Is the JBL Tour One M3 worth the upgrade from the Audio-Technica ATH-S220BT?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Audio-Technica ATH-S220BT to the JBL Tour One M3 buys you 19.1 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in calls (3.3 to 8.1), value (7.8 to 9.6) and sound (6.8 to 8.0). On paper: battery life 60 h to 70 h, active noise cancelling and bluetooth 5.0 to 5.3. Worth checking: weight goes 180 g to 278 g and drivers per side goes 2 to 1. That costs $86 more, or about $5 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound6.88.0
- Battery9.09.6
- Calls3.38.1
- Value7.89.6
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | ATH-S220BT | Tour One M3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 60 h | 70 h | |
| Active noise cancelling | No | Yes | |
| Codecs | SBC | LDAC | |
| Weight | 180 g | 278 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 | |
| Full charge time | 240 min | 120 min | |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 | |
| Microphones | 1 | 8 | |
| Driver | 2× 40 mm dynamic | 40 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 5 Hz - 32 kHz | 10 Hz - 40 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "ATH-S220BT to Tour One M3". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.