Sony’s $60 Walkman Headphones Return With a USB-C Plug

Sony has relaunched the headphones from the very first Walkman. The new MDR-3R went on sale on November 5 for $59.99. It copies the 1979 look but swaps the old plug for USB-C. A Stranger Things edition costs $79.99. Here is what changes and what does not.

The first Walkman, the TPS-L2 cassette player, arrived in 1979 with these headphones in the box. The MDR-3R recreates the MDR-3, which shipped with it. It keeps the slim metal headband and the blue and orange foam pads. Sony calls the design a modern take on the original, and the images show the same shapes and proportions. Early reports say the packaging follows the original style too. The pads are interchangeable, so owners can mix colors.

Sony uses a USB-C plug instead of a 3.5mm jack. That suits most current phones, which have no headphone port. The headphones add a built-in microphone and an inline remote for calls and playback. They use 23mm drivers and need no charging and no Bluetooth pairing. Wired headphones also avoid the delays that Bluetooth can cause in games and videos. In my view, the USB-C plug is the smartest choice here. It makes the headphones a simple way to skip Bluetooth and charging.

The special edition takes its cues from the headphones worn by Max in the Netflix series. It has red and black pads, an engraved logo and custom packaging. The price is $79.99, which is $20 more than the standard model. For that money, buyers get a new color and a collector’s look, but no feature changes, as far as reports show. Both versions are available through Sony and authorized retailers, while the special edition is sold through Sony, Amazon US and Netflix’s own store.

The headphones are wired only, and the USB-C plug limits where they work. Check compatibility first: the headphones need a USB-C port on your phone, laptop or tablet. They will not connect to the original cassette Walkman or to modern Walkman players, because those USB-C ports handle only power and data. That is an odd gap for a Walkman tribute. In Europe, the standard model costs €59 and the Stranger Things edition €69. Fans of the original may like the look, but the price is not low for simple wired headphones with basic specs. Buyers who want wireless audio should look elsewhere.