Wired headphones are going through a bit of renaissance right now and Sony is reviving its iconic Walkman-style over-ears with the new MDR-3R USB-C Wired Retro On-Ear Headphones. Now available for purchase at $60 for the standard issue set and at $80 for the Stranger Things edition.
Blast from the past for the future
The MDR-3 are a modern interpretation of the brand’s iconic 1979 Walkman headphones to deliver that “distinctive design and portable audio heritage of a Sony classic” to the modern era.
Trading out the old 8mm audio jack for USB-C, they are compatible with “smartphones, tablets, and PCs for immediate audio—without charging, Bluetooth pairing, or an additional adapter.”
It sounds like Sony, a brand well known for delivering some of the best audio reproduction in the ANC headphones and wireless earbud space, has attempted to maintain some of the color and vibe of the original while refining the listening experience with “deeper bass, extended highs, and enhanced clarity” so they don’t sound like you’re listening to a worn out cassette from 1982 – that actually might have been a cool option to have here though.
Alongside the interchangeable earpad colors (orange and blue) on the standard set, there is in an in-line remote to manage playback, volume, and hands-free calls
And here’s a look at the Stranger Things Edition:
I can certainly appreciate me some ‘80s nostalgia, despite the fact I spent very little of my life in that era, and as much as I don’t completely understand why people want wired headphones save for the fashion of it all, there is something special about a set of headphones that looks like they are straight out of an ‘80s horror movie or a Spielberg classic.
The Sony MDR-3R are not the only new-old headphones and buds releasing lately – Bose just released a brand new set of wired earbuds and even Razer has decided to deliver a new set, complete with RGB action.
Sony revives the Walkman’s iconic MDR-3 headphones with USB-C for $60
Razer is getting back into wired earbuds with USB-C; yes, they have RGB
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