If you ever jammed on a pair of headphones that were plugged into a Sony Walkman back in the late 70s or early 80s, they were likely the MDR-3. The lightweight, over-ear headphones shipped with the very first Walkman and served as the blueprint for highly portable personal audio for years. Not one to ignore a trend, Sony has brought them back. (Bose recently did, too.)
Some people have been pushing back against wireless audio and Bluetooth headphones, opting for wired headphones instead. Wired options don’t have batteries, don’t need to be charged, and don’t need apps and cumbersome wireless pairing to work. Just plug them in and listen. The drawback, of course, is that you’re tethered to your device by a short wire. But hey, that’s how personal audio worked for about 60 years.
(Credit: Sony)
The new Sony MDR-3R, which sells for $59.99, is as simple and basic as it gets. Sony says it “retains the original design, which reflects the heritage of portable audio culture, while adding modern usability features such as seamless USB-C connectivity [and] a built-in microphone.”
A plastic band goes over your head and houses two metal arms that extend and retract to find your fit. You get two sets of earpads in the box: orange and blue, both faithful to the original. The earcups are not really cups; they’re more like pads. These are on-ear, not over-ear, so they rest gently on your earlobe. The housing around the drivers is made of plastic. Sony re-engineered the 23mm drivers with a nod toward the originals’ tuning, while keeping in mind that modern listening preferences have changed. In addition to USB-C, the MDR-3R includes inline controls and a mic for taking calls.
(Credit: Sony)
Sony sent me a pair to check out, and I gave them a listen. They have a light, natural sound that’s not retro, but not wholly modern, either. They perhaps don’t produce as much bass as some listeners might want, but they have a warmth that I appreciate. The open design means you can still hear your surroundings if you listen at a low level; these don’t passively or actively block noise. My only complaint is that I wish the wire were a little longer and a little more substantial. Either way, these hardly weigh a thing, and you can toss them in a bag as a backup pair of headphones.
Recommended by Our Editors
If you prefer a slightly different design, Sony is also selling a Stranger Things-themed version with red and black ear pads, custom packaging, and a Stranger Things logo for $79.99.
The Sony MDR-3R is available now at Sony, Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers.
About Our Expert
Eric Zeman
Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics
Experience
I’m PCMag’s Managing Editor for Consumer Electronics content, overseeing an experienced team of reviewers and product testers. I’ve been covering technology for more than 25 years. Prior to PCMag, I worked at outlets such as Android Authority, Fortune, InformationWeek, and Phonescoop.
Leave a Reply