Sony revives its classic 1979 Walkman headphones for modern listeners – with a surprisingly affordable price - What Hi-Fi?
By Google News Technology ·
When Sony launched the first Walkman (TPS-L2) in 1979, the wired headphones it made to go along with this new portable tape player were the slim and lightweight Sony MDR-3.
And now, nearly five decades later, Sony is bringing them back. Enter the all-new, but very familiar-looking Sony MDR-3R wired headphones with a USB-C connection.
Capitalising on the popular trend for wired headphones and all things retro, particularly among the younger generation, these on-ears aim to "bring the spirit of that iconic model" along with a few modern updates.
The new MDR-3R are practically identical in design to the original headphones from 1979. Sony says that although the MDR-3 was developed over 40 years ago, it was already a pretty "complete product design".
The new cans have the same slender adjustable metal headband, with the characteristic angular fold before it meets the earcup housings, and are super lightweight at just 38g.
Two sets of colourful foam earpads – blue and orange – are included in the box. Sony has even taken pains to make sure the retail box and instruction manual of the new headphones are identical to the original packaging as well.
The MDR-3R has been "re-engineered with the same 23mm driver units" based on the original drawings of the MDR-3. The aim is to stay "true to the original sound signature", while offering a wider frequency range and better bass quality.
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Sony says the new cans should deliver "rich, clear vocals" that work well with "modern music".
The earcups also feature "sound holes", as Sony calls them, meaning the new MDR-3R are an open acoustic design just like their originals. That should be good news for sound quality, but less so for…
Originally published by Google News Technology
