Sony’s new MDR-3R wired headphones are available today at a suggested $59.99 USD or $99.99 CAD, bringing the original MDR-3’s design to devices with compatible USB-C audio support. The headphones include a microphone and an in-line remote, adding call handling and playback controls to a design rooted in the first Walkman era. Buyers can find the standard model through Best Buy, Sony, Amazon and additional authorized retailers.
The MDR-3R Stranger Things Edition is also open for preorder today, with suggested pricing of $79.99 USD or $129.99 CAD. Sony, Netflix and Amazon US are taking those orders, though a shipping date has not been provided. That edition carries a $20 USD premium over the standard headphones for a design inspired by Max’s headphones and the Upside Down.
Compatibility requires support for USB Audio Class 1.0, rather than simply a USB-C socket. Sony says the headphones need neither charging nor pairing, and require no updates. Depending on the device, operating system or app, users may need to change settings, and certain functions might not operate properly.
The standard MDR-3R comes with orange and blue ear pads so owners can change its appearance, while retaining the original model’s lightweight, open-ear construction. Sony has also carried the older model’s visual styling into the box and instruction manual. The Stranger Things version instead includes black and red earpads, an engraved series logo and packaging made for the collaboration.
Inside, Sony uses 23 mm drivers, matching the size in the MDR-3, and says it consulted the original specifications when developing the sound. The company describes the tuning as close to the earlier headphones, with small adjustments for modern listening preferences. The historical reference dates to 1979, when the MDR-3L2 launched with the Walkman TPS-L2.
Sony’s recent Walkman hardware has occupied a much higher price range: October’s three-player introduction opened U.S. preorders at $1,899.99 for the NW-ZX900. The NW-WM1AM3 cost $2,999.99, while the NW-WM1ZM3 reached $5,899. Despite the MDR-3R’s Walkman heritage, Sony advises against using the new headphones with a Walkman.
