list were cool, we did find that the sound was okay but paled in comparison to Bose and Apple. "Vocals sounded distant and there is noticeable echoing on most tracks," we said in our review. Hopefully, the upgrades that JBL is bringing to the table in the Tour Pro 3 earbuds improve the sound quality to match the innovation in the case.