The features of the product include a volume limiter for hearing protection, Smart Talk to pause sound during speech, and personalized listening through a built-in hearing test. It also incorporates Spatial Audio with head-tracking for a 3D effect. JBL’s interpretation was noted as particularly echoey for stereo sources, though the reviewer expressed a general disinterest in such services.
The JBL app offers customization options, including a Low Volume Dynamic EQ switch to enhance bass at low volumes and a Sound Level optimizer for voice clarity during calls. Users can further enhance call quality with EQ presets, although the Natural setting is considered sufficient for most. During a test call, notable sound quality was remarked upon by a musician friend of the reviewer, suggesting effective performance by JBL.
JBL focused on the M3’s microphones, enhancing their noise-canceling capabilities. Even without the active noise canceling feature, the earcups provide strong passive noise isolation, eliminating local sounds like keystrokes. When ANC is turned on, external noise suppression becomes even more pronounced.
While performing tasks such as making lunch, ambient noises like appliance sounds and background hums were significantly diminished. Although some environmental sounds like passing cars and birds were still audible, the M3 excelled in reducing background disturbances in various tests, performing comparably to top noise-canceling models. Only Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra outperformed them slightly, and they were closely matched with Sony’s WH-1000XM5 in several evaluations.
