Nearly five decades after the original Walkman changed how the world listens to music, Sony is tapping into nostalgia with a modern reissue of its very first Walkman headphones. The new MDR-3R brings the beloved 1979 design into the present day, swapping the old-school connector for USB-C while preserving everything that made the originals memorable.
Sony has stayed remarkably faithful to the vintage aesthetic. The MDR-3R features the same featherweight open-ear construction as the MDR-3, complete with the signature blue and orange ear pads that defined the look of portable audio in the late '70s. The pads are interchangeable, so you can switch up the color scheme whenever you like. Sony even went the extra mile with retro-styled packaging and an instruction manual that pays homage to the originals.
The retro experience extends to the internals as well. The MDR-3R uses 23mm driver units identical in size to those in the 1979 model, and Sony has tuned them to closely mirror the original sound character, albeit with light adjustments to suit contemporary tastes. Modern conveniences haven't been forgotten either — there's an integrated microphone for taking calls and an in-line remote for easy control. Since these are wired USB-C headphones, there's no battery to charge, no Bluetooth to pair, and no firmware to update. Simply connect them to a compatible device and press play.
Fans of Netflix's Stranger Things have something extra to look forward to. Sony is releasing a special MDR-3R Stranger Things Edition modeled after the headphones worn by Max in the show. This version sports an engraved Stranger Things logo, red and black ear pads, and exclusive themed packaging.
The standard MDR-3R is on sale now in the US for $59.99 through Sony, Amazon, and other retailers, while the Stranger Things Edition is priced at $79.99.
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