Sony brings back its 1979 Walkman headphones as the USB-C MDR-3R
The updated version keeps the original look & adds swappable ear pads, plus a cable with a built-in microphone & in-line remote
Sony has released the MDR-3R, an update of the MDR-3 headphones that launched in 1979 alongside the first Walkman, the TPS-L2.
The look will be familiar to anyone who knows the original: a thin headband with a signature bend, perforated sound holes, rolled side arms and the “Dynamic Stereo Headphones” marking.
Aluminium and stainless steel keep the weight low, and Sony calls it the lightest over-head model in its range.
The biggest change is what happens at the other end of the cable. A USB-C plug replaces the 3.5 mm jack, so the headphones connect straight to phones and laptops that support USB Audio Class 1.0.
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Without a battery, pairing step or firmware update, they work as soon as they’re plugged in. The cable also carries a microphone and an in-line remote for playback, volume and calls.
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The sound is built around the same 23 mm drivers as the MDR-3. Sony says it has kept the original character and made small adjustments for how people listen today, aiming for a balanced response and natural vocals.
Each pair ships with blue and orange ear pads that can be swapped. A Stranger Things Edition adds black and red pads, an engraved logo and custom packaging, inspired by the headphones Max wears in the series.
On the materials side, about 25% of the plastic is recycled, and the packaging is plastic-free.
The standard USB-C MDR-3R costs USD59.99, while the Stranger Things version costs USD79.99; more info here.
Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.
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