Short answer: the Sony MDR-M1, though neither ranks well in its class. Both are rated 2.8/5 for sound quality (#380 and #377 of 481 over-ear headphones), and the Sony MDR-M1 costs $268 against $347.99 for the JBL Tour One M3, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 481 over-ear headphones, so if sound quality matters, consider the HIFIMAN Ananda Nano instead, ranked #6 at $319.
Why pick the JBL Tour One M3: Active noise cancelling is paired with a long claimed battery life of 40 hours with ANC on and 70 hours with it off. The tradeoff: In two hobbyist measurements on squig.link it scores 55.7 for Harman preference, held back by a 4.9 dB presence dip in the 3 to 6 kHz range and a 10 dB dip near 9.2 kHz.
The case for the Sony MDR-M1: This closed back studio design weighs only 0.5 lbs (216 g) and blocks outside sound while leaking little. Watch for: Hobbyist measurements put its preference score at 55, with a 10.2 dB dip near 4 kHz and presence about 5.6 dB below target that push vocals and guitars back and soften detail.
Buy the Sony MDR-M1. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $79.99 less than the JBL Tour One M3.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Active noise cancelling is paired with a long claimed battery life of 40 hours with ANC on and 70 hours with it off.
Amazon $347.99 eBay
This closed back studio design weighs only 216 g and blocks outside sound while leaking little.
Amazon $268.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Tour One M3 | Sony MDR-M1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $347.99 | $268.00 |
| Ranked | #377 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #380 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 56 (median of 2 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 55 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.91 dB standard deviation | 2.99 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.41 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.36 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wireless and wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 18 ohms | 50 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 122 dB SPL@1kHz | 102 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (278 g) | 0.5 lbs (216 g) |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 80kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 40 hours with ANC (70 without, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
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