Sony just dug the original Walkman headphones out of the vault, and they are the real thing, not a knockoff. The MDR-3R rebuilds the 1979 MDR-3 from Sony’s own design drawings, down to the thin metal headband, the hole-pattern drivers and the swappable blue and orange foam pads, and at 38 grams it is two grams lighter than the original. The big modern change is at the end of the cable: USB-C instead of a 3.5mm plug, so it plugs straight into your phone with no dongle, no battery and no pairing, plus an in-line mic and remote for calls and playback. I have not listened to a pair yet, so no sound verdict from me, but for anyone who misses the days when headphones were simple and light, this is an easy one to root for. Just do not buy them for an actual Walkman, since Sony says they will not work with one. It is $59.99 and available now from Sony, Amazon and Best Buy, with a Stranger Things Edition up for pre-order at $79.99.
Filed under:
Sony’s MDR-3R Brings Back the Original Walkman Headphones for $59.99
Sony rebuilt the 1979 Walkman headphones as the MDR-3R, with USB-C, a 38g frame and swappable blue and orange pads, for $59.99.
