Sony brings back the first Walkman’s 1979 headphones: now with USB-C and priced at €59
The MDR-3R recreates the design of the MDR-3 sold with the first cassette player, but plugs straight into a smartphone with no charging or Bluetooth.
Sony MDR-3R in the promotional video
Sony has released the MDR-3R headphones, based on the original MDR-3 that arrived in 1979 alongside the first Walkman, the TPS-L2. The design is almost exactly as it was then, but the familiar plug has been replaced by USB-C, with a microphone for calls and an in-line remote.
Sony Electronics announced it, and its statement is reproduced by TechPowerUp.
The MDR-3R is already on sale: $59.99 in the US, €59 in Europe and £49 in the UK. A second version, the Stranger Things Edition, is available for pre-order at $79.99, €69 or £59. Sony has said nothing about sales in Ukraine.
The same sound, a new plug
According to Sony, the MDR-3R was re-engineered from the original drawings with the same 23 mm drivers, to sound close to the MDR-3 with only small tweaks for modern tastes. The light, open design remains, and the box includes blue and orange ear pads, just like the original. The packaging and instruction manual also follow the 1979 design.
The main change is the connection: the headphones plug into a smartphone via USB-C, with no charging, pairing or updates. The company explains that this simplicity is exactly why wired headphones are being valued again. Part of the plastic in the model is recycled, and the packaging is plastic-free.
An edition for Stranger Things fans
Alongside the MDR-3R, Sony is releasing the Stranger Things Edition, inspired by the style of Max from the Netflix series. It has red and black ear pads, an engraved series logo and its own packaging.
According to Sony, the first Walkman and the MDR-3 helped create a new way of enjoying music freely on the go. Almost half a century later, the company is betting on that story again: in October it also updated its line of premium Walkman players.
Another story about legendary equipment: Ministry of Sound is selling The Box’s soundsystem.
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