Key Takeaways
- Sony released the $59.99 MDR-3R wired headphones on November 5, reviving its original Walkman-era design with interchangeable blue and orange foam pads, USB-C connectivity and an in-line mic and remote.
- The retro headphones won't connect to the original cassette Walkman or modern Walkman players, whose USB-C ports support only power and data.
- Sony also opened preorders for a $79.99 Stranger Things edition inspired by Max and the Upside Down, featuring red and black pads, an engraved logo and custom packaging.
Sony have taken a trip down memory lane with the release of their latest retro-inspired headphones.
On Thursday (November 5), the technology brand released the MDR-3R Wired Headphones, available for $59.99 through Sony and other authorized retailers.
The accessory is designed after the original MDR-3 and features details from the headphones' original hand drawings. The light open-ear design returns, along with interchangeable blue and orange foam pads, while a USB-C connector replaces the old 3.5 mm plug, and an in-line remote with a built-in mic can be utilized for playback, volume and calls.
Since the headphones carry a USB-C plug, the MDR-3R is unable to connect to the original tape player, and it also doesn't work with modern Walkman-branded music players, which has ports exclusively for power and data.
The original pair shipped with the TPS-L2 Walkman, built by Nobutoshi Kihara, Akio Morita, Masaru Ibuka and Kozo Ohsone, which debuted in Japan on July 1, 1979, followed by a U.S. release in June 1980.
The initial MDR-3R release precedes a $79.99 Stranger Things edition, inspired by Max's headphones and the Upside Down, with red and black pads, an engraved logo and custom packaging. Pre-orders are open through Sony, Amazon U.S., and more, timed to Stranger Things Day on Friday (November 6).
