Sony’s Walkman-era MDR-3 headphones are back with USB-C and a $60 price tag

Credit: SoundGuys TL;DR Sony has relaunched its iconic MDR-3 headphones with a modern touch: USB-C connectivity. These $60 headphones retain the same iconic design they originally featured in the 1980s. Sony has also launched a Stranger Things special edition, priced at $80. You probably wouldn’t be surprised to know that a principle called Laver’s Law describes the cyclicity in fashion. Styles that were trendy two decades ago suddenly emerge again, while what was hip almost a decade ago becomes distasteful. And it goes on — or at least has for the last several decades in the postmodern era. Something similar is happening with accessories and gadgets, especially when it comes to music, as we witness a resurgence of retro tech and equipment. In recent months, several audio brands have hopped on the bandwagon, offering retro-looking products with modern features. Now, Sony is joining the club with a pair of wired headphones that look straight out of the 1980s — but with a modern spin. Sony has announced a refreshed version of its iconic MDR-3 dynamic headphones, first introduced in Japan in the late 1970s, right before Sony announced the first Walkman cassette player. The newer iteration, called MDR-3R, features the same fluorescent orange earpads and the minimal design as the original model. They even use a similar spring steel band and weigh roughly the same — 38 grams, which is a couple of grams lighter than the original version.