Sony launched the MDR-3R, a USD 59.99 wired USB-C headphone that recreates the design of its original 1979 MDR-3 Walkman headphones. The new model combines vintage styling with modern call and playback controls.
The MDR-3R pays tribute to the headphones that shipped with Sony’s first Walkman TPS-L2 cassette player. Sony has retained the light open-ear form, sliding metal adjusters, and the distinctive blue-and-orange foam earpads.
The company said the new headphones draw on the original design specifications. They use 23 mm drivers, the same size as those in the MDR-3, to reproduce a sound profile close to the original model. Sony replaced the original 3.5 mm audio plug with USB-C. The headphones connect directly to compatible smartphones, tablets, and PCs that support USB Audio Class 1.0.
Users do not need to charge the headphones, pair them over Bluetooth, or install updates. Sony says listeners can plug in the cable and start playing music or videos immediately. The MDR-3R includes a built-in microphone and an in-line remote. The remote lets users answer calls, adjust volume, skip tracks, and control playback without touching the connected device.
The standard MDR-3R is available for USD 59.99 in the US and USD 99.99 in Canada. Sony sells it through its own store, Amazon, Best Buy, and other authorized retailers. Sony also introduced a limited-edition Stranger Things version for USD 79.99. It features red-and-black earpads and themed packaging inspired by the Netflix series.
The USB-C design gives the headphones a modern connection, but it also creates a compatibility limitation. The MDR-3R cannot plug into the original cassette Walkman. It also does not work with current Walkman digital audio players, whose USB-C ports handle power and data rather than audio output.
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