# Sony revives the original Walkman headphones with USB-C

> Sony brings back the iconic MDR-3 headphones from 1979, updating them with USB-C and modern features while keeping the classic design.
- Title: Sony revives the original Walkman headphones with USB-C
- Summary: Sony brings back the iconic MDR-3 headphones from 1979, updating them with USB-C and modern features while keeping the classic design.
- Keywords: sony, mdr-3r headphones, walkman, usb-c, wired headphones, Ars Technica
- Source: Ars Technica — https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/11/sony-adds-usb-c-to-its-70s-era-mdr-3-walkman-headphones
- Published: 2026-11-05T21:56:36+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sony, mdr-3r headphones, walkman, usb-c, wired headphones, technology, science
## Sony revives 1979 Walkman headphones
Sony has brought back the MDR-3-series headphones that debuted in 1979 alongside the Walkman TPS-L2 cassette player.
## New MDR-3R adds USB-C and modern features
The new MDR-3R headphones look like the originals and come with orange and blue ear cushions. Unlike their predecessor, they use a USB-C connector and include an in-line remote control and integrated microphone.
## Same driver, bright mids and highs
The MDR-3R uses the same 23 mm driver units as the MDR-3 to reproduce sound quality close to the original.

> hold their own
## Sixty dollars for nostalgic wired headphones
The MDR-3R capitalizes on renewed interest in wired headphones and physical media. The headphones are available for sixty dollars, preserving the experience of taking music out into the world that the original helped popularize.
## Key takeaway

Sony released the MDR-3R headphones, a modern update of its nineteen seventy-nine MDR-3L2 Walkman headphones, adding USB-C connectivity and an in-line remote while preserving the original's lightweight design and orange ear cushions.